Jonah 2

REVIEW
1. God calls Jonah to Nineveh
2. Jonah tries to run away B/C he hates Nineveh
3. God intervenes
4. Jonah thrown overboard
5. Jonah swallowed

NKJ or KJV ‘THEN’ (after 3 days/nights)….he finally prays

BUT FIRST, we can’t avoid 1:17
-The object of much ridicule
-Isn’t that unbelievable?

It’s not the only miracle (God intervening) in Jonah…1. The great wind (1:4)
2. The great fish (1:17)
3. The great vomit (2:10)
4. The great vine (4:6)
5. The great worm (4:7)
6. The great wind (4:8)

“The bible is laced with miracles. From the creation to the second coming, from Moses at the burning bush to Daniel in the lion’s den, from the virgin birth to the resurrection, miraculous happenings seem to fill the pages of Scripture. To the believer, these are a wonderful confirmation of the power and message of God, but to the unbeliever, miracles are a stumbling block- a proof that religion is just a bunch of fairy tales after all. In the world that he lives in, there is no divine intervention, no interruptions tot the normal order; there is only natural law. Fire consumes when it burns; lions eat whatever is available; pregnancy only happens when male sperm unite with female ova, and the dead stay dead. As far as they are concerned, the miracles of the Bible could no more be true than mother goose.” ~Geisler

A MIRACLE is a divine intervention or interruption of the regular course of events that produces a purposeful but unusual event that would not have occurred otherwise.

SIX REASONS JONAH IS ACTUAL HISTORY
1. Denial is the result of an anti-supernatural BIAS
2. Jonah is mentioned in the O.T. (2 Kings 14:25)
3. Jonah is mentioned in the N.T. (Matthew 12:38-42)
4. Mentioned by 2 prominent historians
5. Verified by archeology
6. Written as history (burden of proof)

Jonah waited too long to pray…even the crew prayed to God before him

SIX KEYS TO PRAYER
1. Prayer brings understanding (v. 8). When your prayer life is lively you’ll understand God, yourself, the world, and others better.
2. Prayer includes thanksgiving (v. 9). Prayer isn’t just asking. It is adoring, confessing, giving thanks, etc.
3. Prayer includes commitment (v. 9) Commit to change through prayer.
4. Pray Scripture (v. 3-5, 7, 9). Jonah’s prayer was just a bunch of Psalms thrown together. God loves to hear His Word come from our lips.
5. Be ready for ugly answers (v. 10). God may say no. He may say later. He may call us to do something extremely difficult.
6. Prayer stimulated hearing (3:1). Prayer helps your prayer life. Prayer helps your Bible study. It’s a frustrating principle at times, but the best way to help your prayer life is to pray.