April 24 2016 April 24 2016 JONAH Reluctant

April 24, 2016

April 24, 2016 JONAH Reluctant Herald

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets

Jonah (Dove)* Author Jonah, son of Amittai 793 -753 BC Date The God of the Hebrews: (1) has concern for Theme the whole world, (2) is sovereign over nature and all human affairs; 3) “salvation is of the Lord”; and (4) that God’s gracious offer of salvation extends to all who repent Christ in Christ is portrayed in His resurrection; seen this book as a prophet to the nations; and as the Saviour of the nations. In Jonah’s life, He is seen as the Saviour and Lord * Prophet to Israel (N. kingdom)

Jonah – Outline (1) Chapter Leaving Destination Arrive 1 Israel Nineveh Fish 2 Fish Nineveh Dry Land 3 Dry Land Nineveh 4 Nineveh Gourd Vine Heart of God

Jonah – Outline (2) Reference Ch. 1: 1 -17 Ch. 2: 1 -10 Ch. 3: 1 -20 Ch. 4: 1 -11 Theme God’s patience with Jonah God’s mercy toward Jonah God’s power through Jonah God’s ministry to Jonah

Jonah – Outline (3) Reference Ch. 1: 1 -17 Ch. 2: 1 -10 Ch. 3: 1 -20 Ch. 4: 1 -11 Theme Jonah fleeing Jonah praying Jonah preaching Jonah learning

23 Jeroboam II… 24 …refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 25 Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher. 2 Kings 14: 23 -25

39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. Matthew 12: 39 -41

NINEVEH

NINEVEH 6 The descendants of Ham were Cush… 8 Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth. 10 He built his kingdom in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11 From there he expanded his territory to Assyria, building the cities of Nineveh Genesis 10: 6: 8; 10 -11

NINEVEH • • • On the Tigris river Walls 100 feet high Wide enough for three chariots 1500 towers 15 gates

3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. Jonah 3: 3

NINEVEH • • • 120, 000 children Cattle Parklands Khawsar river ran through it Administrative center

• • • “Palace without Rival” 80 rooms 1680 feet long by 810 feet wide

“Palace without Rival” 5. 6 CFL fields X 4 CFL fields (151, 200 sq. yds. ) Buckingham Palace – 77, 000 sq. m.

911 Kl. 4000 Kl.

THEMES IN JONAH

THEMES IN JONAH GOING DOWN: • From Gath-hepher to Joppa • From the city to the wharf • From the gangway into the “lowest part” of the ship • Jonah laid down to sleep

THEMES IN JONAH GOING DOWN: • The captain came down to Jonah • Jonah went down into the sea • Jonah went down into the great fish • Jonah and the fish went down to the deep

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: • A ship leaving Joppa • A berth available for Jonah • A supernatural storm • A crew that was both religious and superstitious

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: • Lots cast by the seamen

33 We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall Proverbs 16: 33

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: • Lots cast by the seamen • A great fish • The heart of the king and subjects of Nineveh

THEMES IN JONAH GOD’S PREPARATIONS: • A • A gourd vine worm scorching east wind

OVERRULING THEME GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

OVERRULING THEME GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY • His will cannot be thwarted

…He just makes us willing to go

OVERRULING THEME GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY • His will cannot be thwarted • SALVATION is of the LORD

11 This What Next? is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. ’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. ” Acts 4: 11 -12

What Next? The incidentals in the Book of Jonah are the boat, the fish, the gourd, the worm, the wind, and even the city of Nineveh. The essentials here are YHWH and Jonah – God and man – that is what the book is all about. J. Campbell Morgan

What Next? If God was willing to save a brutal, cruel nation like the Assyrians, including inhabitants of Nineveh, its capital, then…God is in the business of saving sinners. J. V. Mc. Gee

What Next? If God was willing to restore a truculent, bigoted prophet like Jonah, then…God is still in the business of restoring saints. Yours truly