FFC’s Winter Series Study Guide – Jonah 2
Jonah 2:1-2 (Feb 1), Jonah 2:3-7 (Feb 8), Jonah 2:8-10 (Feb 15)
God’s unique “rescue” of Jonah at sea by a huge fish was a strong reminder to
Jonah that he could not flee from his responsibilities or from God’s presence.
Though this was a very desperate and lonely time for the prophet, God did not
desert him. Frederick Buechner has observed, “No matter how deep the fish dove
and no matter how dark the inside of its belly, no depth or darkness was enough to
drown out the sound of Jonah’s prayer.”
Discussion Questions
1. Using one word impressions, what would it be like to be inside a great fish?
2. What specific words/images describe Jonah’s situation and feelings about it?
3. Using Chapters 1 and 2, describe Jonah’s attitude toward himself.
4. What do you think he learned about himself through his experience in the ship and in the fish?
5. Did Jonah’s view of God appear to change during his prayer?
6. What alternatives to prayer do you use when you’re in a tight spot?
7. During this tough situation, what did Jonah find to be thankful for?
8. In verse 7, Jonah acknowledged God. In what ways had he forgotten God?
9. What is your evidence that God had not forgotten Jonah?
10. Based on Jonah’s experience of God’s faithfulness, how might you pray for someone you love who is running
from God?
11. God uses not only catastrophes, but common pressures of life to pull us back into a closer relationship with him.
How has God used times of stress to draw you back to him?
Extra Hints
This chapter lays out an interesting road map for coming back to God, a process for “finding our way back home.” In a
nutshell, when God draws us back, we know he will hear us (2:1-2), humble us (2:3-7), and honor us (2:8-10). I’ll have
more to say about each of these in the coming weeks, but for now just keep this in mind: These “phases” are not always
in sequence, but they are always present on the way back to God.
He hears us (2:1-2)
*God hears us best when we are at our worst. And I’m sure the belly of a great fish was the worst praying environment
Jonah could imagine. Yet, it was exactly where he needed to be: the end of his rope. That’s where God wants us – at our
end! But the end is the one thing we avoid at all costs. Perhaps that’s why so few of us really have powerful prayer lives
– we’re rarely at the end of ourselves!
Remember the prodigal son? Luke records that his best decision occurred “when he came to the end of himself.” Yes, his
decision to go back home was only reached when he finally saw how far away he truly was. Let’s remember that the way
back starts with this fact: God hears me no matter how far away or how deep down. And he always meets me right
there –at the end of myself. That’s where he wants me, for then he can take me back home his way, not my way.
*An interesting note about a word in Jonah 2:2 – the word “grave” (literally, “sheol”). Some scholars think this means he
died after being thrown overboard –drowned – and that, although his body was in the belly of the great fish, his
soul/spirit was in the temporary holding cell where both unbelievers and believers were being held. Then, as a response
to his prayer, God raises him from the dead, puts his soul/spirit back into his body in the fish at some point, and the
great fish puts him back on dry land (2:10). Since Jonah is a type of Christ, this is a feasible interpretation.
Others see the word “ebbing” in 2:7 as indicative that he was about to drown, and God rescued him via the great fish
just prior to death. They likewise see the word “grave” (lit., “sheol”) in 2:2 as symbolic, much like it is used in Psalm
86:13 when David says he was “delivered from the depths of the grave (sheol).” This, too, is a plausible interpretation.
What do you think? Did Jonah actually drown, then get raised back to life? Or did he simply come close to drowning? Ask
your group! It could make for some interesting discussion.
By the way, Ezekiel was given a vision of Sheol, and I believe Jesus Christ preached to Old Testament believers held
captive in the believing compartment of Sheol during the days when his body was in the tomb. So why couldn’t Jonah
have visited such a place?
He humbles us (2:3-7)
*Whether he drowned or not, Jonah describes the humiliating terror he was going through in these verses. And often
God allows the very same type of thing to happen to us in order to get our attention and bring us back to himself – we
are humbled.
Ask yourself, “What humbling circumstances have been used by God to bring me back home?” James tells us that “God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” When Jonah found himself at death’s door, that was the God’s
resistance to Jonah’s pride. And it paid great dividends, didn’t it? In fact, it was God’s resistance that opened the door
for Jonah’s repentance. As Proverbs 15:33 says, “…humility comes before honor.”
He honors us (2:8-10)
*Jonah was acutely aware that the honor of life –salvation – belonged only to the Lord! And his response was a song of
thanksgiving, praise, even vows! That’s what humility does – it leads us to gratefulness. We feel honored to have been
given another opportunity, so we respond in praise and worship. As Jonah responded to God in gratefulness, he then
opened the mouth of the great fish and had it vomit Jonah up. That may not seem real honorable, but when compared
to the alternative, Jonah no doubt appreciated the second chance.
*I tend to think Jonah felt a new appreciation for the honor of being alive. His attitude was different now, at least for a
while. Whereas before I think Jonah expected things, now I think he appreciated things, even the basic things – like
breath! When God honors us and brings us back from the “hell” of sin, we, too, start seeing things differently. We
become appreciative. Grateful. Committed. Yes, when God honors us, our only response is to honor him.
My Additional Notes
