JONAH

Jonah, a hesitant and rebellious prophet, attempts to run away from God and His calling. After experiencing three days in despair, God gives Jonah another chance for obedience. As instructed, Jonah goes to Nineveh, calling for the city to repent. Jonah’s story uniquely captures God’s willingness to use even the most reluctant and bitter people to accomplish His plans.

Jonah experiences God’s mercy in his own life, but is angered by God’s grace for his enemies. This short book calls out the selfish nature of humanity and how God’s forgiveness is far greater than our own.

While some believe that Jonah’s experience inside the whale occurred literally, others view it as a literary device or allegory that God uses to express His power and mercy or as a foreshadowing of the resurrection. Regardless of your view on the literal or allegorical nature of this event, there are revelations of God’s character in Jonah’s story that are worth exploring.

    • God’s compassion and mercy 

    • Repentance and forgiveness 

    • The consequences of disobedience 

    • The universal need for grace 

    • Jonah 

    • The people of Nineva 

    • Author: Jonah

    • Date: 786-746 BC

    • Intended Audience: Gentile people of Nineveh for their repentance and the Jewish people for their education


JONAH 1

JONAH ATTEMPTS TO FLEE TO JOPPA

God calls Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, warning them to repent from their wickedness and turn towards God. Instead, Jonah does the opposite of God’s instruction, fleeing to a boat and leaving for the city of Joppa from Tarshish.

While on the boat, God causes great winds and storms upon the water. Afraid for their lives, the sailors on the boat ask Jonah if he knows the reason for the storm. Jonah confesses that he was fleeing from God, the Creator of the land and the sea. Jonah realizes that his defiance is the cause of the storm and urges the sailors to throw him overboard and let him drown.

At first, the sailors refuse, wanting to spare Jonah’s life. But as the storm continues, they realize they have no choice. Asking God to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah, they threw Jonah into the ocean.

After throwing Jonah overboard, the storm subsides. The sailors recognize God’s sovereignty and they pray and offer sacrifices. Jonah fled to avoid sharing God’s goodness, but the sailors experienced the very outcome that Jonah was trying to avoid. God’s divine plans cannot be thwarted by disobedience!

Instead of drowning to his death as he expected, Jonah is swallowed by a giant sea creature, as appointed by God. Jonah stays inside the belly of the animal for three days and three nights.

JONAH 2

JONAH’S PRAYER

While inside the stomach of the fish, Jonah prays to God, thanking Him for sparing his life and acknowledging Him as the source of salvation. Jonah realizes that those who worship false gods or fake idols will not experience the hope of God’s steadfast love.

After Jonah’s prayer, God allows the whale to vomit Jonah out onto dry land.

In Matthew 12:38-42, Jesus compares Jonah’s time in the stomach of the whale to His time in the grave. Jesus tells the religious leaders, who are familiar with Jonah’s story, that He is coming as a greater Jonah. Regardless of your view on the literal or allegorical nature of Jonah getting swallowed by a whale, it serves as a reference point to the future death and resurrection of Christ.

JONAH 3

JONAH DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE + THE NINEVITES REPENT

Once again, God calls Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh. This time, Jonah accepts the assignment and travels for three days towards Nineveh. When he arrives, he shares the message that God has given him. Using only eight words, Jonah tells Nineveh that they have forty days to turn towards God before their city will be overthrown.

Miraculously, the Ninevites respond to Jonah’s short but effective message. Under the leadership of their king, the people of Nineveh turn to God and fast in repentance. When God saw the sincerity of their faith, He relented the disaster that awaited Nineveh. Instead of their city being overthrown, their hearts were overturned. God is willing and able to forgive even the most wicked and rebellious people.

Both the sailors and the Ninevites show more humility and repentance than Jonah himself, showing that God can work in the hearts of anyone willing to follow Him!

JONAH 4

GOD’S MERCY + JONAH’S ANGER

Instead of rejoicing in response to the Ninevites' repentance, Jonah is angry with God’s abounding love and kindness. Knowing God forgave the Ninevites, Jonah sees this mercy as too lenient and gracious. Jonah is frustrated knowing that his enemies received the same grace that he received from God. Jonah is so bitter and enraged that he wants to end his life.

God questions Jonah, asking if his anger is really justified.

Jonah goes outside of the city, staying near to keep an eye on the Ninevites. During this time, God sends a plant to shade Jonah and Jonah is very pleased. The next day, God kills the plant by having a worm attack the roots. God sends heat, making Jonah uncomfortable and without shade. Now for the third time, Jonah asks to die.

God questions Jonah again, asking if his anger is really justified.

Jonah responds, justified in his anger and wanting to die. In God’s response, He compares the city of Nineveh to the plant. God created both the plant and the Ninevites and has the ultimate authority over them both. God tells Jonah that he has no right to be angry over the plant or the fate of the Ninevites. God cares for the Ninevites far more than the plant and was pleased to forgive them for their sin.

After God’s powerful response to Jonah, the book ends abruptly.