Jonah: Israel’s Hatred of Assyria

Introductory

• Jonah: Gath-Hepher; the Northern kingdom; known from 2 Kings 14

• Name: means dove; symbol of Israel in the OT; he represents his nation

• Date: 730 BC so Samaria was still standing

• Uniqueness: it is not the sermons of a prophet; instead a historical account of an episode

in Jonah’s life

• Genre: historical narrative, allegory, or parable

• Main Message: God loves all mankind and he expects people to carry His love to
mankind, even enemies

I. Jonah’s Impulsive Flight (1)

A. Jonah is called to go and preach to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria

1. Assyria was an incredibly cruel nation

2. Israel hated Assyria

3. Israel did not want to help Assyria, they did not care for them

B. Jonah flees by ship to a city named Tarshish, in Spain

C. God sends a storm

D. Jonah goes to sleep while the pagans on the ship are praying

1. Jonah would rather die than face God

2. Jonah would rather die than obey God

E. Jonah is identified as a reason for the storm

1. Rather than repent; he would rather die

2. He tells them to throw him into the sea

F. The sailors fear Yahweh, but Jonah doesn’t

 G. Jonah is thrown overboard; but swallowed by a great fish

1. For three days and three nights he is in the fish

H. These pagans are more righteous than God’s elect prophet and nation

II. Jonah’s Repentant Prayer (2)

A. While drowning Jonah finally decides to obey

B. God saves Jonah by having him swallowed by the fish so that he would not drown

C. God does deliver him

III. Jonah’s Effective Preaching (3)

A. 40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown, this is conditional even though
Jonah does not state this

B. Nineveh believed, they repented, they prepared a fast, and they put on sack
clothes; they were led to do this by their king

C. God relented

IV. Jonah’s Unjustified Anger (4)

A. Jonah is angry at Nineveh’s salvation

B. Jonah is angry at God’s very nature; gracious and compassionate, slow to anger,
abounding in love, relents from sending calamity

C. Jonah would rather die than see God’s will prevail

D. God showed Jonah that he cares more about a vine than Nineveh

E. Jonah is left with a decision to make; will he become like God or will he continue
to hate this people group

F. Conclusion

1. Jonah loves only people like him

2. God loves everyone and we should too