The Book of Jonah: The Truth behind the Legend (4)
Sin & Punishment Grace & Understanding Ch 1-2 God Saved a Disobedient Hebrew Servant Jonah Was Disobedient (1:1-3) Gentiles Obeyed God (1:4-16) Jonah Brought the Trouble (1:4-5) Gentile Prayed Wrongly (1:6-8) Jonah Was the Trouble (1:9-12) Gentiles Prayed Rightly (1:13-16) Jonah Was Saved (1:17 2:10) God Gave Grace (1:17) Jonah Praised (2:1-9) God Commissioned (2:10) Ch 3-4 God Saved a Depraved Gentile Nation Jonah Was Obedient (3:1-4) Gentile Repented (3:5-9) They Believed in God (3:5a) They Humbled Themselves (3:5b-8a) They Hoped on God (3:8b-9) Jonah Was Rebuked (3:10 4:11) God Gave Grace (3:10) Jonah Complained (4:1-3) God Explained (4:4-11)
It Goes Down, When the Right People Are Wrong (1:1-16) Jonah Sinned in Flagrant Disobedience, and God Disciplined Him with (Almost) Death by Drowning. It Serves Him Right, but God Is Short of Spite (1:17 2:10) God Gracefully Saved Jonah through the Fish; and Jonah Responded by Thanksgiving and Prayer It May Not Be Expected, but God Can Change the Wicked (3:1-10) God Gave Jonah the 2 nd Chance of Obedience. He Did It with Reservation, but It Was Amazingly Effective
God Responded to the Signs of Repentance from the Assyrians (3:10) as He Did to Jonah (2:10). He Relented the Pronounced Judgments on Both. Jonah Was Happy When God Forgave Him (3:1-3); but Not So When God Forgave the Assyrians (4:1). Jonah Represents Israel of Jesus Day, Who Did Not Want to Share Divine Grace and Favor with Others (Matt 18:23-35, esp. v.33).
Jonah Knew and Could Cite Scriptures to Prove God s Position and Heart Great Creator and Ruler (1:9; cf. Gen 1:1). Sovereign Savior (2:9c; cf. Ps 3:8; Isa 45:17). Merciful Forgiver (4:2a; cf. Exod 34:6; Joel 2:13-14; Ps 145:9). Jonah Explained Why He Disobeyed God in the First Place: God Might Be Too Good to the Assyrians, Who Once Forgiven, Would Rise and Threaten Israel (4:2b).
Jonah Made Himself the Counsel of God s Will He Usurped God s Sovereignty and Misunderstood God s Heart. He Blessed Others (by Causing Them to Obey), but Missed the Blessing Himself (by Obedience). When Not Heard by His Master, Jonah Rather Die (4:3), Following the Examples of Ahithophel (2 Sam 17:23; due to Grudge) < Jonah. Elijah (1 King 19:4; due to Despair) > Jonah.
When God Challenged the Rationality and Consistency of Jonah s Mind (4:4), Jonah Sat on the Mount Near Nineveh, Still Hoping to See Its Fall (4:5): His Patriotic Feeling and Personal Reputation Was More Important Than God s Heart and Sovereign Will. God Made an Illustration by Arranging a Gourd (Ricinus, Castor Oil Plant) to Grow and Cover Jonah from the Sun, then Die from a Worm (4:6-7): The Sea, the Gourd, and the Worm All Obeyed God; but Not Jonah!
Jonah Prayed in the Fish s Belly as a Prodigal Son, Wanting to Be Saved (Luke 15:11-32, esp. vv.17-19). But Now He Prayed Like the Elder Brother (Luke 15:28-30), and Would Rather Die Than Living in a World Where God Is Sovereign, Not Him (4:8). When God Challenged the Rationality and Consistency of Jonah s Anger (4:9a), Jonah Responded with More Anger (4:9b).
God Was Called Yahweh in 4:1-5, 10-11; but God (Elohim) in 4:7-9; and both in 4:6 God Played the Role of the Merciful and Faithful One to Israel throughout the Book: Causing Assyria to Repent Its Sin of Cruelty Is Preparing It as the Rod of Discipline for Israel, Whom God Loves. God Demonstrated That He Is the Almighty and Sovereign One in the Episode of the Gourd in 4:6-9. God Reappeared as the Merciful and Faithful One When Giving the Final Open Question in 4:10-11.
God Asked Jonah to Apply Consistency (4:10). God Explained That He Must Be Consistent: His Good and Loving Heart Is for All People, Not Israel Alone (4:10). Jonah and Nahum Are the Only Two Book That Ended with Open Questions; and They Are All About the Judgment of Assyria God Is Good, So He Was Reluctant in Judgment. God Is Just, So His Judgments Are Resolute.
The Parable of the Two Lost Sons (Luke 15:11-32) Ended with an Open Invitation: Will You, the Elder Brother (Representing Israel, Pharisees, Hidden Sinners) Join the Party for the Father s Honor, Celebrating the Salvation of the Younger Brother (Prodigal Son, Gentiles, Open Sinners)? Will You Believe, Rejoice and Join the God, Who Is Simply Good and Sovereign?
The Proud and Selfish Want God to Be Good to Them, but Not Too Good to Others. Servants of God Can Bless Others but Miss the Blessing Themselves. God Is Both Good to His Chosen/Elect, and to All People. God Is Both Good and Sovereign. We Should Know God s Heart, but Cannot Direct God s Will. Do We Rejoice at the Repentance of the Wicked? If Not, We Need to Repent!