Why Care - Jonah - December 4, 2005

Sunday School Lesson – Why Care? – December 4, 2005

We begin a study on The Manger and the Mission for the next 4 Sunday’s:

December 4, 2005 – Jonah 4:1-11 – Identifying barriers that hinder Christians from reaching out to others.

December 11, 2005 – Romans 1:1-17 – Our responsibility in missions.

December 18, 2005 – Romans 15:14-33 – Can I really make a difference?

December 25, 2005 – Mathew 1: 18-25; 2:1-12 – What’s so special about JESUS?

Our scripture is Jonah 4:1-11.

The Book of Jonah is only 4 chapters and I encourage you to read all 4 chapters. I can relate to Jonah in the early days of my walk with the LORD, when GOD did not do as I wanted HIM to do. Thanks to THE LORD, HE has helped me grow beyond that attitude. GOD is sovereign, whether we like it or not. Some times we have to look back to see GOD’S plan in some things that happen in our lives. There are some things we will have to wait until we get to heaven to understand. The key is GOD is sovereign.

Jonah is a prophet. He lived during the time of the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel 793-753 BC. The Book of Jonah was written about 760 BC. Jonah lived in the village of Gath Hepher located about 3 miles northeast of Nazareth in Israel. As a prophet he represented GOD to the people of Israel. GOD asked Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, which is a large city in the gentile nation of Assyria. The Assyrians were vehement enemies of the Jews. Nineveh is about 500 miles northeast of Israel over land far from the Mediterranean Sea.

So when GOD called Jonah to go and warn the Ninevites of the pending destruction of their city, Jonah hopped on a ship to Tarshish headed in the opposite direction of Nineveh. Tarshish is thought to have been located on the tip of Spain.

When GOD calls, what is our response?

For the last month we have studied Job. GOD called Job to serve HIM in a test which would be used as a witness to his family and friends as well as to us throughout the ages as we encounter difficult circumstances along our journey with our LORD. Job was called of GOD but Job was not aware of the call.

Jonah is very aware of the call of GOD.

Let’s read Chapter 1 of Jonah:
Jonah
Chapter 1
Jonah’s Flight
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:[1] Jnh 3:1; 2 Kg 14:25 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because their wickedness has confronted Me.” 3 However, Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down[2] Jnh 1:5; 2:6 to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, from the Lord’s presence. 4 Then the Lord hurled a violent wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart. 5 The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god. They threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel and had stretched out and fallen into a deep sleep. 6 The captain approached him and said, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up! Call to your god.[3] Or God Maybe this god will consider us, and we won’t perish.” 7 “Come on!” the sailors said to each other. “Let’s cast lots. Then we will know who is to blame for this trouble we’re in.” So they cast lots, and the lot singled out Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us who is to blame for this trouble we’re in. What is your business and where are you from? What is your country and what people are you from?” 9 He answered them, “I am a Hebrew. I worship[4] Or fear • Yahweh, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were even more afraid and said to him, “What is this you’ve done?” For the men knew he was fleeing from the Lord’s presence, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you to calm this sea that’s against us?” For the sea was getting worse and worse. 12 He answered them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea[5] Lit sea that’s against you so it may quiet down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this violent storm that is against you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not because the sea was raging against them more and more. 14 So they called out to the Lord: “Please, Yahweh, don’t let us perish because of this man’s life, and don’t charge us with innocent blood! For You, Yahweh, have done just as You pleased.” 15 Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 The men • feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 [6] Jnh 2:1 in Hb Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in[7] Lit in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.[8] Mt 12:40

GOD calls Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach about how wicked they are and unless they repent GOD will destroy them. Because of his hatred for the Assyrians, Jonah does not want to be any part of the Assyrians being spared the wrath of GOD. Burn-baby-burn is his attitude. I am intrigued with GOD’S patience with Jonah. Jonah was the person GOD wanted to do the job. Jonah needed to be taught by GOD and repent of his attitude toward non-Jews as much as the Assyrians needed to know about GOD and repent of their sins.

To me it is interesting that even though Jonah is rebellious GOD uses his rebellion as a witness to the lost on the ship.

The crew on the ship recognized and acknowledged that the GOD Jonah represented was truly GOD.
Notice GOD “prepared” a great fish that swallowed Jonah. Jonah is in the belly of the fish for three days and nights. JESUS was in the tomb three days which is mentioned in relation to Jonah being in the belly of the fish.

Being in the belly of the fish gets Jonah’s attention and he is fearful that he will die. So Jonah prays I need YOUR help LORD! How often do we do the same thing in the midst of trouble, which is okay because we recognize our hope and salvation is in GOD? I think GOD puts us in situations to get our attention.

GOD acknowledges Jonah’s prayer and caused the fish to vomit up Jonah onto dry land. Jonah still has to travel over land to reach the city of Nineveh.

Some scholars say there are stories of other people who were swallowed by a large fish, likely whales, and survived. They believe the gastric juices in the fish likely bleached their skin and they were white when they were released by the whale. Some think Jonah was a ghastly sight and certainly got the attention of the Ninevites.

Jonah does what GOD has asked him to do, preach to the Ninevites in Chapter 3. Nineveh is a large city requiring three days to get around it. Jonah told them GOD would overthrow the city in 40 days.

To Jonah’s dismay his message took root in the heart of the Ninevites and the king of Nineveh. They repented and trusted that GOD might spare them of certain doom.

GOD saw them repent, changed HIS mind and did not destroy them.


