Lessons from the book of jonah

Seven lessons from the life of jonah joyful abundant life. Im sure youre familiar with the story of jonah and the whale big fish. He decides to quit being gods prophet and takes passage to. Jonah, that prophet that tried to run away from god, continues to bring us lessons on obedience, running away from gods commands, a hatred that stops one from sharing the gospel, and many more. The severe winds and boisterous sea that god sent, then miraculously calmed jonah 1. He thought he could escape on a boat bound for tarshish, which was about a thousand. Jan 02, 2020 jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. The book of jonah shows us seven interesting life lessons about what happens when we take this course of action. The amazing power of god was illustrated by these miracles. Jonah and the whalethe book of jonah sunday school.

In this sermon we will study the book of jonah and glean some general lessons from the book. The condition of his soul, and gods loving discipline of him, instruct and humble the reader. The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain, giving readers a glimpse of christs death and resurrection hundreds of years before they actually occurred. If you have ten or fifteen minutes, stop and read it through. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this important book in the canon of scripture without realizing that they are playing into the hands of the critics and innocently becoming the dupes of the skeptics. Perhaps we could reflect upon a few of these matters. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of jonah in the old testament is a short book with just four chapters. But jonah rose up to flee unto tarshish from the presence of the lord, and went down to.

Shop reflection 7 great lessons from the book of jonah. Clues to the meaning of the object lesson one of the possible clues to the object lessons purpose is the use of the compound divine. Founder of richly blessed today, an inspiring blog about personal finance, relationship, and spiritual reflection. It is particularly difficult to identify the central theme that unites all the elements of the story in the book of jonah into a literary and conceptual whole. Jonah tried to escape his responsibility before god by running from his presence. In the first chapter of jonah we read about a wayward prophet.

Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from jonahs encounter with the great fish and the. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who. The broad variety of opinions on this subject from the talmudic sages through modem commentaries can be subsumed under four basic headings. The book of jonah preface those of you who are familiar with the story of jonah and the whale know that jonah hopped a ship heading in the opposite direction when god commanded him to. If you have ten or fifteen minutes, stop and read it. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Now jonah recognizes that he has ran from the lord and needs a relationship with god.

The book of jonah offers valuable lessons in regards to this fear and shows us how we can become the prophets we are called to be. Through the actions of jonah, kids can learn what to do and what not to do when god calls upon them. Sep 29, 2016 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. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. The book of jonah is short and a lot of time we can read through it quickly. He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind elisha in his place in the old testament. Home topical studies prophecy four lessons from jonah. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. On this note, the book closes, leaving us to ponder the lessons taught therein. When the call of god came to him, jonah could not see beyond his own selfish desire for god to punish the assyrians. Jonah was told to go and preach to ninevah because of their sins but jonah has rejected gods call.

This page offers some hints for teaching this important bible story to children. May 24, 2007 i began to see some big themes in jonah that i had missed before. Let me share with you seven great lessons from the book of jonah. Brent kercheville july 10, 2011 click here to listen to this lesson. As yom kippur draws to a close, we read the deceptively simple book of jonah. Not stopping and chewing on what the scripture is trying to show us. Clues to the meaning of the object lesson one of the possible clues to the object lessons purpose is the use of the compound divine name yhwh elohim in verse 6. It is a well known story for obvious reasons, not least of which are a disobedient prophet, an obedient fish and a wicked nation that starts out bad, yet ends up good. First, we should note that this marvelous narrative has suffered the brunt of the critics barbs for a long while.

What did you learn from the book of jonahwatch the video family worship. The book of jonah preface those of you who are familiar with the story of jonah and the whale know that jonah hopped a ship heading in the opposite direction when god commanded him to go preach to the ninevites. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. Apr 12, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Jonahs story validated by christ first, we should note that this marvelous narrative has suffered the brunt of the critics barbs for a long while. Not only that, but if you apply these lessons in your life, you will dramatically become not just a better person, but also a better christian a person whose life is directed by the will of god. Jonah was already a successful prophet when the events of this book took place ii kings 14. First, we should note that this marvelous narrative has suffered the brunt of the critics barbs for a.

