Eric Thiele

January 22, 2016

Genesis to Revelation-Koester
Jonah Bible Study
1. The Book of Jonah
a. The primary focus for this Bible study will consist of Jonah chapters one, three,
and four.
b. Small group
c. Young adult group in 20s and 30s
2. Background Information
a. Sources
i. Lutheran Study Bible
ii. Enter the Bible: Jonah https://www.enterthebible.org/oldtestament.aspx?
rid=19
iii. Reading Hosea-Micah: A Literary and Theological Commentary by
Terrence Fretheim
iv. New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. Volume 4 (Me-R)
1. Article on Mercy
b. Review of the sources
i. Lutheran Study Bible
1. The Lutheran Study Bible was produced by Augsburg Fortress in
2009. There were many authors and editors that contributed to the
information that is in this Bible who are pastors, professors, and
Bible, theology, and history scholars. The authors and editors of
this Bible are using the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
This Bible, simply by its name and the resources included within
are from a Lutheran theological point of view. Many of the
professors and scholars who contributed to the Bible are from
ELCA seminaries and colleges.
ii. Enter the Bible: Jonah
1. This is an online resource produced by Luther Seminary. This
particular resource on the book of Jonah was written by Associate
Professor of Old Testament, Rolf Jacobson. This particular
resource provides some basic, overview information into how to
read and understand Jonah. Included in this overview is an outline
of the book, some background information, introductory issues and
theological themes to consider as one reads the book. The primary
purpose of this resource is to provide the reader with sufficient
knowledge of the book.
iii. Reading Hosea-Micah
1. This book was produced by Smyth and Helwys Publishing, a noted
publisher of biblical commentaries. The author of this particular
book is Terrence Fretheim, an Emeriti Professor of Old Testament
at Luther Seminary. He has written many books on Old Testament
books and theological themes. Dr. Fretheim is a well-respected

Bible scholar. In this book, Dr. Fretheim provides commentary on

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah.
iv. New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. Volume 4.
1. This Dictionary was produced by Abingdon Press. There are
several contributors to this dictionary collection from many
colleges and seminaries around the world.
c. Background information on Jonah
i. The book of Jonah focuses in on the (extremely) reluctant calling of the
prophet Jonah. God has pronounced a judgment upon the city of Nineveh
and has chosen Jonah to go and cry out against the wickedness of this
great city. Throughout this short four chapter book, we see the reluctance
with which Jonah ultimately accepts Gods calling to go to Nineveh.
Furthermore, we see an ongoing conversation between God and Jonah that
presents the prophet acting more like a small child than what we can
assume is full-grown adult who is a prophet.
ii. While the date is not exact, scholars believe the book was written around
500-400 BCE, after the Babylonian Exile. During this time, there was
great conflict between the Jews and the Gentiles.1 Furthermore, it is
believed that this book was written to address the people of Ezra and
Nehemiahs time.
iii. Some of the primary themes of this book include mercy, repentance, and
forgiveness. These themes show up right away in chapter one as God calls
Jonah to go and preach a message of repentance to the Assyrians in
Nineveh, the very people who sent Israel into exile in 722 BCE.
Furthermore, these themes continue throughout the book as Jonah receives
mercy but is reluctant to have the same mercy shown to him be given to
the Ninevites who hear the prophets rather brief sermon calling for
repentance, follow his instructions, and receive divine forgiveness. These
primary themes for the book of Jonah are also themes with which those
participating in the Bible study with me would be familiar.
3. Plan for the Bible study
a. Opening
b. How many of you have ever experienced a young child or an adult throw a temper
tantrum? What is that experience like for you as one who looks on?
c. Do you just let the child or adult get it all out? Try to stop it? What has been your
experience? Share with the person next to you about your experience with such
craziness.
d. Perhaps the child falls to the floor crying or is unresponsive? Perhaps you try to
cheer him or her up and all you get in response is the silent treatment? So many
possibilities with a child who just has quite had enough juice for the day.
e. Perhaps another favorite of mine is the sincerity with which most children
apologize to you or to their siblings when they broke something or hurt
someones feelings.
1 Rolf Jacobson, Jonah, Enter the Bible, accessed January 20, 2016,
https://www.enterthebible.org/oldtestament.aspx?rid=19, Summary.

f.
g.

h.

i.

