These small group studies of Jonah 1:4-17 contain cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, commentary, and applications.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Jonah 1:4-17 Bible Study – Jonah Thrown into the Sea

Jonah 1 Outline

I. Jonah flees God’s presence (1-3)
II. God sends a storm (4-6)
III. Jonah thrown into the sea (7-17)

II. God sends a storm (4-6)

Discussion Questions

• What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
• Does God’s omnipresence encourage or frighten you? Why?
• How does it reveal God’s sovereignty?
• Is this an act of judgment or mercy?
• What does verse 8 reveal about their religious beliefs?
• How come Jonah could go to sleep at a time like this?

Cross-References

Psalms 139:7-10 – Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalms 107:23-25, 28-30 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Nahum 1:3-4 – The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers.

Mark 4:39 – And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Jeremiah 23:24 – Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Jonah can’t escape God’s presence –

Jonah 1:4 – But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

The word “but” is often important in Scripture. This is no exception. Jonah tried to run away from God, but it didn’t work. You cannot hide from God. You cannot escape His presence. You cannot thwart His plan.

David famously wrote about God’s omnipresence in Psalm 139. Whether you ascend a high mountain, go to a deep valley, or hide in a cave, God is there. Even the darkness can’t cloak you from God’s sight.

Many have tried to convince themselves that this isn’t true. Others, like Jonah, have tried to run away from God.

Criminals seek places where there are no surveillance cameras to commit their crimes. Even in countries with millions of cameras, there are gaps in their coverage. But God’s surveillance system covers every single corner of the earth with no gaps. He sees and knows all.

The fool tries to deny this fact.

Psalms 53:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

But the wise remind themselves of it and that wisdom guides their lives.

Reflect – Does God’s omnipresence encourage or frighten you?

God’s omnipresence encourages believers and terrifies the wicked.

If a person rebels against God and willingly lives in sin, God knows. No one who desires to sin will be able to keep that sin secret.
This is why people hated Jesus when He came. He was the light and they hated Him because their deeds were evil. They hated the fact that He knew what they really were (John 3:20).

But for those who desire to follow the Lord, His omnipresence is a good thing.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

He is not an evil tyrant watching and waiting for a chance to pounce on us. Rather, He wants to help. He is looking for willing hearts who turn to Him for that help. Here are some of the encouraging truths about God’s omniscience and omnipresence.

• He knows when you are sad and need comfort.
• He knows when you are weak and need strength.
• He knows when you are repentant and is ready to forgive.
• He knows the obstacles, disappointments, and trials you face.
• And during all of these, He is with you.
• His presence can guide, encourage, comfort, and strengthen you to live a life for Him.

Even in the seemingly “God-forsaken” places, He is there. There is truly no place, except perhaps hell, that is literally God-forsaken.

Even when we are in a place in our lives where it might feel as if God has forsaken us, we can take comfort in the fact that He is there. Perhaps it is our emotions that are clouding the picture and we need to hang on to the rock-solid truth of His presence with us. Or it might be that our own actions have created a spiritual distance between Him and us and we need to return to Him (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Share – Share about a situation you recently faced where remembering God’s omnipresence would have helped you.

2. God’s sovereignty –

God is not only there. He is not an impersonal force merely observing what we are doing. He is not aloof, just watching His people struggle or fail. He is actively involved in guiding the situation and us to His perfect conclusion.

The storm was not a random chance. God caused the storm to come at precisely that time and location because he had a plan for Jonah and also for the other people on the boat. God could have just let Jonah do whatever he wanted. But then Jonah would not have learned the lesson that God intended for him. He would not have grown as a person.

God’s desire is to shape us. Like a sculptor, He is chiseling away unwanted stone and polishing us like statues for the purpose of reflecting His design and glory. Often, He uses trials, and even disasters, for this purpose.

Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Reflect – Has God intervened to prevent you from making a mistake you would regret?

