Bible Text: Jonah 1:1-16 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: Jonah, When God’s Will Becomes I Won’t

Recap of 11/17/13:

1.  “Jonah grew up hating the Assyrians and fearing their atrocities.  His hatred was so strong that he didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy.  Jonah was actually afraid the people would repent (Jonah 4:2-3).” ( NLT Study Bible)

2.  “History tells us that the Assyrians were a cruel  and heartless people who thought nothing of burying their enemies alive, skinning them alive, or impaling them on sharp poles under the hot sun.  “If the city of Nineveh is going to be overthrown, then let it be overthrown,’ argued Jonah.  ‘I would rather disobey God than see by enemies saved from judgment.’  In the four chapters of his book, Jonah traces his experiences and the lessons that he learned.” (Warren Wiersbe)

3.  Jonah, the writer of the book bearing his name was mentioned in 2 Kings 14:23-25 in conjunction with a prophecy he made concerning the expansion of the territory of Israel, a prophecy which was fulfilled under Jeroboam II.  Jonah is also named by Jesus in Matthew 12:39-41 and Luke 11:29-32 as a precursor of His own death, burial and resurrection.

4.  Some lessons of the Book of Jonah as compiled by Wilkinson/Libby, Hannah, and Schrader are as follows:

-God has genuine concern for the salvation of all peoples.

-God’s plan will be accomplished and does not depend on human strength, nor can it be thwarted by human weakness or disobedience.

-Gentiles responded in the book with compassion and repentance, neither of which are evident in Jonah or the Israelites.

-Jonah was symbolic of Israel’s indifference and disobedience toward God and His compassion.

-It is impossible to run away from God.  He has unlimited resources to bring us back.

-Failure does not disqualify a person from being used of God.  God will discipline a disobedient believer, and disobedience always creates turmoil.

-Patriotic or partisan fervor must always be tempered by God’s sovereign will and plan.

-The events of Jonah are prefigure the Resurrection and the Great Commission.