Jonah Prophet to Israel Lived during time of sometime around 788 B.C. Book of Jonah written sometime after his death He was referred to by Christ on 2 occasions (Matt 12 & 16) Notes and Commentary on Jonah (9-2) Jonah 1:1. Where and When Did Jonah Live? Sidney B. Sperry, a well-known Latter- day Saint Bible scholar, answered that question by saying: “We know little of the life of Jonah, but that little is more than we know about some of the other prophets discussed in this volume. In the first verse of the book under his name he is said to be ‘the son of Amittai.’ But the Book of Jonah is not the only Old Testament book in which he is mentioned. In II Kings 14:25we are told that Jeroboam II, king of Israel, ‘… restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath unto the sea of Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath- hepher.’ “There can be little doubt, therefore, that Jonah was a historical person and was engaged in prophetic activities. The prophet’s home, Gath-hepher, according to Joshua 19:10–13, was located in the territory of the tribe of Zebulun. According to monastic tradition it was the same as the present Arab village of El-Meshed, some three miles northeast of Nazareth, where one of the many Moslem tombs of Nebi Yunus, the Prophet Jonah, is pointed out. St. Jerome (circa 400  A.D.) also speaks of Gath-hepher as being situated two Roman miles from Sepphoris towards Tiberias. “Jonah’s name means ‘dove’ and that of his father ‘truthful.’ “Since Jonah lived during the reign of Jeroboam, it is possible to date him at approximately 788  B.C.” (The Voice of Israel’s Prophets, p. 326.) Both Jonah and Jesus were from the Galilee area. That Jonah’s story is a true one, and not an allegory as some scholars maintain, is evidenced by 2 Kings 14:25and three New Testament references. ‘The story of Jonah was referred to by our Lord on two occasions when he was asked for a sign from heaven. In each case he gave ‘the sign of the prophet Jonah,’ the event in that prophet’s life being a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death and resurrection (Matt. 12:39–41; 16:4; Luke 11:29–30).” (Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Jonah.”) Jonah

His life and experiences, like Job’s, provide a universal lesson similar to an allegory with application to all men His experience with the fish was a “type” of Christ, in that his time in “hell” was 3 days His mission was intended to teach Israel regarding the adoption of the Gentile into God’s kingdom Jonah’s life and experiences, like Job’s, provide a universal lesson similar to an allegory, and the application to all men is drawn from one man’s actual experiences. Jonah was a type of Christ in that he was in the belly of the whale—in “hell,” in his own words (Jonah 2:2)—just as Jesus was in the grave for three days, and then came forth again  “The mission of Jonah was…intended not only to enlighten Israel as to the position of the Gentile world in relation to the kingdom of God, but also to typify the future adoption of such of the heathen, as should observe the word of God, into the fellowship of the salvation prepared in Israel for all nations. 

A Mission Call straight from God Jonah 1:1-2 A Mission Call straight from God Nineveh was a major city of the Assyrians, who were enemies of the Israelites. The Assyrian kings and soldiers were famous for their brutality, which included torturing and cruelly murdering the people they conquered. Nineveh was a major city of the Assyrians, who were enemies of the Israelites. The Assyrian kings and soldiers were famous for their brutality, which included torturing and cruelly murdering the people they conquered.

The Jonah Travel Plan Tarshish Nineveh

Question Why did Jonah run? - Jonah 4:2 Do we cheer for the day when the wicked will “get theirs” rather than pray for their repentance? Do you think God knew what Jonah’s feelings were before he asked him later?

Getting Jonah’s attention

Jonah 2 - A prayer of Repentance

If we cry unto the Lord and repent when we have sinned, we can receive His mercy.) President James E. Faust of the First Presidency: “Many of us backslide, many stumble, and I believe firmly in the gospel of the second chance. But the gospel of the second chance means that having once been found weak, … thereafter we become steadfast” (“Stand Up and Be Counted,” Ensign, Feb. 1982, 71). “Many of us backslide, many stumble, and I believe firmly in the gospel of the second chance. But the gospel of the second chance means that having once been found weak, … thereafter we become steadfast” President James E. Faust

Jonah was a great missionary!

Jonah’s not happy! Why? Jonah 4:1-4 read Jonah 4:1–4 aloud. Invite the class to follow along and look for how Jonah felt when the Lord spared the people of Nineveh. mark the Lord’s attributes listed in verse 2. Point out that although Jonah was blessed by these attributes when the Lord mercifully gave him a second chance, Jonah resented these attributes when the Lord gave the people of Nineveh a second chance. (Refer students to footnote b, which clarifies that the word repentest can mean “relentest.” Jonah’s not happy! Why? Jonah 4:1-4

the remaining verses of Jonah 4 record what the Lord taught Jonah about love and forgiveness.

Jonah 4:5-6 What’s Jonah up to now? Jonah 4:5-6

One more Lesson! Jonah 4:7-10 Jonah 4:7-10 How did the Lord use Jonah’s experience with the gourd to teach Jonah about His feelings for the people of Nineveh? One more Lesson! Jonah 4:7-10

He loves us at our best & our worst God’s love is Infinite (The Lord helped Jonah understand that while Jonah had loved the gourd and was sad when it had withered, the Lord loved the people of Nineveh vastly more and did not want them to perish. The Lord was rebuking Jonah’s lack of charity for the people of Nineveh He loves us at our best & our worst

Let’s Apply it WE don’t deserve it! How to avoid the Jonah Reflex When we feel anger or resentment, the “They don’t deserve it” moment, remember - Romans 5:6-8 When we feel anger or resentment - “They don’t deserve it” remember Roman’s 5:6-8 WE don’t deserve it!

Watch https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-03-1170-judging-others-stop-it?lang=eng#d https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-03-1170-judging-others-stop-it?lang=eng#d Video: 3:19

Watch https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-04-0140-the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-04-0140-the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng Video: :43

He loves us at our best & our worst God’s love is Infinite Our job is not to judge but to reach out and rescue He loves us at our best & our worst