Application – Do not assume that circumstances are random. If a door is shutting, rather than smashing it into pieces with a battering ram, stop to prayerfully consider if God is sending you a message.

The storm was a not-so-subtle message to Jonah that he was going the wrong way and God was displeased.

3. They cried out to their gods –

The ship departed from Joppa. This was a Canaanite city, likely influenced by Baal worship. It is very possible that they were crying out to Baal.

4. Jonah was asleep –

It is difficult to know what to make of this. The pagan sailors were terrified and wide awake. They were afraid for their lives. Yet Jonah was asleep. It is not the sleep of perfect peace like Jesus experienced on the boat in the Sea of Galilee. It seems more like the sleep of indifference.

He has become spiritually numb, intentionally suppressing the voice and call of God in his life. Verse 12 indicates he immediately knew this storm was because of him. He may have gone to sleep as a form of escapism.

In the end, we don’t know why he was sleeping. But Jonah was not on his knees, crying out to God for the lives of the crew. The unbelievers were calling out to their gods, but Jonah was silent, sleeping.

Reflect – Are you indifferent to the lost souls around you? Are you spiritually numb and lethargic? What would it look like if you were awake, alert, and spiritually on fire?

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 – For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

III. Jonah thrown into the sea (7-17)

Discussion Questions

• Was it a blind chance that when they cast lots, Jonah was identified as the culprit? Did this confirm their superstitions?
• Does this passage affirm lot casting as a wise way to make decisions?
• Are there other Biblical cases of casting lots?
• How should Christians view casting of lots today?
• Why were they so afraid when Jonah revealed he was a Hebrew?
• What can we learn about Jonah in verse 12? What other options did he have besides being hurled into the sea? Why might he have chosen that one instead?
• Contrast the sailor’s view of human life with Jonah’s.
• Did they do the right thing by hurling Jonah into the sea? Were they guilty of murder?
• How did God use this in their lives? What lessons can we learn from that?
• What other Biblical examples can you think of where God used disobedience to bring about repentance or salvation?

Cross-References

Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Acts 1:26 – And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Matthew 12:39-40 – No sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Their belief that the storm was from God –

Jonah 1:7 – And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

The storm they faced was extraordinary. It would not be uncommon for a sailor at that time to ask, “Which god is angry?” if a large storm rolled in. It may also be that there was something about the storm that caused them to think it was supernatural.

In this case, their instincts were correct. God did send the storm. Verse 4 says that the “Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea and there was a mighty tempest…”

Not every disaster is a direct result of a specific individual’s sin, but sometimes disasters are sent by God for a specific reason, such as judgment or a call to repentance. When something extraordinary happens, it is wise to ask, “Why is God allowing this in my life?” and seek to learn any lessons He has for you.

2. Casting of lots –

They decided to cast lots to determine who had incurred divine wrath.

The casting of lots was often practiced in the Old Testament. Jewish believers did this in a serious manner as they sought God’s will in a situation.

• Achan was identified as the guilty party by casting of lots (Joshua 7).
• Joshua divided the land through casting of lots.
• Lots were cast for two goats to determine which would be sacrificed (Leviticus 16)
• The Urim and Thummim appear to be a method for casting lots (Numbers 27:21).
• Mattias was chosen as Judas’ replacement through lots.

We should note the difference between a descriptive passage and a prescriptive passage. The former describes what happened. The latter prescribes what we should do. The story of Jonah tells us that they did cast lots, not that we are commanded to do so. Nowhere in the New Testament are believers instructed to use lots as a way of discerning God’s will.

Yet even so, God did cause the lots to “work” and identify the correct person.

Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

There is no such thing as blind luck or chance. God is sovereign. He directed the dice, or whatever mechanism they used, to turn in a certain direction to point to Jonah.

God is gracious. These pagan sailors were not His followers. They had been crying out to their own gods. Their methods for seeking to understand the divine truth behind the disaster were not necessarily the best. Yet God still responded. Though they sought Him imperfectly, He still revealed truth to them.

