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The Twelve Minor Prophets

Jonah 
God is Merciful


As we come to consider the 'runaway' prophet, it is my prayer that we all know the God of Jonah in our day… “a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness…” both for ourselves and for our families.
​
​JONAH-prophesies before the Assyrian Captivity! (2 Kings 14:25 & 2 Kings 15:29)
 
Distinctions are rightly made between the dispensation of Law and Grace, but that does not mean that there is an absence of grace in the Old Testament. Strictly speaking, a dispensation is not the time period so much, but how God is working in the time. Great examples of grace are seen in the Old Testament in God’s dealings with… Rahab the Harlot… Ruth the Moabitess… Ahab king of Israel (in not letting him see the judgment in his day) … Manasseh king of Judah. In Jonah, God’s super abounding grace is seen in His dealings with Nineveh the capital of Assyria, an implacable enemy of God’s people. Nineveh was 500 miles North East of the Sea of Galilee on the banks of the Tigris River. A City of 60 miles in Circumference, walls 100 feet high, with 1,500 turrets and wide enough for 3 chariots to ride abreast
 
Two matters are foremost in our minds as we come to the book of Jonah.
  1. As to Jonah personally, a representative of the nation of Israel.
  2. The ways and heart of God as he considers the nations of the Gentiles.
 
In 2nd Kings 14:25 we learn that Jonah was from Gath-hepher and prophesied of the enlarging of Israel under Jeroboam II son of Joash. This is more than a story for children, presenting a clear dispensational message relative to the nation of Israel. Like the nation of Israel Jonah was:

  • Chosen of God to represent Him and to do His service… Deut 14:2.
  • Commissioned by God… Israel should have been the servant the light and the witness… Isaiah 42 & 43. Will be literally fulfilled in the day of Messiah’s glory.
  • Disobedient… the nation lost the promises of Exodus 19:5-6.
  • Scattered among the nations, Mariners… Israel scattered among the nations/heathen Deut 4:27.
  • Through Jonah… They come to the knowledge of God… so too the nations.
  • In the sea, Jonah preserved. Israel over the centuries… In Exile… Against all the odds preserved.
  • Jonah restored-back in the land! Restoration… Times of the Gentiles NOW… Christ will be enthroned.
  • Blessing to Nineveh. GREATER blessing to the world when Israel restored.
 
Romans 11:12 'Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?'
Romans 11:15 'For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead'.
The question of Romans 3:29 is fully answered in the book of Jonah: 'Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles?'
 
Outline
 
Chapter 1. God Commissions… Jonah’s presumption!
Jonah flees… His attitude, I won’t go.
Why did Jonah flee…? He thought the 40 days began when he heard, not when they heard.
Israel should have been the Evangelist to the World of the goodness of God, but carelessness and bigotry meant they did not carry the light of God to the Nations as they should. Jonah wanted to see Nineveh judged rather than being blessed.
 
Chapter 2. God Hears… Jonah’s prayer!
Jonah prays… His attitude, I will go.
Notice: The Lord Heard v 2… Thou hadst cast me, action of God acknowledged v 3 … vs 4, 7 has the Temple in mind… thanksgiving and vow v 9… Salvation is of the Lord v 9.
 
Chapter 3. God Spares… Jonah’s preaching!
Jonah preaches… His attitude, I’m here.
The Word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying… the grace of God to him personally despite his failing’s. His preaching of coming judgment… their response of repentance.
The people believed Jonah…believed God?
God’s grace was then displayed.
 
Chapter 4. God Reproves… Jonah’s petulance!
Jonah complains… His attitude, I shouldn’t have come.
Jonah is found sulking and angry at the result of his preaching.
He knew the character of God and was afraid of blessing on Nineveh… see Ch 4:2.
  • A gracious God
  • And merciful
  • Slow to anger
  • And of great kindness
  • And repentest thee of the evil
Jonah makes a booth… God prepares a gourd… God prepared a worm… God prepared a vehement east wind… God poses a question… Jonah answers v 9. God poses another question vs 10-11. This time the servant is silent. Silent because he knows God is right.
He didn’t sulk for ever… He wrote his book… Instruction for us in the matter of obedience, testimony and witness, and in the ways and character of God.
 