Chapter 4:1-11 is our today’s lesson.
Jonah’s Anger
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. 2 He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place.[1] Jnh 1:3 I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from [sending]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. disaster.[2] Ex 34:6; Nm 14:18; Neh 9:17 3 And now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God appointed a plant,[3] = either a castor-oil plant or a climbing gourd and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort.[4] Lit to deliver him from his evil Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant. 7 When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered. 8 As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, “It’s better for me to die than to live.” 9 Then God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “[Yes,]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. ” he replied. “It is right. I’m angry enough to die!” 10 So the Lord said, “You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night. 11 Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people[5] Or men who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?”

Jonah is really ticked with GOD for sparing the Ninevites.

He says I knew YOU would spare them and that is why I ran the other way.



Notice what Jonah knows about GOD:

Gracious
Compassionate
Slow to anger
Abounding in LOVE
Relents from sending calamity

So Jonah tells GOD, Just take my life it is better for me to die!!!!

GOD asks Jonah “Have you any right to be angry?”

Jonah does not answer HIM.

So Jonah goes to a place he can look at the city, likely on a mountain side. He is still hoping GOD will destroy the city.

Jonah made a shelter using branches with leaves still on the branches. Notice, Jonah made the shelter, which soon lost its leaves.

Notice here that the word “LORD” is used and the word “LORD GOD” and the word “GOD” are used.

LORD refers to “Yahweh” which is the covenant name for the GOD of Israel. When “GOD” is used it refers to “Elohim” which means the sovereign GOD ruling over all nations not just Israel. When used together as “LORD GOD” it refers to “Yahweh Elohim” which means the covenant LORD of Israel and as the sovereign GOD ruling all nations.

Jonah certainly knew “Yahweh” as the GOD of Israel but he did not want to acknowledge “Elohim” as the GOD for all nations as including the Ninevites.

Now a series of events occur which GOD provides. The same word is used for “provided” when GOD “provided a great fish” to swallow Jonah. This word is used in this sequence of events.

GOD “provided”:
- A vine
- A worm
- A scorching east wind (sirocco)

The only time Jonah is happy is when he is shaded by the vine that he had nothing to do with. GOD had provided the vine which shaded Jonah. This could have been either a gourd vine or a castor-bush.

Again Jonah wants to die. GOD asks Jonah “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?”

Jonah answers GOD this time with, “I DO!”

I am so angry that I want to die!!!!!

Is this Jonah’s way of trying to force GOD to choose between killing him or destroying the Ninevites?

Have you ever been so angry you wanted to die? Then you know how angry Jonah is.

Was Jonah concerned about his reputation as a prophet? To be a true prophet of GOD what you said that GOD said had to be 100% correct. GOD was not doing what HE said. Jonah did not cut GOD any slack that these Ninevites could repent and be forgiven by his GOD.


GOD tries to put it all in perspective for Jonah. The name of GOD switches back to “Yahweh” the covenant name for the GOD of Israel. In the previous verses GOD was referred to as “Elohim” the GOD for all nations including Nineveh. GOD says in essence to Jonah, Son think about this for a minute? You are so concerned over this vine, that you had nothing to do with, being there to shade you. Do you think just maybe that I provided the vine for you???? I took compassion on you and showed you mercy by providing you shade.

Your compassion and love for the vine is greater than your concern for the souls in Nineveh. I AM THE ONE who is responsible for the souls in Nineveh and you are MY messenger. These are fellow human beings not plants. In fact there are 120,000 children so young they do not even know their right hand from their left hand. Just the children alone should cause you to want the city to be spared. Just think of all the adults and the cattle also in the city?

We do not know Jonah’s response. It seems it is left for each of us to consider our attitude toward others.

Would we allow our prejudice or hatred towards others to prevent us from presenting the gospel to them? Would we withhold resources because they would be used for a group of fellow human beings we may despise or hate? What is our attitude toward others who need to hear THE GOSPEL? How will we respond if GOD calls us to ministry?

Here are a few thoughts comparing Job and Jonah to get us thinking about the two lives. Add to the list as things come to your mind. The key is GOD deals with each of us in HIS own way to accomplish HIS plan and purpose. The plan and purpose benefits us as well as others. It also reveals to us the character of GOD and helps us to understand how and why GOD works in the world.

As HIS children we are under GOD’S tutelage. HE knew us before HE created the world. So HE knows us intimately and wants us to serve HIM fully trusting HIM in all areas of our life. HE is sovereign.

GOD’S concept of Job:
Loved HIM
Obedient
Perfect Character
Honored HIM
Right person for the task
Trusted him to finish the task
Needed to know HIM in a more intimate way
Knew about GOD but needed to know GOD
Knew GOD was sovereign

GOD’S concept of Jonah:
Loved HIM
Needed to build his character
Prejudice
Impulsive
Right person for the task for 2 reasons – Jonah needed it as much as the Ninevites needed to hear the word from GOD.
Needed a change of attitude
Knew about THE GOD of Israel but needed to know THE GOD for all people
Knew GOD was sovereign








Job’s concept of GOD and attitude toward GOD:
Sovereign
Knew about GOD - traditions
Feared GOD
Honored GOD
Honors GOD in the face of calamity
Is humble
Questions his circumstances
Asks why


Jonah’s concept of GOD and attitude toward GOD:
Knew GOD’S character – Gracious, Compassionate, Slow to anger, Abounding in love, relents from sending calamity.
Willing to flee from GOD - he must have considered GOD patient and understanding to his attitude.
Heard GOD’S call to serve
Is angry with GOD when HE shows mercy
Is happy when GOD spared him from the belly of the great fish.
Wants GOD to do what he thinks is best, not what GOD wants done.
Defiant
Tries to force GOD to choose between doing what HE said HE would do to Nineveh or killing him.
Jonah’s ego and reputation is on the line. A prophet has to be 100% correct to be a prophet of GOD.