Reflect – Should Christians cast lots as a way of knowing God’s will today?

Casting lots should not be a normal method for discerning God’s will today. Several methods are prescribed in Scripture and we should use those.

The Hand of Knowing God’s Will illustration reminds us of five Biblical ways for discerning God’s will.

The Word –

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The primary way God leads us is through Scripture. It is His revealed will. In it, He gives both positive and negative instructions, telling us things we should do and things we should not do. Every search to know God’s will should start in Scripture.

James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

God wants you to know His will. And He also wants you to ask Him what it is. There will be many times in your life when you don’t know what to do. You will face crises, temptations, trials, decisions, stress, and an uncertain future.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

In these times of indecision, do not be hasty. Slow down. Step back. Quiet down. And pray. Ask God for wisdom.

Godly Council –

Proverbs 24:6 – For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Asking counsel is mentioned throughout Scripture (Proverbs 12:15, 11:14). Two are stronger than one. When making a decision, we may not see all of the facts ourselves. Or we may be biased and subjective. It could be that since we are in the middle of a situation, our emotions are clouded and our logic is faulty.

Therefore, we should ask mature believers to give us advice on important issues. Their experience and wisdom can reveal things that we do not see.

Circumstances –

Proverbs 16:9 – In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Circumstances are the only method mentioned, which functions solely as a negative indicator. That means that circumstances are a way that God will tell us not to pursue a specific course of action. But circumstances, no matter how amazing they may be, are not enough to show us that we should do something.

Circumstances are primarily a negative indicator. If you are seeking God’s will in all of the other ways, then He may use circumstances to shut the door on a course of action that is from Him.

Peace (Or Christian Freedom) –

John 14:26-27 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

This method is the most subjective of the five mentioned here. Why? It is easy for us to convince ourselves of the validity of a course of action. But the assumption is that you are genuinely seeking God’s will. If you are, then His Spirit will lead you in conjunction with the other methods, giving you peace or alternatively convicting you.

Key Takeaways

A. If you seek for God, you will find Him.

God often rewards even imperfect seeking. But He certainly will respond to those who seek Him with all their heart.

Deuteronomy 4:29 – But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Use the five ways mentioned above to understand God’s will for your life.

B. God is sovereign.

God is sovereign over everything that happens in the universe, from the raging of the sea to the tempestuous wind and rain, to the turning of a die or the drawing of a name from a hat. We should recognize that God is present with us all of the time and He directs the affairs of our lives for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

Reflect – How does God’s sovereignty encourage you? How does it change your perspective?

2. Jonah’s character –

Jonah 1:9 – And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Jonah 1:12 – He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

Even though Jonah is in rebellion and running from God’s call, there are a few positives we can see in his character.

• He makes a bold statement of faith.
• He identifies as someone who fears God.
• He clearly understood God’s sovereignty and did not try to excuse the storm as random chance.
• He had admitted to them that he was running from God. He did not add deception or lying to his sin.
• He did not blame God or excuse his actions.
• He took responsibility for his actions. He was willing to face the consequences for his decision to reject God’s calling.
• He was willing to sacrifice himself for these sailors. In a sense, he was willing to die for them. This shows compassion for their lives. He did not want them to die for his disobedience. Would you have made the same offer in his position? Would you volunteer to be thrown into the middle of the sea so that the sea would quiet down for the rest of those on the ship? Was this courage, stubbornness, or numbness?
• Jonah did not hate everybody, just the Ninevites.
• Jonah did have compassion for others, just not the Ninevites.

Jonah’s issue is not a lack of faith. He believes in God. His heart had simply not yet been fully transformed. He knew God was merciful and in certain cases, he himself was merciful. But he could not yet bring himself to show mercy to his enemies.

God’s commands to show mercy, love, and forgiveness are viewed as beautiful and noble until He asks us to demonstrate these to our worst enemy.

