Small Group Questions:

1. Why do you think we sometimes get scared when God asks us to do something?
2. If God’s compassion is boundless and for everyone, how does that impact your relationships (especially with those you hate [ninivites]?
3. God literally sent a fish to swallow Jonah to save him. In what ways have you seen God intervene in your life to “save you?”
4. What are ways we can show and grow our trust in God?

THE MAIN POINT

Rather than reluctance and resistance towards God, our attitude should be one of trust and obedience.
When God speaks, we should humble ourselves by listening & obeying.

THE BIBLE

Jonah 1, Matthew 12:39-41

THE CONTEXT

Jonah prophesied during the peaceful and prosperous time of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23–28), who ruled in Israel (the northern kingdom) from 782 to 753 B.C. This was a time when Assyria was not a threat to Israel. The Lord called Jonah to go to the great Assyrian city of Nineveh to pronounce judgment on it. Jonah attempted to escape the Lord’s calling by sailing from the seaport of Joppa to Tarshish, which was probably on the shores of the western Mediterranean. Trying to run away from God, Jonah encounters a massive storm and realizes that his resistance and disobedience to God are the cause of his chaos. Not only that, others (sailors) have been impacted by Jonah’s choices. Jonah realizes the only way to save the sailors is to be thrown overboard. The moment he is thrown over, the storm ceases and God sends a big fish to swallow up and save Jonah.

The primary theme in Jonah is that God’s compassion is boundless, not limited just to “us” (Jonah and the Israelites) but also available for “them” (the pagan sailors and the Ninevites). God is determined to get his message to all nations, that all must turn away from their sin, and back to God. God promises that he will forgive when people repent.

What we see in the story of Jonah is a foreshadowing of the life and work of Jesus! That God never relents on reaching people.

THE CORE

As you prepare the core of the message using personal story and questions keep in mind these points:

1. The Jonah / Jesus parallel:

• Both received a mission from God to go preach. However, Jesus obeyed the Father willingly while Jonah refused at first and only obeyed reluctantly after God let him pout inside a fish.
• Both went down to Sheol for three days (Jonah 2:2). Jonah’s experience was more like extreme discomfort (in addition to it being against his will). Jesus went to his death willingly in obedience to the Father and in love for his people.
• • Both were delivered from their trip down to Sheol, but Jesus was resurrected and offers that same resurrection to whoever would follow him. Jonah was merely spat out of a fish and offered a half-hearted sermon on repentance.
  • Both preached a message exhorting people to repent in the face of impending judgment. Jonah preached the bare minimum and had no power to save. Jesus preached relentlessly for years and had the power to forgive sins.
  • Both saw sinners repent and believe in God for the forgiveness of sins. Sadly, Jonah hated the Ninevites and didn’t want God to have mercy on them. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, rejoiced when sinners (especially Gentiles) repented and believed.
  • In dramatic fashion, Jonah selfishly wished for death to escape his discomfort and to avoid seeing his enemies enjoy God’s mercy. Jesus, in quiet obedience, endured torture and death intended for sinners in order to save them.

  2. Rather than reluctance and resistance towards God, our attitude should be one of trust and obedience. Jonah learned the hard way, but we don’t have to. With Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in obedience.

THE APPLICATION

As you prepare the application, challenge and/or encouragement, keep in mind these points:

• What are ways we can show and grow our trust in God?
• What does walking in obedience rather than resistance look like?