Teacher Notes

Bible Stories for Adults

Jonah

Jonah



Welcome and Announcements
    Next Week - Daniel's Three Friends (Daniel 1-3)
    Bible Words to Remember:
      Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

Opening Prayer


God's People (Galatians 3)
    How did Israel respond to warnings of disaster by God's prophets?
      Micah 2:6 = Don't prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.
    Why did Israel feel so secure?
      Amos 7:12-13 = They were God's chosen, God wouldn't harm them
    How did God respond to Israel's feeling of superiority?
      Amos 9:7 = Aren't you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?
    How did Jesus respond to the Jews' arrogance as descendants of Abraham?
      Matthew 3:9 = Out of these stones God can raise children for Abraham

    But hadn't God excluded non-Jews from His people when He called Abraham?
      Genesis 12:1-3 = No, He specially blessed the Jews so they would be blessings to others
    Wasn't God only the God of the Jews?
      Romans 3:29-30 (10:12-15) = No, He is the God of all creation and all people
    What about God's promise specifically for the descendants of Abraham?
      Galatians 3:7-9 = Those who believe are children of Abraham
    How do we, as non-Jews, receive the promise given to Abraham?
      Galatians 3:14, 29 = If you belong to Christ, then you are ... heirs to the promise

    How did the early church respond when Peter baptized the Roman, Cornelius?
      Acts 11:1-3 = They criticized him for associating with Gentiles
    What great understanding did they gain after Peter told his story?
      Acts 11:18 = God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life

Jonah's Times (Jonah 1:1)
    Who was Jonah?
      Jonah 1:1 = Son of Amittai, From Gath-Hepher in Zebulun, N of Nazareth (2K)
    At what time in Israel's history did Jonah prophesy?
      2 Kings 14:23, 25 = During Jeroboam II of Israel, Between Elisha & Amos/Hosea
    What world power was Israel's biggest threat? = Menahem ruled 7 mos after Jero II
      2 Kings 15:19 = Assyria (1000 talents = 37 tons), reputation for incredible brutality
    For what did the Israelites dream?
      Micah 5:5-6 = Destruction of and deliverance from Assyria
    Why is it called the land of Nimrod?
      Genesis 10:8-12 = Cush's son, Nimrod, built Nineveh (Assyria's capital)

Jonah's Call (Jonah 1:1-3)
    What was God's mission for Jonah?
      Jonah 1:2 = To preach in Nineveh and call them to repentance
    What would happen if they listened to Jonah and turned from evil?
      Ezekiel 18:21, 23 = They would be forgiven and not be destroyed
    How did Jonah feel about being God's messenger of grace to Assyria?
      Jonah 1:3 = He tried to run away from God, Tarshish (Spain) was western end of the world

Rough Seas Away From God (Jonah 1)
    How easily could Jonah run away and hide from God?
      Jeremiah 23:23-24 = God fills heaven & earth, near & far, no secret places to hide
    Did Jonah really feel he could run away and hide from God?
      Jonah 1:4-6 = Apparently; he slept while God was getting his attention with a storm

    How did the sailors determine Jonah was responsible for the calamity?
      Jonah 1:7-10 (Prov 16:33) = They cast lots to learn God's answer
    How would they be able to calm this storm?
      Jonah 1:11-12 = Throw Jonah into the sea
    How quickly did the sailors follow Jonah's instructions?
      Jonah 1:13-15 = First tried to row to land, prayed for innocence before throwing J in
    What effect did this event have on the sailors?
      Jonah 1:16 = It built their faith, they sacrificed & made vows

The Fish (Jonah 2)
    How did God protect Jonah from the sea to be able to fulfill his mission?
      Jonah 1:17; 2:10 = The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah

    Fish Notes:
      Not a whale - Extremely rare in Mediterranean, throat too small
      Probably a Requin shark - Common in Mediterranean to 25' long, large throat
        Deep water, Very voracious, swallows everything it finds
        Whole horse was found in one
      1758 - One swallowed an overboard sailor and disappeared,
        captain shot with cannonball, man vomited up alive
    What was significant about the time Jonah remained in the fish?
      Matthew 12:38-40 (16:4) = Christ to lie 3 days in heart of earth
    How did Jonah pass the time?
      Jonah 2:1 (2-9) = He prayed prayers of thanksgiving for rescue

Jonah's Mission (Jonah 3)
    How did God's mission for Jonah change after his display of faithlessness?
      Jonah 3:1-2 = It didn't. Shows God's patience & grace; man can't harm God's plan
    How did Jonah respond this second time? = 3 days (60 miles) circumference
      Jonah 3:3-4 = He obeyed and went, warned of destruction in 40 days
    How did Jonah know what to say?
      Jonah 3:2 = God told him, just like all of God's other prophets

    How had the Israelites treated God's prophets who called for repentance?
      1 Kings 19:10 = They rejected and killed them
    Did the evil Ninevites reject Jonah's message and attempt to harm him?
      Jonah 3:5-9 = No, they repented & turned from their evil ways
    How did God respond to their acceptance of His call?
      Jonah 3:10 = He had compassion & didn't bring upon them the destruction he had threatened

Jonah's Celebration of Success (Jonah 4)
    How thrilled was Jonah that his mission had been successful?
      Jonah 4:1 = Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry
    Why did he react this way?
      Jonah 4:2 = He was afraid this would happen; he didn't want Nineveh to be saved
    What did he do?
      Jonah 4:3-5 = Made a lean-to on a hill hoping to see destruction

    What miracle did God perform to teach Jonah a lesson?
      Jonah 4:6-7 = Made bush grow to give shade, then had worm kill it
    Bush Notes:
      Probably Elkeroa - Common shrub in Palestine, grows in sandy places
        Broad vine-like leaves with dense shadow
        Grows very quickly in matter of days
    How did this affect Jonah?
      Jonah 4:8-9 = He became very angry and even wished to die
    What was God's message through the vine?
      Jonah 4:10-11 = Jonah was much more concerned over vine than innocent in city
        = God is right to be concerned & give His grace to His creation
        = 120K kids under 7 leads to 600K people in city, 120K innocent

Closing Prayer



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
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kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com


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