Please refer to the Meditative Reflection article for today for a summary of thoughts regarding the Book of Jonah.
(1) Please look up 2 Kings 14:25 to get a sense of who Jonah is. He lived in the first part of the 8th century B.C.
(2) Factors to consider for him to go (the Hebrew word is to rise up, meaning to go immediately) to Nineveh (modern day Iraq) to the east:
a. How far does he have to travel?
b. What language might he have to speak?
c. Why would these proud Assyrians accept his words?
d. What other risks might he be taking?
e. How would you respond, if you were Jonah?
(3) What is the commission? If the city was so wicked, why should God care? Could He not just judge them from heaven directly?
(4) Instead, Jonah “ran away” (the Hebrew word is also “rose up”), boarding a ship at Joppa (a port city in the Mediterranean) and tried to head to Tarshish (likely Spain).
a. Why did Jonah run? Why did he wish to head to Spain, of all places?
b. Was he not afraid of the consequences of his action? And what might the consequences be?
c. Did he not care about God’s likely punishment of the Assyrians?
d. Compare his attitude with Abraham’s (in Gen. 18:22-33). What is the difference between them? What might be the reasons for the difference?
(5) The sailors on the ship are kind of like the crew members of today’s cruise ship, made up of people from many nations. Therefore, they all pray to their own gods.
a. These are supposed to be seasoned sailors. Why should they be so afraid?
b. How does the scene depict the typical relationship between pagans and their gods?
(6) With such a violent storm, how can Jonah fall into a “deep sleep”?
a. When you knowingly rebel against God, do you not experience an acute sense of peacelessness?
b. How then can Jonah manage to sleep so well, presumably totally oblivious to the storm which he definitely feels and knows its reason?
c. What does it say about his determination to face the consequence of his rebellion, no matter what? How hard is his heart at this time? (Refer to 4:1-3.)
(7) What would the captain notice of Jonah? Why would he care to wake him up?
(8) I think the decision and the outcome of casting lots might be prompted by God. However, is it right for us to play this “blame-game” whenever a severe disaster strikes our nation, our home or our church? When might it be justified and when might it not be? (Think about Job and what Jesus says in Lk. 13:4.)
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) The questions asked in v. 8 are most interesting.
a. What questions do they ask?
b. Should not one question of “what have you done?” be enough?
(2) Why does Jonah’s answer terrify them, resulting in their rhetorical question, “What have you done”?
(3) At this point, what options does Jonah have in facing his situation? What does his decision to ask the sailors to throw him overboard reveal about him?
a. Repentance?
b. Unrepentance?
(4) Why do the sailors not want to throw him overboard? Does it not rescue them form harm’s way immediately? Who might be more righteous?
(5) What have the sailors learned from this incident?
a. Before the calming of the sea, whom do the sailors pray to?
b. At the calming of the sea, whom do they worship?
(6) What lesson should Jonah have learned from this incident? Do you think he has learned it?
(7) The fact is, his first mission is now accomplished. Do you agree?
a. Is Jonah’s mission only to the Assyrians?
b. How does this serve as a precursor to Jonah’s mission to Nineveh?
(8) In what sense does Jesus liken himself to Jonah in Luke 11:29-30?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Where does Jonah utter this prayer?
(2) The prayer may be divided into the following sub-divisions, like the structure of many psalms:
Vv.
2-3: God’s deliverance
Vv.
4-6a: Lament (of his plight)
Vv.
6b-7: God’s deliverance
V.
8: Confidence expressed
V. 9: Vow and praise
(3) Now that he is temporarily “spared” in the belly of a fish, consider the following:
a. What is going on in his mind?
b. Does he have any remorse? Should he?
c. What best describes his inner condition at this point?
(4) Vv. 2-3: God’s deliverance
a. What does he do when he is being thrown into the sea and sinking?
b. Since he asks to be thrown into the sea, is he prepared to face death?
(5) Vv. 4-6a: Lament (of his plight)
a. What does he attribute his plight to?
b. How dangerous is his situation under the sea?
c. Does he utter any words of repentance?
d. What does he mean by, “yet, I will look toward your holy temple”?
(6) Vv. 6b-7: God’s deliverance
a. How does Jonah address God in his distress?
b. What can we learn from him?
(7) V. 8: Confidence expressed
a. Why would he suddenly compare himself with the pagans?
b. Does it mean he has changed his mind toward the pagans?
(8) V. 9: Vow and praise
a. Why does he say, “But”?
b. What kind of a vow does he make and why?
(9) See how many first personal pronouns can you count in his prayers (i.e. I, me and my).
a. Do you think he is now ready to obey his mission?
b. What changes, if any, has this experience brought upon him?
c. Do you think he has learned to identify with God’s heart toward the idol-worshipping pagans of Nineveh?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) After what should be a life-changing experience, being rescued by God in the belly of a fish, what should Jonah have done immediately in response to God’s gracious treatment of his rebellion?
(2) Why does God have to ask Jonah to go a second time? Should he not be the one who would immediately embark on his mission trip after being rescued?
(3) No one is indispensable. Why does God choose to remind Jonah to go? Why doesn’t God use someone else?
(4) If God can really send someone else to accomplish His mission, why then would God insist on calling Jonah again?
(5) The Bible only records one sentence that Jonah has said in his proclamation:
a. Would it be because that’s really all he has said?
b. Does it indicate that Jonah really never cared to introduce the Lord to the people, including who He is, His love and forgiveness?
c. What might his intention be for such a brief message?
(6) What is the immediate result of his proclamation? How can you explain this very unusual response from the people?
(7) From the response of the people and the king, consider the following:
a. How can we know that their repentance is genuine?
b. How sweeping is their repentance?
c. What is the purpose of their repentance?
(8) Does God really intend to destroy the people and their city? What does this reveal about God’s character and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ today?
(9) What are the valuable lessons you have learned today about evangelism? List them out one by one.
(1) Upon the repentance of the people of this city, what might the angels in heaven be doing? (Lk. 15:7)
(2) How different is Jonah’s response from the angels? Why?
(3) How can you describe an “evangelist” like Jonah?
(4) Why then is he willing to “obey” the second time?
(5) In what way is he like the older brother of the prodigal son (in Lk. 15)? In what way is he worse than the older brother?
(6) If you were the Lord, would you be hurt by Jonah’s answer in v. 3? How would you deal with a person like Jonah?
(7) How does God deal with him, instead? Why?
(8) How does Jonah answer the question posed by God in v. 4? What kind of an answer does he give through his action?
(9) Does Jonah know that it is God who has provided the leafy plant? How might he interpret God’s action in v. 6 at the time?
(10) Does Jonah know that it is God who has also caused the withering of the plant, the scorching wind and the blazing sun? How might he interpret God’s action? Does he get God’s message at this point? Why not?
(11) It is apparent that God’s objective lesson has not worked, so He has to bare His soul (so to speak) before Jonah:
a. What is the root problem of Jonah according to God?
b. Can you describe the heart of God with which He desires Jonah to identify with by calling him and giving him a second chance?
(12) Read John 3:16 and try to paraphrase these familiar words, substituting “the world” with the people of Nineveh.
(13) Who were the people of Nineveh then and who are they now?
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?