Project 119: Jonah 1

 |  Project 119  |  Joel Burks

The story of Jonah is one of the most widely known stories in the Bible, in comparison to some of the lesser known accounts. Whether in Sunday school, in a sermon, or simply as a part of your daily Bible reading, the story of Jonah captivates us by telling us of a giant fish that swallowed a man who was running from the Lord. But what if I told you that this story holds an even deeper truth than the obvious lesson of “don’t run from the Lord when He speaks to us”? What if I told you that it teaches us about how deep God’s grace is, not only for us, but for those around us?

To give us some historical context for the book of Jonah, Jeroboam II was the king of Israel at this time. 2 Kings 14:26 tells us, "He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke through his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher” (2 Kings 14:26, NIV). Since Jonah 1:1 identifies the prophet as Jonah, son of Amittai, we can safely infer that this is the same man and that he lived in the northern kingdom of Israel in the early to middle 700s B.C. (see sermon from John Piper, The Education of a Prophet, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-education-of-a-prophet-jonah).

Jonah, right off the bat, does the one thing we as believers should never do: judge others based on our knowledge of the situation. My wife Sara was quick to point me to Romans 2. In the first couple of verses Paul talks about how we have been forgiven for our sin, so we should never feel okay with passing judgment on others. Verses 2 and 3 say, “Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Romans 2:2-3, NIV). Ouch, kind of stings a little right?

Are there times you have looked at other people’s lives and justified your judgment with something that sounds like “Well at least I’m going to church”…or…“at least I’m not out doing what they’re doing every night?” If so, I encourage you to seek Christ even more diligently in your life. Our role, especially among other believers, is to be encouragers.

Father I pray that You will give us the courage to love those with whom we disagree and to encourage our brothers and sisters more faithfully.

Jonah 1 (ESV):

Jonah Flees the Presence of the LORD

1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea

7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.14 Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.