i. You know the sight and sound. It is not exactly the most authentic apology
you will ever get. I know when I was growing up, my parents frequently
told me to apologize for picking on my little brother. Not exactly the most
authentic apologies of my life nor of my brothers but it taught me some
lessons for later in life. At least that is what we hope will happen with our
children.
Study
Before we begin, lets dig into to a little background information that will be
helpful to know as we read
i. Nineveh: this was a massive city at the time this book was written which
was around the 6th or 5th century BC. It is located in modern day Iraq. This
was also the capital city of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians had
defeated the northern kingdom of Israel (During this time the area known
as Israel was divided into a northern kingdom called Israel and a southern
kingdom called Judah) in 722 BC and sent them into exile. Basically, the
Assyrians were rather hated.
ii. With that, lets begin
Read Jonah 1:1-3
i. Here we find out a few things about Jonahs call
1. He is to go to Nineveh, cry out against this wicked city before God
sends judgment upon them. (Show map of where Jonah has to go
from his home in Israel.)
ii. What does Jonah do instead?
1. Hops on a boat in Joppa, on the coast of Israel, and heads to
Tarshish which is where modern day Spain is.
2. Basically Jonah heads in the opposite direction of where God is
calling him
iii. Discussion questions:
1. Why would Jonah be opposed to heading to Nineveh?
2. How will God respond to this disobedient prophet?2
3. Will Jonahs resistance of Gods word and calling be
successful?3
Read Jonah 1:4-17
i. In verses 4-6, as Jonah is on board the ship a storm arises that is thrashing
the boat back and forth. The sailors are rightly upset and scared because
they could die.
ii. It is important to note that in verse 5, the sailors cried out to their own god.
They were note Hebrews, as in they did not believe in the LORD. Thus, as
they try to figure out what to do, they make sacrifices to their gods by
throwing cargo overboard to lighten the load.
iii. Where is Jonah in the midst of all of this? Asleep.

2 Terence E. Fretheim, Reading Hosea-Micah: A Literary and Theological Commentary, Reading the Old
Testament (Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Pub., 2013), 176.
3 Ibid, 176.

iv. Jonah doesnt seem to care.

v. It wasnt until verse 9 that the reluctance and perhaps even arrogance of
Jonah is apparent.
vi. Jonah is then thrown overboard and the storm calms down.
vii. In verses 14-16, we see a rather remarkable shift in the sailors religiosity:
they begin to worship the LORD and make sacrifices to the LORD. They
are converted despite Jonah doing nothing.
viii. We finally have reached the point in verse 17 that people know all too
well. Jonah is swallowed up by the big fish and proceeds to spend all of
chapter 2 singing a Psalm of Thanksgiving for God being merciful to him.
Here we see the first instance of God being merciful to Jonah.
ix. Additional background:
1. Lets flip quickly to Luke 8:22-25. This is the story of Jesus
calming the storm.
2. What do we see here? How does this story contrast with the Jonah
chapter 1? How is the sea calmed? Where is Jesus during it all?
What do those sailors with Jonah do that the disciples do not?
j. Read Jonah 3:1-10
i. We pick up Jonah coming into Nineveh after having been spewed out of
the belly of the great fish probably smelling to high heaven.
ii. Once again Jonah is given instructions to go to Nineveh and he reluctantly
goes.
iii. He then preaches the least inspired sermon ever and it is only eight words
in in verse 4.
iv. Sure enough every living person and animal repents
v. In verse 10, God sees the actions of the people and chooses not to inflict
punishment or judgment upon the city.
vi. Discussion:
1. Without looking a few verses ahead, do you think that Jonah will
be pleased or upset at the developments in Nineveh regarding
Gods change of mind? Why?
k. Read Jonah 4:1-11
i. How many of you have ever seen the Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny? Are
you familiar with Yosemite Sam? For those who are not, Yosemite same is
a short, red-haired guy with guns who constantly chases after Bugs Bunny.
When he gets mad, he shoots off his guns repeatedly. (show a picture or
short clip) I like to imagine Yosemite Sam as Jonah in chapter 4.
ii. Discussion: What prompts Jonahs anger at God in verse one? In verse 68? What sort of clarification do we get from our original question of why
would Jonah be angry about heading to Nineveh?
iii. Clarification: For I knew that are a gracious God and merciful, slow to
anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from
punishing. (verse 2)
1. This is an early confession of faith that originated in Exodus 34:67.

iv. Can you see Jonah acting like Yosemite Sam in this chapter? What sorts of
things might drive Jonah to act like this?
4. Closing
a. Enemies
i. We have seen throughout the book of Jonah a continuing emphasis on
mercy. Mercy toward Jonah, toward the sailors in chapter one, toward the
people of Nineveh in chapter three.
ii. What do we notice about Jonah when he receives mercy in chapter one
when he is swallowed by the fish? In chapter four when God provides a
bush so that Jonah might be saved from the hot sun?
1. There is certainly much joy from Jonah.
iii. What do we see from Jonah when those whom Jonah does not like receive
mercy from God such as the Ninevites? Or when Jonahs mercy from God
is taken away such as with the plant in chapter four?
1. We see much anger from Jonah
iv. Its one thing if God is merciful to Jonah, but became angry when that
same mercy is extended to the Ninevites.
b. Discussion: What might the story of Jonah be telling us about ourselves and the
mercy we are so ready to receive from God and from others? What might the
story say when the people we do not particularly care for also receive that same
mercy? How and when might we be restricting the mercy of God from being
given to others?
c. Prayer: God of mercy, we give you thanks for the love and mercy that you have
shown us, our friends, and our enemies. Grant us the strength to love those as you
have loved us. In your sons holy name we pray. Amen.

Bibliography
Fretheim, Terence E. Reading Hosea-Micah: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Reading
The Old Testament. Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Pub., 2013.
Jacobson, Rolf. Jonah. Enter the Bible. Accessed January 20, 2016.
https://www.enterthebible.org/oldtestament.aspx?rid=19.
Lutheran Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2009.
The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009.