Application – Who is a person that is difficult for you to show love and compassion to? What is God calling you to do for that person?

3. Jonah would rather die than preach to Nineveh –

There was not a lot of nuance to the situation. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh. He went the other way. So God sent a storm to remind him. Jonah essentially said, “I would rather die than go to Nineveh. It wasn’t just hot air. Jonah had clearly made a calculated decision that he was not going to do it. He would rather die than fulfill the mission.

That determination led him to volunteer to be thrown into the middle of the ocean in a raging storm. That is certainly high-level commitment.

Reflect – Why would he go that far?

The text does not tell us what he was thinking. But sin is good at justifying itself. It is possible that Jonah considered himself something of a noble martyr, dying for his people much like a soldier might willingly die to defeat the enemy.

Probably many combatants in World War II would rather have died like Jonah than bring a message of goodwill to the Nazi or Japanese high command.

Application – Is there anything God is calling you to do that you are resisting? Surrender that area of your life to Him today. Ask Him for the strength to do what you cannot do on your own.

4. God reached the sailors through Jonah’s disobedience –

God is sovereign. He was actively fulfilling His purposes even through Jonah’s blatant rebellion. God was not only concerned with the Ninevites. He was not only concerned for Jonah. He also had compassion for these men on this little boat in the middle of the great sea.

Jonah 1:14, 16 – Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

If God can use even our disobedience to bring people to Himself, how much more our obedience!

5. Jonah’s sacrifice foreshadows Jesus’ –

Believer’s Bible Commentary says, “When Jonah was cast into the sea, it resulted in the salvation of a boatload of Gentiles. But when he was cast onto dry land, it resulted in the salvation of a city. So the fall of Israel has resulted in riches to the Gentile world, but how much more blessing will flow to the world through the restoration of Israel!”

Jonah was a tarnished sacrifice. He did it with impure motives and rebellion in his heart. Even so, his sacrifice saved the lives of the Gentiles on the boat and God used it in his plan to touch their souls and bring them to Himself.

His sacrifice contrasts with Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Unlike Jonah, Jesus did not run from the Father’s will. At every step, He actively sought it. Jesus said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) While Jonah’s descent into the belly of the sea saved the physical lives of the boat’s passengers, Jesus’ death and then resurrection brought eternal salvation to people across the world. Jonah was a reluctant sacrifice, but Jesus was the willing one.

Jesus is the fulfillment of everything we should be and the filling up of everything we are lacking.

Application – Spend some time thanking Jesus for His sacrifice for you.

6. The sign of Jonah –

Jesus compared Jonah’s trip into the sea with His own death and resurrection.

Matthew 12:39-40 – But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

God is the Supreme Architect. He sovereignly intervened in Jonah’s rebellion to construct an event that would serve as a clear sign and foreshadowing of His death, burial, and resurrection. None of this is a coincidence. The Old Testament is filled with stories, people, and imagery that point to Jesus. The story of Jonah screams, “Jesus” from every page.

Jonah / Israel	Jesus
Israel failed to shine the light of God’s love to the world.	Jesus is the Light of the World who came to reveal God’s love to the nations (John 8:12).
Jonah lacked compassion for his enemies.	Jesus showed compassion even toward His enemies.
Jonah could not love the Ninevites.	Jesus loved His enemies and commanded His followers to do the same (Matthew 5:44).
Jonah was an imperfect sacrifice, with sin and rebellion in his heart.	Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Jonah was an unwilling sacrifice who resisted God’s call.	Jesus was a willing sacrifice who gladly submitted to the Father’s will (John 10:18; Luke 22:42).
Jonah’s sacrifice brought temporary physical salvation to a boatload of Gentiles.	Jesus’ sacrifice brings eternal salvation to people from every nation (Revelation 7:9).
Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish.	Jesus was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).

Application – Prayerfully consider what God is calling you to obey from this passage this week and write it down.