Interestingly enough, this is the point at which the book starts. Jonah and the whalethe book of jonah sunday school lesson. And, after we come to god in faith, he is not finished with us. These small group studies of jonah extensive crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications. We have seen in our lesson today how jonahs disobedience had negative effects upon those around him. As a type of the messiah, jonah and the record of his prophecy cause us to glorify the god of all creation.

Therefore, it can be said that following jonahs example i. These lessons learned from the book of jonah need to be taught to children of every generation. In fact, if you take a deeper look at jonahs life, you will learn a lot of life lessons from the book of jonah. But the book of jonah is also about spiritual revival jonah slept on the boat the sailors had to wake him up. The book exemplifies the miraculous power and supremacy of god over his entire creation. While modern skeptics may find it impossible that a man could survive inside a great fish for three days, jesus compared himself to jonah, showing that this prophet existed and that the story was historically accurate. The book ends with jonah brooding over nineveh, angry with god for the grace he gave to the people jonah so despises. For it begins with a commission to jonah and with jonah s refusal to heed it, in other words, the book of jonah begins with a formal expression of gods sovereign will and with a mans determined opposition. Jonah stays inside this fish for three days and three nights. Jonah running from the call of god what would you do if god told you to go to the largest, most evil city in the world and march through the streets announcing their destruction from the hand of god.

For being only four chapters long, the book of jonah packs quite a punch. Perhaps the third quarter of the eighth century is the most likely date for the book, after the public ministries of amos and hosea and before the fall of samaria to assyria in 722721. Jonah tried to run away, but found that it was impossible to escape the call of god. A lesson from jonah that we can all learn new life. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children.

I would like to suggest several lessons from the book of jonah. Not sure about you but, smelling as he probably did, i have a feeling that it wouldnt have taken him long to go run and. Verse 2 reveals that jonah called out to the lord in his distress. Here is an outline of what i taught, it will need some adaptation to fit in your ministry. I began to see some big themes in jonah that i had missed before. Introduction jonah is the book of the bible which perhaps has been criticized more than any other. Nonetheless, the integrity with which they treated the past ought not to be questioned. Fishing for lifes big lessons in the book of jonah the. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Lessons from the book of jonah predications adventistes. Jehovah had been patient and merciful with jonah, but jonah was not merciful with the people of nineveh. The surface lessons are easily grasped and the content of the book is deep enough to challenge every christians mind. Beautifully balanced, deep and profound jonah s adventure opens a window into the heart of god.

Three themes tie this alltoorelevant story together. He left his hometown, but he could not leave gods presence. The story of jonah and the whale records one of the strangest events in the bible. Learn the lessons jonah did as you consider what it means to obey. Jonah 2, lessons from the belly of the fish west palm. The book of jonah gives no indication of his prophetic activity in the land of israel. I am presently writing a book on jonah and was surprised at someone else writing about this awesome old testament book. Unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Jonah sermon lessons from the life of jonah proposition. I see the gospel clearly represented in this short read so i am titling the book the gospel according to jonah. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Even though it is one of the bibles shortest books just four chapters, jonah is packed with lessons for the youth of today. The book of jonah is different from other prophetic books, as many have noted. In this sermon on jonah we can see that there are many other great lessons in the book of jonah, but lets consider these that we have studied.

The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. Lessons from the book of jonah watchtower online library. Jul 10, 2011 jonah is the one who ran from the lord and did not want to have a relationship with god any longer. Our next lesson will continue in the book of jonah so we hope you will be able to come back.

Jonahs story is told in the short just 48 verses but powerful book of jonah. Jonah was called by god to take a message to nineveh modern mosul in iraq but ran away instead. Jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. The book of jonah is filled with valuable information and timeless lessons. The others are about what god taught the people through the prophet and jonah is more about what the prophet himself is being taught. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. Below you will also find links to our free sunday school lessons based on the book of jonah. His life and ministry, recorded in but four chapters, brings so many lessons to christians old and new. Jesus did not consider the book of jonah to be a fable or myth. In his word, jehovah has preserved the life stories of men and women of faith in order to teach us valuable lessons. Jonah learning from jehovahs mercy, and then answer the following questions what challenges did the three publishers in the video face.

The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. Jonah learning from jehovahs mercy, and then answer the following questions. When we left jonah at the end of chapter two he had just been vomited back onto the land. Instead, he sat outside the city in the shade of a bottlegourd plant and pouted. Through the actions of jonah, kids can learn what to.