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Jonah is the 5th of the 12 Minor Prophets.

Jonah was a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam II –  760 BC.

• 2 Kings 14:23-25

Nineveh truly was a “great” city at this time, meaning both size and importance.

• Jonah 1:2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
  
  
• Nahum 3:19b “...for upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”

What is absolutely unique about Jonah is that the book isn’t about the prophet’s message, but it’s about the prophet.


Themes in Jonah

Miracles
Miracles – God supernaturally overriding natural laws for His glory.

Specifically seen in God’s sovereign control over nature:

• The storm -Jonah 1:4 “The Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea…”
  
  
• The great fish -Jonah 1:17 “The Lord appointed a great fish…”
  
  
• The plant -Jonah 4:6 “The Lord God appointed a plant…”
  
  
• The worm -Jonah 4:7 “God appointed a worm…”

Jesus’ miracles in nature – the New Testament affirms God’s sovereignty over creation.

• Jesus calms a storm -Matthew 8:23-27
  
  
• Jesus curses the fig tree -Matthew 21:18-19
  
  
• Jesus heals the sick -Mark 1:29-34

What is the greatest miracle?
Matthew 12:39-41
The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle that God has ever done.

 

Pride
Pride is the underlying root of all sin.

• Jonah’s self-sufficiency –  Jonah 1:2-3
  
  
• Jonah’s self-righteousness –  Jonah 1:9
  
  
• Jonah’s self-protection –  Jonah 4:2 “...when I was yet in my country”
  
  
• Jonah’s self-righteousness, part 2 –Jonah 4:1-5
  
  
• Jonah’s self-pity –  Jonah 4:9
  “...angry enough to die”

Repentance
God’s desire is for all people to repent –  to turn from their wicked ways toward him.

• The sailors repented –  Jonah 1:14-16
  
  
• Jonah repented (sort of) –  Jonah 2:9 “Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
  
  
• The Ninevites repented –  Jonah 3

The Compassion of God
While we (like Jonah) spend our time criticizing and judging others, God is looking for people to bring a hopeful message to those far from him.


Jonah 4:11 “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle.”


Did Jonah ever truly repent? Yes or No?