SUMMARY: JEWELS FROM JONAH

SUMMARY:

JEWELS FROM JONAH

CHAPTER ONE

Jonah 1:1-3        When Jonah Ran

• ·   Jonah was a prophet basking in the fame of predicting expansion of Israel’s territory
• ·        God broke Jonah’s routine by sending him on a mission to Nineveh
• ·        Jonah ran the opposite direction because Nineveh was the enemy’s capital

Jonah 1:4-6        Jonah Slumbers While the Sea Swirls

• ·        God sent a tempest that threatened to sink the ship carrying Jonah
• ·        The sailors all cried out to their gods
• ·        Meanwhile Jonah slept below decks

Jonah 1:7-9        Jonah's the Culprit

• ·        The crewmen cast lots to see who brought this storm on them
• ·        When Jonah was indicated, they began throwing out questions

Jonah 1:10-13   Interrogation of Jonah

• ·        The men demanded to know why Jonah was fleeing God
• ·        Then they asked what they should do to him to appease his God
• ·        Jonah told them to throw him overboard
• ·        The men were reluctant to cause Jonah’s death and rowed harder

Jonah 1:14-17   Jonah Becomes Fish Food

• ·        The men asked God’s forgiveness and threw Jonah into the sea
• ·        The sailors made sacrifices to the one true God and made vows
• ·        God sent a monstrous fish to swallow Jonah whole

ASK YOURSELF: AM I RUNNING FROM GOD’S CALL ON MY LIFE?

CHAPTER TWO

Jonah 2:1-3        Jonah Prays from the Belly of Hell

• ·        Jonah called out in his distress
• ·        Jonah acknowledged that God heard him even inside the fish

Jonah 2:4-6        Eyes Covered with Seaweed, Jonah Sees Hope

• ·        By faith, Jonah declared to God he will see His temple again
• ·        Jonah gave a graphic description of sinking into the deep

Jonah 2:7-10     Jonah is Grateful but Fishy Feels Sicky

• ·        Jonah gave thanks to God and promised to fulfill his vows
• ·        God caused the fish to spit Jonah back onto dry land

PONDER: ARE YOU SINKING INTO THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE? LIKE JONAH, REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.

CHAPTER THREE

         

Jonah 3:1-3        Jonah's Second Chance

• ·        God commanded Jonah a second time to take His message to Nineveh
• ·        This time Jonah obeyed immediately
• ·        Nineveh was described as a great city of three day’s journey

Jonah 3:4-6        Jonah Prophesies Nineveh's Demise

• ·        Jonah prophesied Nineveh’s destruction in forty days
• ·        One day into his preaching, the people began a fast

Jonah 3:7-10     The Ninevites Repented and God Relented

• ·        From the King of Nineveh down to even the animals, the Ninevites fasted and donned sackcloth in repentance
• ·        The king thought that maybe God would change His mind
• ·      God saw the genuine repentance of the Ninevites and did not destroy them

OBSERVATION: GOD GAVE JONAH AND THE NINEVITES SECOND CHANCES. DO YOU NEED A SECOND CHANCE TO OBEY GOD?

CHAPTER FOUR

         

Jonah 4:1-3        Jonah Despaired Because Nineveh was Spared

• ·        Jonah obeyed God but did not like the outcome
• ·        Jonah did not want Nineveh to be spared
• ·        Jonah was angry and wanted to die

Jonah 4:4-6        Jonah Desired Destruction but Needed the Lord's Instruction

• ·        God asked if Jonah did well to be angry
• ·        Jonah went away sulking and sat to see if God would destroy the city after all
• ·        God provided a plant to shelter Jonah but with a lesson in mind

Jonah 4:7-8        Shade Plant Died: Jonah Cried

• ·        God sent a worm to kill the plant
• ·        Jonah was angry again because the plant died
• ·        God asked again if Jonah had a right to be angry
• ·        Jonah said he was angry enough to die

Jonah 4:9-11     God Spared the City for Which Jonah Had No Pity

• ·        God pointed out that Jonah had more pity for the plant than the Ninevites, their children, and their animals
• ·        God asked the rhetorical question, “Why should I not spare Nineveh…”

SEARCH YOUR HEART: DO YOU OBEY, BUT ONLY RELUCTANTLY? DO YOU HARBOR RESENTMENT WHEN GOD DOESN’T WORK ACCORDING TO YOUR PLANS? ARE YOU TOO SELF-CENTERED TO SHOW COMPASSION TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM GOD WOULD HAVE YOU GO?