Jonah 1:1~4:11
Should I Not Be Concerned?, Kevin Albright
'I WORSHIP THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN'
Passage: Jonah 1:1~16
Key verse: 9
INTRODUCTION TO JONAH
This is a story from the life of Jonah son of Amittai (1:1), a prophet through whom God spoke to Northern Israel during the time of Jeroboam II (2Ki 14:25). God commands Jonah to preach against the people of Nineveh (1:2), the capital city of Assyria. A world power on the rise at that time, the Assyrian empire was known as cruel and violent, gloating in victory with torture and humiliation over conquered foes. Yet God was concerned for these people enough to send his Word to them through Jonah. The book is divided into two halves with similar structure: the word of God to Jonah (1:1-2 and 3:1-2), Jonah's response (1:3 and 3:3), Gentile's better response (1:14,16 and 3:5,6), and God's grace to Jonah through a fish (1:17-2:10) and a plant (4:1-11). The dominant theme is the tension between a God of justice and a God of mercy - and how God's people should understand and respond to Him. Jonah could not reconcile with a God of mercy toward gentile 'sinners.' But Jonah's story is a sign that points to where God reconciles his justice and mercy for all sinners: in Jesus, who is greater than Jonah (Mt 12:41). God is concerned today with a world that 'cannot tell their right hand from their left'; will his people share his word of mercy in Jesus, or angrily seek justice and wrath, becoming bitter?
'I WORSHIP THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN'
Prayer: Father, your will is always done. Please melt my rebellious spirit to see what you are doing.
One Word: worship by obedience, not rebellion
This is a story from the life of Jonah son of Amittai (1:1), a prophet through whom God spoke to Northern Israel during the time of Jeroboam II (2Ki 14:25). God commands Jonah to preach against the people of Nineveh (1:2), the capital city of Assyria. A world power on the rise at that time, the Assyrian empire was known as cruel and violent, gloating in victory with torture and humiliation over conquered foes. Yet God was concerned for these people enough to send his Word to them through Jonah. The book is divided into two halves with similar structure: the word of God to Jonah (1:1-2 and 3:1-2), Jonah's response (1:3 and 3:3), Gentile's better response (1:14,16 and 3:5,6), and God's grace to Jonah through a fish (1:17-2:10) and a plant (4:1-11). The dominant theme is the tension between a God of justice and a God of mercy - and how God's people should understand and respond to Him. Jonah could not reconcile with a God of mercy toward gentile 'sinners.' But Jonah's story is a sign that points to where God reconciles his justice and mercy for all sinners: in Jesus, who is greater than Jonah (Mt 12:41). God is concerned today with a world that 'cannot tell their right hand from their left'; will his people share his word of mercy in Jesus, or angrily seek justice and wrath, becoming bitter?
'I WORSHIP THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN'
1. "Go to...Nineveh and preach against it" (1-8)
God's task for Jonah was unusual: go to Nineveh and preach against it. Prophets had declared judgment on other nations, but none had to deliver the message in person! Jonah didn't want to go and warn them of God's judgment. So he went the opposite way: on a ship bound for Tarshish. But no place is beyond God's reach (Ps 139:7-12). God sent a storm that endangered the ship! Running only put the crew at risk and exhausted Jonah.
2. "At this the men greatly feared the LORD" (9-16)
The danger was real - they were all scared. But Jonah seems resigned. He testifies boldly: "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD!" He would rather drown than turn back to God or deny his identity. This crew all had their own idols, until that day in the storm, when Jonah the runaway prophet testified about God who made the sea and the land. They became true believers, in spite of Jonah.
Prayer: Father, your will is always done. Please melt my rebellious spirit to see what you are doing.
One Word: worship by obedience, not rebellion
