The Book of Jonah

What’s the book of Jonah about? What major message does this minor prophet hold for us?

How should the book of Jonah be understood? Was Jonah a real historical person? Is the report about him in the book of Jonah historical? Could a fish exist large enough to swallow a man and could he survive?

Jonah was a real person! He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath- hepher. (2 Kings 14:25)

Jesus acknowledged the story of Jonah as factual “The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:32)

The Book Of Jonah Summary 1:1-3 – Jehovah commissions Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh; but instead, he flees the opposite direction. 1:4-10 – Flight and storm! The prophet learns the hard way that no one can flee from Jehovah without arousing a storm. 1:11-17 – After a strenuous but fruitless effort to save the prophet, the sailors were forced to cast him overboard; it was the only alternative to perishing. 2:1-10 – Jonah’s prayer to Jehovah from the sheol of the fish’s belly. A Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Homer Hailey

The Book Of Jonah Summary 3:1-4 – To Jehovah’s second call to go to Nineveh the prophet responded without argument; he had learned his lesson. 3:5-10 – Triumphant evangelism rewards the prophet’s efforts, the results of which should have been gratifying to the prophet. The people of Nineveh repented and Jehovah spared the city. 4:1-5 – Instead of rejoicing over the deeds of his preaching, Jonah was exceedingly displeased. The true character of Jonah’s spirit is demonstrated. 4:1-5 – Instead of rejoicing over the deeds of his preaching, Jonah was exceedingly displeased. The true character of Jonah’s spirit is demonstrated. 4:6-11 – The largeness of the heart of God and the smallness of the spirit of man are contrasted. A gourd, a worm, and a sultry wind are used to impressed the lesson. A Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Homer Hailey

A common outline Jonah running from God Jonah running to God Jonah running with God Jonah running against God

Another outline God’s gracious purpose for Nineveh God’s gracious patience with Jonah God’s gracious pardon of Nineveh God’s gracious proclamation of Himself

God’s Universal Compassion and Grace The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The Sign of Jonah Salvation? or Destruction?

But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39- 40)

“The Sign of Jonah” Salvation or Destruction

Sources Outline and PowerPoint Slides by Johnny Felker A Commentary on The Minor Prophets by Homer Hailey Outline by Terry Sanders Notes on Jonah by Bill Moseley