Jonah, The Provisional Prophet

Jonah 1:11-17

INTRODUCTION: Jonah ran from the will of God, because he did not approve. It is likely this story began with a prophet whose heart was not where it should be. Jonah had a prior prophecy that came to pass and benefited the Jews. It makes you wonder if his heart was lifted up and he became convinced that he was the authority. Now we find Jonah in the midst of a world needing answers.

I. THE RECOMMENDATION OF JONAH (Jonah 1:11-12)

A. The Question of the Men (Jonah 1:11)

1. The reason for the question
a. The sea wrought
b. The sea was tempestuous
2. The nature of the question
a. The help sought—“Then said they unto him [Jonah],”
b. The question asked
1.) What shall we do unto thee,
2.) That the sea may be calm unto us

B. The Response of Jonah (Jonah 1:12)

1. The solution in the response
a. Take me up
b. Cast me forth into the sea
2. The result to come—“so shall the sea be calm unto you:”
3. The source of the problem
a. Jonah’s knowledge—“I know”
b. Jonah’s problem—“for my sake”
c. Jonah’s harm-“this great tempest is upon you”

II. THE THREAT OF JONAH (Jonah 1:13-14)

A. The Efforts of the Men (Jonah 1:13)

1. The ongoing problem
a. The sea wrought
b. The sea was tempestuous against them
2. The morality of the men—“Nevertheless”
3. The struggle of the men
a. The men rowed hard to bring it to the land.
b. They could not.

B. The Prayer of the Men (Jonah 1:14)

1. The recipients of their prayer—“they cried unto the LORD”
2. The request of their prayer
a. Let us not perish for this man’s life
b. Lay not upon us innocent blood
3. The wisdom of their prayer—“thou O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee”

III. THE REMOVAL OF JONAH (Jonah 1:15-16)

A. The Decision of the Men (Jonah 1:15)

1. They took up Jonah.
2. They cast him forth into the sea.
3. The sea ceased from her raging.

B. The Fear of the Men (Jonah 1:16)

1. The men feared the LORD exceedingly.
2. The men offered a sacrifice unto the LORD.
3. The men made vows.

IV. THE SWALLOWING OF JONAH (Jonah 1:17)

A. The Preparations of the Lord

1. The origin of the preparations—“the LORD”
2. The time of the preparations—“had prepared”
a. The LORD had prepared a great fish (Jonah 1:17)
b. The LORD God prepared a gourd, (Jonah 4:6)
c. God prepared a worm (Jonah 4:7)
d. God prepared a vehement east wind (Jonah 4:8)
3. The nature of the preparations—“a great fish”; also known as a whale (Matthew 12:40)
4. The purpose of the preparations—“to swallow up Jonah”

B. The Location of Jonah (see Matthew 12:40)

1. The place—“in the belly of the fish”
2. The duration—“three days and three nights”

CONCLUSION: The world needs answers, but let it not be because of problems brought upon them by faithless and disobedient Christians. God will get glory out of your life, but let it not be because of the chastening visible to others.