The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Jonah

The Basics course is designed to help brothers and sisters in Christ, who have a desire for a brief study over each of the books of the Bible. While being more than just a timeline, it is designed to give a person a more realistic overview of the entire Bible. As well as pointing out different highlights along the way. Imagine riding in a car and seeing exit signs for a town. Each sign gives a brief glimpse of what is inside, while if you wanted to thoroughly investigate the town you would have to take the exit. This series is a collected work of the books of the Bible while continuing to drive past each of the exits. I would encourage you to take any exit and allow the Lord God to direct your path to where He would guide.

The Bible is written into 66 different books. Each one unique on its own but designed to be with its other collected works.

Cautionary Note: This work is not to argue for the authenticity of the Bible nor is it to argue over the mechanics of how God used man to write His Words. This is designed as an overview for someone to review the book in passing. Nevertheless, we here at Mill House Ministries believe that the Bible is without error and was written by God, through His divine attributes, through man.

These overviews are sequenced in the below fashion. Each overview is designed to flow in unison.

1.) Introduction

2.) Who wrote it

3.) When did they write it

4.) Key topics

5.) Key sections

6.) Books that interact with each other

7.) Analysis of the Book

As previously stated, if you find yourself drawn to one of these books, please take the time and see what God is wanting to show you in that book.

BASICS COURSE:

Jonah

INTRODUCTION:

Imagine the air is pulled out of your lungs as you are suddenly submerged into cold water as you plunge into the night deep. The sailors were eager to throw you in, kicking you swim to the surface gasping for air as you watch the ship slowly turn towards land leaving you. Fear grips you, you do not know what God will do now. Knowing you are the cause of the storm, His anger for your rebellion and attempt to flee from His purpose has been the cause of all of this trouble. You wait to hear from God, you listen to the night air as the thunder echoes and the lightning splits the sky. Yet, you do not hear from Him. God appears to be silent, where before you heard His audible voice telling you to go to Nineveh, now you hear nothing but the crashing of the waves. After what seems like hours, you start to get tired. The waves seem to be crashing against your body harder and harder, making each time it takes you to breach for air longer. You start to think that God might be staying silent, when suddenly instead of hearing God you see His answer. The lighting illuminates the water and out of the deep you see a dark shape of something beneath you. While you do not know what it is, you know in your heart it has been sent for you. God’s answer was coming from the deep. Another wave crashes against your head causing you to tumble in the water when lightening sparks across the sky giving you a brief moment of vision, whatever was swimming underneath you was gone. Your spine tingles as you come up for air, you think to your recent decision to flee God’s will and run to Tarshish. It feels like weeks ago you had decided to run from the Lord, when in fact it was only the day before. Suddenly, the thunder echoes across the sky the power of it reminds you of the voice of God. Your mind races to the idea of judgement. The waves swiftly submerge you in the water once again, yet this time the water seems almost to be still underneath the waves. A sense of calmness within the deep echoes around you. Turning left to right the water is too dark to see anything. Then all of a sudden the lightning above shines into the dark water long enough for you to recognize the huge mouth and teeth of the beast coming. It is at this moment you realize God’s answer was more than a voice of disappointment, but a very real judgement from the deep.

WHO WROTE IT:

The book of Jonah is named after its author Jonah.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

Scholars have indicated that the events and writing of the book of Jonah happened during the 7th century B.C. According to John MacArthur, “According to 2 Kin. 14:25, Jonah came from Gath-hepher near Nazareth. The context places him during the long and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (ca. 793–758 B.C.), making him a prophet to the northern tribes just prior to Amos during the first half of the eighth century B.C., ca. 760 B.C. The Pharisees were wrong when they said “no prophet has arisen out of Galilee” (John 7:52), because Jonah was a Galilean.”

KEY TOPICS:

The book of Jonah is about God’s love being greater than man’s sin. The book shows God’s very real plan to help mankind was not going to be thwarted by man.

KEY SECTIONS:

Jonah is unique in that it is one of the few which shouldn’t be divided into sections. Being a simple read, we would encourage you to read it in its entirety. Nevertheless, there are themes that appear within the book. These themes are God’s will, divine control, man’s rejection, man’s acceptance, repentance, and God’s absolute sovereignty.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Interesting enough, Jonah points directly to the gospels as being a foreshadow of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection but also God’s willingness that none should perish.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

Jonah is a wonderful book to remind us that when God says “Go do this” He very much means just that. The book identifies God’s unique will and that He can call anyone He desires to do something great. It is up to us to decide to be quick learners or have to learn the hard way. The book also identifies God’s will for all people to come to repentance. The book of Jonah shows God’s sovereignty in the lives of everyone. Finally, the book points to Jesus Christ in a way that not many Old Testament books can do. This historical account is very much an example of a sign for us to recognize Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you and I to be saved.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/jonah-intro.cfm