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Bible Study 1
Bible Study 1
caleb.fankhauser@usw.salvationarmy.org
Today‟s Study of Men of the Bible looks at accuracy or not, it‟s message can still speak to our
aspect of this story. Maybe you sang the songs in Jonah was a prophet. The role of a prophet
Sunday School of Jonah “way down in the middle was to speak to the people the messages of God.
of the Ocean.” If you attended Vacation Bible These messages were direct and personal. Often
School as a child there is a good chance you heard times they confronted people with conviction of
the story, or maybe even watched a Christian their sins. The life of a prophet was not an easy
Children's Cartoon about it. Even if this story one, as a prophets message was not always re-
seams familiar to you there are many aspects to ceived with gladness.
the story that maybe you„ve missed in the past, or Jonah had prophesied about “the
even if you noticed, bear repeating. restoration of the border of Israel during the reign
There are some who would tell you that the of Jereboam II.” (Varughese, p 352) As a prophet
story is just that, Story. Some scholars believe it to Israel, Jonah would have been aware of the bad
to simply be a whale of a tale, but Jesus himself blood between the Israelites and the Assyrian
north .
In verse one we see that Jonah received a Jonah, not wanting anything to do with the
message from God. We don‟t know exactly how Assyrian people decides to quit his job as God‟s
God relayed this message, but we know that Jonah prophet and run away. Sailing in the opposite direc-
heard God clearly. This is an essential element to tion, Jonah heads off to Tarshish.
the role of a prophet. If you can‟t clearly hear the Reread verse three. Did you catch that. It
message of God, how are you supposed to relay that says Jonah went to Tarshish to “flee from the Lord.”
We also know that Jonah heard God clearly Jonah will soon find out that trying to run from God
because it turns out to be a message Jonah does not is never a good idea.
Guilty? Somehow, Jonah was able to sleep even decide to leave Jonah to fate, and toss him into the
though he must have known what he was doing was sea. The Sea immediately grows calm, and the men
wrong. When the Captain of the ship comes and on the boat now believe in Jonah‟s God, and
A big fish comes along and swallows Jonah. though. Verse 10 tells us that the fish, “vomited
Most often we hear this as a tale of Jonah and the Jonah onto dry land.” God is a God of second
whale, but we actually have no idea what kind of chances, and will restore us, but sometimes that
fish it was. The point is Jonah, having run from restoration is going to be painful. When we own up
God, is now being swallowed by his mistakes. His to our sin, we often go through difficult situations to
actions and choices led him to the belly of the big restoration. It takes time for people, friends and
fish. Jonah realizes what he has done, and confesses those we hurt to trust us again. Our lies must be con-
his sin, asking for forgiveness from God. fronted with the truth. Our shameful acts must be
God is faithful. He gives Jonah a second brought to light. These uncomfortable situations are
chance even though he does not deserve one. often the only way we can be truly restored.
a shelter from the hot sun, but Jonah still doesn‟t get
thousands of people.
he did to us.
Branson, Robert. Discovering the Old Testament. Ed. Alex Varughese. Kansas City:
Burns, Jim. Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message on. U.S.A.: Gospel
Light, 1997.
Information on Historical accuracy of Jonah taken from Class notes, I 134-Old Testa-