Preaching from Jonah


  1. A Look at the Book
    1. Authorship:
      1. the principle character Jonah, the son of Amittai (1:1).
      2. This is further confirmed by the truthfulness by which the principle character is described.
    2. Date:
      1. Late 8th century B.C. @ 790-770 B.C., probably during the reign of Jeroboam II @ 794-753 B.C. (cf 2 Ki 14:21-27).
      2. Nineveh was a principle city (later the capital) of the Assyrian empire, which took Israel captive @ 722 B.C.
      3. Assyria fell to the Babylonians @ 622 B.C.
    3. Authenticity:
      1. the book has been ridiculed by the skeptics as fiction, myth, and legend. Yet Jesus speaks of Jonah and his experience as being a true historical event (Matt 12:38-41; 16:4).
      2. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all regard Jonah as reality. Jonah is read annually by the Jews on the Day of Atonement.
      3. The book is placed among the prophets, not b/c it contains prophecy, but b/c it is written by and about a prophet.


  2. Lessons about God from Jonah
    1. Chapter 1 - God's Patience
    2. Chapter 2 - God's Pardon
    3. Chapter 3 - God's Power
    4. Chapter 4 - God's Pity


  3. Lessons about the Prophet - #1
    1. Jonah runs from God
    2. Jonah runs to God
    3. Jonah runs with God
    4. Jonah runs ahead of God


  4. Lessons about the Prophet - #2
    1. Jonah Rebelled
    2. Jonah Repented
    3. Jonah Responded
    4. Jonah Resented


  5. Lessons about Life from Jonah
    1. When one leaves God, he always descends (1:3)
    2. When one desires to sin, the devil will provide a way (1:3)
    3. When one runs from God, he should prepare for a storm (1:4)
    4. When sin is done with you, you will be swallowed up (1:17)
    5. When one repents, the world will cast you out (2:1-10)
    6. God's Word is powerful (3:1-5)
    7. The fruits of true repentance will not be hid (3:5-10)
    8. Some refuse to rejoice at the forgiveness of another (4:1-3)


  6. Jonah as a type of Jesus -- Matthew 12:39; 16:4
    1. Both were from Galilee.
    2. Both slept on a ship in a time of storm.
    3. Both were awakened by frightened passengers.
    4. The presence of each on the ship concerned the present distress.
    5. Both gave themselves to save others.
    6. The "demise" of each produced faith in God in others.
    7. Both were alive after 3 days of their "disappearance."
    8. Both helped bring Gentiles to faith in God.