This past week I started a Bible study with a friend who has only been a Christian for six months. He loves his Bible and tells me that he can't seem to get enough of Gods word! A few weeks ago we got on the subject of Jonah. He said that he really didn't know anything about the man or the book (except for the whole "whale" thing) so I offered to do a study of the book with him. The next few posts will reflect some of the observations and a few conclusions we've come to. This is not the first time I've studied the book of Jonah but it seems like every time I do, I get more out of it. I think many of us who have followers of Christ for any length of time can really relate to Jonah. We tend to see ourselves in him.
Observations from Jonah chapter 1 verses 1-10:
-God calls Jonah to a specific place to do a specific task/job for a specific reason
-Being a prophet, Jonah should know that he can't run from God
-Jonahs sin greatly affected other people around him
-The mariners were very spiritual people (their gods did not hear them, hmmm)
-Jonah seems comfortable with his sin (he falls asleep during the storm)
-The mariners knew there was a reason for the storm
-God will use whatever means to call you out (even lots)
-Jonah really fears God? Then why is he running?
-God uses Jonahs sin to convert the mariners to himself
-The mariners receive Jonahs god as the one true God.
Observations form Jonah chapter 1 verses 11-17:
-Jonah would seemingly rather die than obey God and go to Nineveh
-The mariners did not want Jonahs blood on their hands
-The mariners did not want to die because of Jonahs sin
-The mariners prayed to the one true God
=The mariners obedience got quick results (Jonah could learn something from them)
-The mariners fear of God turned into a respectful fear of Him and it took them to a point of worship
-God has power over all creation (even great fish)
Conclusion: God seems to allow Jonah to sin, if only for a short while, so that His ultimate sovereign will may be accomplished in the lives of the mariners and get Jonah into a position where he can be broken.
