Jonah 1

1. Historical Background

Because it looks as though Jonah is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, we can assume that he was a contemporary of Amos and Hosea in the 8th century.  This observation  helps us understand the animosity Jonah has toward the Ninevites in response to the Lord’s command to preach to them; they were enemies and most Jews probably shared Jonah’s temperament towards them.

But even with Jonah’s hatred towards them, it is still shocking to see a prophet of the Lord attempt to presumptuously disobey a direct command. It is a kin to Aaron or Achan’s disobedience to be under divine commandment but turn around to do the opposite.  Instead of “arising” to go obey, he rose up to flee, paying the fare, but that is not all he will pay.  As the tempest from the Lord came upon the ship, the people cast the wares into the sea, the cost we are not told.  Damages to the ship must have been substantial as it was “like to be broken” (v5).

Finally, when they felt their lives were in peril, the pagan sailors cry out to their gods, but find Jonah sleeping, oblivious to the chaos around him.  The men perceive the tempest is some form of divine wrath, they take to a quick casting of lots to divine the culprit.  Miraculously, and I would say, ironically, the lots points to Jonah who quickly admits guilt and suggests the solution is for the men pick him up and cast him over the side.

I admire the decency of the men to not do so immediately, but eventually the aggressive waves convince them that Jonah is right, and with a quick plea to Jonah’s God, they do has he suggested.  After throwing Jonah over, the sea “ceased from her raging” as though the wrath of God was suddenly appeased.  This sudden calming caused the men to be afraid, perhaps even more afraid than they were when the seas were raging.   The sailors worship the Lord and continue on their journey, while Jonah spends the next few days in the belly of a fish.

2.  Theological Observations

God’s Sovereignty.  The Lord is the most interesting character in the story.  The previous books that come before Jonah have already made known that God’s sovereignty is complete and He always performs His word.  There is much to be considered about God as we read what God does with disobedient Jonah and what He doesn’t do.  Was it always apart of God’s plan for these sailors to come the knowledge of the Lord through a disobedient prophet?  Why did God choose Jonah knowing his particular response would be so, is God not interested in choosing what He knows to be the most efficient?  To me these are rhetorical questions.

I know that God doesn’t always choose the most efficient of people because He has chosen me.  May the Lord forgive my presumptuous and ignorant sins in the course of my service to Him.  For I see the same God working in Jonah that works in me.   As the all-knowing, all-powerful God, He has an infinite amount of options in dealing with Nineveh.  Yet, knowing all the circumstances, He chooses a man who initiates this fiasco, but as is it is in the Lord’s hands, it is a well controlled fiasco.  Thought the sea seemed chaotic and threatening to life and order, the result is after God’s own making.  Such sovereignty does not require God to micro-manipulate, but allow for freedom, even to disobey, but because of His wisdom, like a master chess player, use disobedience to bring about His good will.

The Scope of God’s Care.  This piece of theology, if not the main concept, is certainly a central message of Jonah.  Jonah’s objection to God’s mercy to the Assyrians would have been reflected in many Israelites of the day.  But the God who is there is not molded by our perceptions of Him.  God’s call for Jonah to preach to their enemies shows His heart is not exclusively to one kind of people, but even those who we deem to be the furthest from God.  If Jonah and Israel could embrace this attribute of God, it would have comforted during their captivity years knowing that if God was willing to deal mercifully with the sins of the Assyrians, then certainly Israel, God’s special chosen, would have God’s favor if only they turned their hearts to Him.

3.  How does our passage point to Christ?

Roles:  Jonah. In Jonah’s case, he was an unwilling servant who even ran from God’s plan.  Left up to Jonah, the Assyrians would perish and sooner the better. But yet God’s sovereignty is such that cannot be frustrated by unwilling participants. God’s wisdom is able to counter any sort of resistance against His will.  Such is the outcome of Jonah’s unwilling ministry to the Assyrians.   But how does this help us understand the foreshadowing of Christ through Jonah?  Christ Himself helps us with the hermeneutics involved.

⁴⁰ For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matthew 12:40-41

A common logic applied to old testament scripture is the “lesser-greater” concept.  If heathen enemies turn in repentance even though they did not witness Jonah’s escape from the belly of the fish, then how much more should we repent who are the witnesses of Jesus Christ who escaped the corruption of death.  The generation of Nineveh will indeed rise to up condemn those who reject Christ, the one who is raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of majesty on high.

Theme: God’s sovereignty.  God does not need to coerce belief.  Jonah resisted God and even until the end of the book refused to bring his heart in tune with God’s heart in spite of the great things God did through him.  Yet in spite of Jonah’s unwillingness, God accomplished His will in Assyria.  Just as it would seem Jonah’s defiance would frustrate the will of God, so might the death and rejection of Jesus Christ frustration God’s plan to establish Christ as the heir of all things.  But if the Assyrians were able to repent at the preaching of unwilling Jonah, then how much more should we bend the knee to the one God has chosen as His Son, who does the will of His Father, and cannot be defeated even by death.

Theme: The Scope of God’s care. God’s care for the Assyrians is in harmony with God’s plan to bless the nations through Abraham and his posterity.  By Jonah’s time the messianic promise through David (2 Samuel) had already been established and now the foundations for the Gospel mission are being laid as God sends Jonah to a heathen nation speaking of judgment but offering mercy.  Jesus Christ who is the express image of God’s person send His apostles into the “highways and hedges” that the Father’s house might be filled by those who were not originally invited.

4. How do we apply this passage today?

God always accomplishes His will, and even though Jonah prejudices inclined him to disobey, still it would have been better for Jonah to humble himself and surrender himself to what God made plain.

God’s concern is for everyone in the story, for Jonah, for Nineveh, even for the sailors.  God is concerned about everyone that all might come to repentance.  You might have a burden for people of a certain location or somewhere special in your life, but God is concerned for all those you pass along the way as well.  Pray and ask God to use you as you speak up and bear witness to everyone you come across.

Jonah was frustrated by his own unwillingness to let God have His way.  His disobedience robbed him of the joy he could of had being a willing servant.  In this case, his prejudice got in the way of God’s goodness.  I wonder if there people whom we hold a prejudice against, not willing to let them hear about calvary, or join our church.  God forbid our prejudice stain the unity we all share in Christ who calls all people into one body by His grace.