Invitation to the Old Testament 17: Jonah

JONAH: 

JONAH When a Fish Swallowed a Man

Introduction: 

Introduction The book of Jonah is different from all of the other Minor Prophets because it is a narrative about Jonah instead of a collection of his prophecies. Jonah followed Elisha as a prophet to the Northern Kingdom. He may have been a graduate of Elisha’s School of the Prophets. Gath-hepher was 3 miles NE of Nazareth. Nineveh was 500 miles NE of Gath-hepher. Joppa was SW of Gath-hepher; and Tarshish (modern-day Spain) was even further to the west.

What do we know about Jonah?: 

What do we know about Jonah? Jonah means "dove". Jonah was the son of Amittai from Galilee. Jonah was an historical person - 2 Kings 14:25; Matt. 12:38-40; Luke 11:29-30

When did the events in the book of Jonah take place?: 

When did the events in the book of Jonah take place? 760 B.C. (during the reign of Jeroboam II - Under this king, Israel expanded its borders while Assyria [Nineveh] was in a time of decline due to internal strife and external oppression.)

What is the primary message of the book of Jonah?: 

What is the primary message of the book of Jonah? The theme of Jonah is God’s love for the whole world.

What would an overview of the book of Jonah look like?: 

What would an overview of the book of Jonah look like? Prodigal prophet (1) - Resignation - Storm - God's patience Praying prophet (2) - Repentance - Fish - God's pardon Preaching prophet (3) - Revival - City - God's power Pouting prophet (4) - Rebellion - Gourd - God's pity

Methods of Interpreting Jonah: 

Methods of Interpreting Jonah Mythological method - the story is untrue Fictional method - a religious short story 3. Allegorical method - the story is symbolic a. Jonah - symbol of Israel b. Fish - symbol of Babylon c. 3 Days in Fish's Belly - symbol of Babylonian captivity 4. Literal or Historical or Typical method - the story is both historical and prophetic (pointing ahead to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ - Matthew 12:40)

Historicity of Jonah: 

Historicity of Jonah 1. Why people doubt the historical accuracy of Jonah a. Jonah is alleged to have lived three days in the belly of a great fish. b. Jonah's message was brief and blunt yet the Ninevites repented so quickly. 2. Response a. Jesus accepted the story of Jonah as being historically accurate. You can't reject the historicity of Jonah without also rejecting the authority of Christ. b. Other men have allegedly lived for extended periods of time in the bodies of large fish.

Historicity of Jonah: 

Historicity of Jonah c. As for the quick repentance of the Ninevites, you must not overlook the influence of the following factors: 1) God's power 2) An Assyrian plague in 765 B.C. 3) A total eclipse in 763 B.C. 4) A second Assyrian plague in 759 B.C. 5) Jonah's ghostly appearance