Jonah 1 Homework - Let the Son Shine

Jonah 1 Homework 02/03/2010

Don't let that word scare you away...I don't particularly like homework either, but the faithfulness of our Lord makes every question worth the while! With that said, I don't have too many questions for you, so breathe easy and enjoy the wild ride!

I get Jonah. The desire to be pleasing to the Lord is often in opposition to the desire to not have to tell an entire city that they are living in sin. It's that whole fight or flight thing kicking in...even our natural reflexes are play things for the enemy if we aren't careful! I once ran from the call to homeschool...talk about rocking the boat. My boys suffered in public school because I hid from the presence of the Lord. For five years I ran from the notion of teaching my children at home. Silly, sure, totally understandable too.

You'll find our study schedule here.

The book's introduction in my Harper Study Bible states that the name Jonah means "dove".
How sweet a name for one sent to minister! Genesis 8:6-12, Song of Solomon 5:12, and Hosea 7:11 each offer a different view of dove-like characteristics. Take a little time to read each passage and grow a little more familiar with Jonah--the real man behind the Sunday school story of childhood.

Where was Jonah called to minister, and what was he to tell the people there?
Where, and in what direction, did he instead set off to?
Have you ever found yourself miles from where you should be? How did you end up there?
How was your relationship with the Lord affected during your time running in the opposite direction?

How was Jonah's hiding from the Lord exposed? Consider the nap during the storm and the activity elsewhere on that ship. Take into account the casting of the lots as well as the fact that Jonah had told them that he was running from the presence of the Lord.

God was glorified on that sea-whipped ship. Even when Jonah was disobedient, the Lord used his life to further His kingdom. How did Jonah's pre-belly-of-the-whale time at sea bring glory to the King of Kings?

We've made it through the first chapter of Jonah, ladies! What a wild ride. To think that the truly amazing bits are yet to come is just too exciting! I hope you're thrilling to this true life story that grows stranger than fiction with each word! God shared it for a reason...that's a good enough reason for us to keep reading!

Tomorrow, we will take on chapter two and one heck of a fantastic voyage! Come by then for more questions and thoughts to ponder.

What spoke to you most from this first chapter?

Comments

Tabitha

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:09:20 am

Jonah was called to minister in the great city of Ninevah where he was to tell the people how the Lord had seen all of their sins and they'd be doomed. Instead of doing what God asked Jonah ran to the seaport of Joppa and hid on a ship headed to Spain.

There have been many times I have made the very mistake Jonah has made. I've known in my heart what God wanted me to do, but I allowed fear to sway my decision and push me from the Father.

Jonah's hiding was exposed by the sailors who prayed and asked who was it that caused the trouble. Jonah brought Glory to the King because it made the sailors believers.

Deborah

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:11:53 am

I like the intro to Jonah from The Message, it said that we like Jonah because he is more like us...just a normal guy that would rather not being doing a ministry. As I was reading this chapter, I was also focusing on worship and found that there was worship in Chapter 1....those sailors who were willing to believe in any god saw the works of The God and feared/worshiped Him. Even in our lack of obedience...God is great and brings people to Him.

Oh, my HCSB Apologetics study Bible said that Jonah had a limited vision of God's mercy and that was why he thought he could run from God...but God is everywhere...I guess Jonah really didn't believe that until he was getting wet!

Victoria

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:25:07 am

I find so much encouragement from the fact that even when we don't know it all about our Lord, He still has a purpose in using us! Jonah's not realizing he couldn't escape God is absurd in many ways, but oh so tangible, too! I don't often just sit and realize that God is with me in absolutely every moment. Jonah's got me thinking. I love that his life's got you thinking, too, ladies!

How about that last verse? God provided a large fish to swallow Jonah up...I never thought of it that way before. God's provision often looks like a bigger problem than we already had breathing down our necks. Good thing looks can be deceiving, but our Father never can!

Victoria

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:45:32 pm

I've got to tell you...I can't shake the imagery in Song of Solomon 5:12! The NIV that pops up doesn't pop quite like the NRSV I'm reading from...so here's the verse in this translation:

"His eyes are like doves
beside springs of water,
bathed in milk,
fitly set."

Not that this passage refers to Jonah, but can't you just relate these words to his dove-likeness...and our own? Fitly set is the part that gets me. Milky white doves by springs of water...truly a fit setting for doves. God wouldn't send doves to do a lion's job, and He didn't send Jonah to do a job that didn't fit what he was made for either. He won't send us where we shouldn't go...amen?!

HisFireFly

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 6:22:52 pm

What I noticed for the first time today, after reading jonah many times in the past, is that Jonah professed to fearing the Lord even in the middle of his disobedience. When he was awakened by the sailors in the middle of the storm he knew that it was his disobedience bringing trouble upon himself and the others.

I felt my heart pricked here, and wondered how often my words do not match my deeds.

I know there are things the Lord has called me to that I have not yet begun, yet I tell people that my desire is to live a surrendered and obedient life.

Ouch! Thankfully, I believe He has prepared a giant fish for me too.

Tracy

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:50 am

Jonah and I have fled to Tarshish, known for its godlessness. Instead of proclaiming the Lord, we tucked our tales and proclaimed our cowardice, or lack of desire.

I can't say how my miles started, perhaps it is evidence of the hope of salvation without the indwelling of the Spirit. I went at religion on my own and was defeated. I gave up.

My relationship with God was broken. I live in wonderment that I lived through it and He wanted me post-Tarshish. He is a gracious God.

As far as I understand, naptime was exposed by the state of affairs and the Captain's insistence. I think of it as polytheists covering all of their bases, until the lot falls on Jonah and he is forced to tell the rest of the story. His God is the God of the whole world, not just the sky, or war, or food. The lots forced Jonah's confession of the true God.

I like to focus on the protagonist, who is determined to see Jonah fulfill his calling. So, I see Jonah's flight overboard as one acknowledging sovereignty, not conceding to death. In this fated move, he was able to assure the identity of the one true God. It was a missionary act!

He and I share this overboard moment, also. God wins, again! Hallelujah!

Victoria

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 7:21:14 am

A missionary act! Wow. Great point--and what a great God we have! Overboard for the One True God. Certainly speaks to me this morning!

Ali

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 7:47:54 am

So, like everything else in my life, I have procrastinated, but I still want to honor this commitment and joy in reading through the book of Jonah with you all! What strikes me in this first chapter is how relatable Jonah is to all of us. I mean, no matter how much we have heard that a person can't hide from our Great Lord, don't we all still do it? Even in small ways? I know I do! I also love the last line in the chapter, "And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." The significance of three is so strong in the Bible. I love that it played a part in this story! I also love the humility that Jonah brings to the other shipmates. I mean, were it me, I may have just lied and said that I had no idea what was going on. He humbled himself, be it, after the fact of hiding and running from God, but he still did it, and there are great lessons to be learned in that for sure!

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