Jonah a sign
Matthew 12:38-41/Luke 11:29-30
 
Note the Miracles in the Book… the storm/lots cast/the sea subsides/the great fish/the preservation of Jonah…

Gary Woods
Answers About God. Copyright © 2020, Aaron Colgan
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from
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  • Home
  • Gospel Words
    • A Deadly Deed
    • Saving a President
    • The Death Zone
    • An Anchor of the Soul
    • Afraid Twice
    • Two Ways
    • Withering Grass & Fading Flowers
    • A Spider's Web
    • The Voice of the Son of God
    • Forgiven!
    • The Full Assurance of Hope
    • A Sinner's Prayer
    • A Present & Personal Saviour
    • The Great Supper
    • Judgment is Coming
    • A Closed Heart
    • "Iceberg Right Ahead!"
    • The Lamb of God
    • Truth & Certainty
    • 'Then the King Will Say'
    • The Testimony of the Chief of Sinners
    • The Testimony of the Lord's Prisoner
    • The Power of Christ
    • The Good Shepherd
    • 'Wonderful Words of Life'
    • Finding Wisdom
    • The Unchanging Person of Jesus Christ
  • Bible Answers
    • Remembering Our Creator
    • Was the Cross Necessary?
    • What is God Like?
    • Does the Resurrection Matter?
    • What's in a Name?
    • Why Must We be Saved?
    • "Who Art Thou, Lord?"
    • "The Unknown God" - Just Who is He?
    • "What is Truth?"
    • "Holy, Holy, Holy"
    • Knowing God
    • A Conversion Story
    • The Gospel according to Jonah
    • "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man Approved of God"
    • The Saviour of the World
    • A Chosen Vessel
    • Who is Jesus?
    • God's Mercy & Judgment
    • Does What I Think about the Son of God Matter?
    • 'How Shall we Escape if we Neglect so Great Salvation'?
    • What is Life Really All About?
    • The Rock of Ages
    • Easter Messages >
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 1
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 2
      • The Resurrection of Christ
      • Zion's King & God's Lamb
    • Christmas Messages >
      • Joseph, Mary & the Birth of Jesus
      • "A Savior who is Christ the Lord"
      • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
      • Covenant Promises & the Birth of Christ
  • Timeless Truths
    • Timeless Truths 1
    • Timeless Truths 2
    • Timeless Truths 3
    • Timeless Truths 4
    • Timeless Truths 5
    • Timeless Truths 6
    • Timeless Truths 7
  • Expository Messages
    • Topical Messages >
      • Spiritual Warfare
    • Psalms >
      • Psalms 84-88 >
        • Psalm 84 - The Courts of the LORD
        • Psalm 85 - 'Revive us Again'
        • Psalm 86 - Calling upon God in the Day of Trouble
        • Psalm 87 - The Glory of Zion, 'City of God'
        • Psalm 88 - Hands Stretched out in Grief
    • Minor Prophets - Study Notes by Gary Woods >
      • The Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview
      • Hosea P1
      • Hosea P2
      • Joel P1
      • Joel P2
      • Amos P1
      • Amos P2
      • Obadiah
      • Jonah
      • Micah
      • Nahum
      • Habakkuk P1
      • Habakkuk P2
      • Zephaniah
      • The Post-Captivity Prophets - An Introduction
      • Haggai
      • Zechariah P1
      • Zechariah P2
      • Malachi
    • The Lord's Upper Room Ministry >
      • John 13:1-3 - The Omniscient Christ
      • John 13:4-17 - The Foot Washing Ministry of the Perfect Servant
      • John 13:18-38 - The Son of Man Glorified
      • John 14:1-3 - The Father's House P1
      • John 14:4-7 - The Father's House P2
      • John 14:8-14 - The Father's Visibility
      • John 14:15-26 - The Father's Gift
      • John 14:27-31 - The Father's Primacy
      • John 17 - The Lord's Intercessory Prayer
      • Excursus: The Passover & the Last Supper
    • Romans >
      • Romans - An Introduction
      • Romans - An Outline
      • Romans 1:1-7 - Paul's Salutation
      • Romans 1:8-17 - Visiting Rome & Gospel Debt
      • Romans 1:18-32 - Wrath Revealed & Why
      • Romans 2 - An Introduction to a Difficult Chapter
      • Romans 2:1-5 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P1
      • Romans 2:6-11 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P2
      • Romans 2:12-16 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P3
      • Romans 2:17-29 - The Guilt of the Self-confident
      • Romans 3:1-20 - 'All the World Guilty'
      • Romans 3:21-24 - The Heart of the Gospel P1
      • Romans 3:25a - The Heart of the Gospel P2
      • Romans 3:25b-31 - The Heart of the Gospel P3
    • 1 Corinthians >
      • 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21 - Worldly Wisdom
  • Booklets