Jonah chapter 2

1) Describe what it must have been like for Jonah to be in the belly of a great fish for three days? Smelly; wet; dark. What do you think Jonah did during his three days inside the fish? A lot of thinking and reflection. How did end I end up in this situation? I’m still alive. I didn’t drown. God spared my life. Even after I disobeyed him. Now, how do I get out of this predicament?

2) How would you characterize Jonah’s prayer? Jonah is reflecting on what happened in the moments after he was thrown off the ship three days earlier. He was sinking like a rock into the waters. He was headed for the bottom of ocean. Read verses 4 & 7. Jonah believed his situation to be hopeless. God had removed him from His presence. He would not spare Jonah. However, Jonah chose to cry out to God in hopes that He would spare him. In both verses, Jonah references the temple. Why? Read I Kings 8:30 - Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place (the Temple); hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. This verse is part of a prayer spoken by King Solomon delivered at the dedication of the temple. I believe in his last moments of life, Jonah remembered the words of Solomon’s prayer. Did God hear Jonah’s cry for salvation? Yes. See verse 6. How did God save his life? Sent a big fish to swallow him. Did Jonah complain about how God saved him? No. Read verse 9. He thanked God for sparing his life. Chapter 2 is a prayer of thanksgiving from Jonah to God.

3) How did Jonah view being in the belly of the great fish? Salvation or punishment? Salvation. (see verse 9) Which did Jonah deserve? Punishment. He had blatantly disobeyed God. How long did it take for Jonah to realize the whale was God’s method of salvation and not punishment? Three days and nights have passed and he has not been digested.

4) When did Jonah remember God? Verse 7. During a moment of desperation, when he was near death. Do you think Jonah was amazed that God answered his prayer? Speaking for myself, I would be. Why? Jonah did not deserve God’s mercy. He deserved to punishment for blatantly disobeying God. Who was responsible for the state Jonah was in? My opinion: Jonah. If he had done what God told him to do, he would not have gone through a near death experience. He would not be inside a big fish.

5) Share in your own words what Jonah was saying in verse 8. Those who worship anyone or anything other than God are undeserving of grace. Grace is undeserved/unmerited favor. It is undeserved mercy and compassion. Jonah did not deserve mercy; he deserved to drown. Why did he not drown? Grace. Where does grace come from? What is the source of grace? Who is the source of grace? God. How could God show compassion to Jonah? Grace. In order to show compassion/mercy, one must have grace. For an illustration of grace, read the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-12.

6) When did God release Jonah from the great fish? a) After Jonah agreed to fulfill his vow to God. God, you win. I’ll carry out my mission to be a prophet. God says to a prophet “Tell the people …” A prophet was expected to go and say it.

The final words in Jonah’s prayer are “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Remember these words Jonah spoke. We’ll come back to them later in the Book of Jonah.

7) What do you think Jonah’s physical appearance was like after being in the belly of a fish for 3 days? Skin may have been bleached white from fish’s digestive fluids.

What did God teach Jonah in chapters 1 and 2? 1) You can’t run away from God. 2) A lesson in compassion and mercy. a) Jonah experienced mercy from Gentiles on the ship. They refused to immediately throw Jonah off the ship despite the fact Jonah said if they did the storm would end. They did everything they could to spare Jonah’s life. b) God showed Jonah compassion/mercy by sparing him from drowning. He sent the big fish to spare Jonah’s life despite the fact that Jonah deserved punishment for blatantly disobeying God.