Sunday Shcool: Jonah

Main characters: Jonah but God remains the central character
Jonah stands in contrast to the rest of the characters in the story
Jonah is not only a reluctant prophet but Jonah serves as a microcosm of disobedient Israel
Primary purpose is to demonstrate God’s character, mainly his grace, mercy and compassion for humanity while demonstrating “Salvation belongs to the Lord 2:9.
Book also shows us the Word of God will not return void
 
Outline

1. Jonah’s reluctance
2. Jonah’s crisis
3. Jonah’s mission
4. Jonah’s apathy

Chapter 1
V1-2 Divine commission- expect obedience- took off in other direction- God said Go Jonah said No
Pagan sailors willing to do everything to save Jonah yet Jonah unwilling to make an effort for pagan Ninevites. Claimed to fear God but actions denied it
Sailors on other hand demonstrated their genuine fear of the Lord by submissively responding to God’s will and power as revealed in casting of lots and the storm
Chapter 2 Jonah’s experience parallels that of the sailors
            Faces crisis at sea
            Prays to Yahweh
             Receives deliverance
            Offers sacrifice and makes vow
Jonah’s movement down: which is not good, symbolizing moving father and farther away from God

Chisholm writes: "One would hope that his bout with death might give him some sympathy for the Ninevites plight and a greater appreciation for the task God gave him. However, the disdain he showed for the pagans foreshadowed the attitude he would display in the story’s final scene."
​
2:10 God demonstrates compassion and mercy without Jonah’s repentance by rescuing an undeserving prophet from death
Chapter 3
Obeys, declares, Ninevites respond positively v4
3:5-9 Ninevites like sailors respond positively to message
Lord spared repentant v10- Lord acts according to His nature
Chapter 4
Jonah’s anger stark contrast to God’s mercy
Praise God s mercy and grace in wake of his rebellion but deems these same attributes unjust when benefit Nineveh
4:9-11 object lesson of plant God contrasts his mercy with Jonah’s anger and His abundant compassion and lack of Jonah’s
God’s question is left unanswered  because Jonah and the reader must contemplate our own answer in light of God’s mercy, grace and compassion

Where Jonah refused to be sent, Jesus obeyed and submitted Himself to the Father’s will
Jonah acted selfishly. Jesus humbly emptied himself Phil 2:5-11
Jesus comes as something better – comes as mediator 1 Tim 2:5-6  one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus
A mediator is one intervenes between the two parties, to make peace, to make a covenant or for friendship.
The man Christ Jesus- true humanity in every way, God taken up our humanity
Christ Jesus- Christ – Annointed One, Divine Messiah
This mediator gave his life as a ransom- Jonah sought the cities destruction, Jesus sought our salvation
Ransom-price paid to free a slave. Christ paid the ransom to free us from the slavery of sin