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.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com