Character Studies

Lesson 23

JONAH

"And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left--and much livestock?" (Jonah 4:11)

JONAH'S BACKGROUND
2 Kings 14:23-27; Jonah 1:1
· Son of Amittai (2 Kgs. 14:25)
· From village of Gath-Hepher in Zebulun (2 Kgs. 14:25; Josh. 19:13)
· Served as God's prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II {~780 BC} (2 Kgs. 14:23-27)
· He spoke God's word of Israel's victory and expansion of territory (2 Kgs. 14:25-27)

JONAH: MESSENGER OF GOD
Jonah 1-4
· Runs from God (Jonah 1)
· Runs to God (Jonah 2)
· Runs with God (Jonah 3)
· Runs ahead of God (Jonah 4)

THEMES FROM THE LIFE AND WORK OF JONAH
Jonah 1-4
· God's Sovereignty (over Jonah, over nature, over men and nations)
· God's Message (His word has relevance and application over all men)
· Man's Repentance (Who needs it and what it is)
· God's Mercy (God loves all men and will forgive all who turn to Him)

JONAH AND JESUS
Matt. 12:38-41; 16:4; Lk. 11:29-32
· Both were sent by God to preach
· The "sign of Jonah"
· Jesus is greater than Jonah

LESSONS FOR US
· A fervor for God which includes jealousy and revenge is not of God (Rom. 12:11, 19-21)
· The universality of divine grace (Rom. 1:16)
· National sin demands national repentance (Jonah 3:5-10)
· One cannot run away from God (Psa. 139:7-12)
· One should never underestimate the power of God's word to change the heart of the vilest of characters (1 Cor. 6:9-11)
· The infinite love of God and the selfish coldness of man (Jonah 4)

QUESTIONS
1. Where was Jonah from? (2 Kgs. 14:25; Josh. 19:13) How do you explain John 7:52 in view of this?

2. Of what did Jonah prophesy during the reign of Jeroboam II? (2 Kgs. 14:25-27)

3. Discuss the contrast between Jonah's faith and his lack of faithfulness in Jonah 1:1-12.

4. What did God prepare for Jonah? (Jonah 1:17; Matt. 12:39-41)

5. Describe Jonah's "conversion" in Jonah 2.

6. Where was Nineveh? Over what country did it rule?

7. What message from God did Jonah preach to Nineveh? (Jonah 3:1-4)

8. How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonah's preaching? Why did they have reason to believe his message would come to pass? (Jonah 3:5; cf. Lk. 11:30)

9. Define repentance using the Ninevites as a model. (Jonah 3:5-10; Lk. 11:32)

10. Why was Jonah displeased and angry over God's decision to not destroy Nineveh? (Jonah 4:1-5)

11. How did God teach Jonah a lesson on mercy? (Jonah 4:6-11)

12. What is among the reasons God offers salvation to us and to all?