The Book of Jonah

There is a three-fold purpose for the writing of this prophetic message. 1. to demonstrate to Israel and other nations the depth and greatness of God's saving mercy and His ability to work through inspired preaching; 2. to reveal through Jonah's experience how far Israel had fallen from its God-given purpose to be a light of salvation to those who are lost and in spiritual darkness; and 3. to remind spiritually rebellious Israel that God had mercifully sent one prophet after another to warn the nation of approaching judgment. This latter purpose was to cause the people to repent so they would not be destroyed. Yet, unlike Nineveh, Israel rejected God's prophets and His offer to turn to Him and receive mercy.


Four major features characterize the book of Jonah. 1. It is one of only two Old Testament prophetic books written by a prophet born and raised in the northern kingdom of Israel (Hosea is the other one). Most of the other prophets were from the southern kingdom of Judah. 2. It is an excellent example of a short narrative. Jonah's prayer of thanksgiving is the only part of the book written in poetic form. 3. It is full of descriptions of God's supernatural activity: the perfect timing of the storm, the appearance of the huge fish, the miraculous rapid growth of the vine, the activity of the worm and the rising of the east wind. But the greatest miracle of all was that the entire city of Nineveh turned to God almost immediately in response to Jonah's preaching. 4. The book contains the clearest Old Testament message that God's saving grace - His undeserved favor and mercy - is for Gentiles as well as for Jews. The Lord wants to have a relationship with all people who entrust their lives to Him.


Jesus compared His role and mission to that of Jonah: "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here" (Matthew 12:39-41). This passage refers to Jesus' death, burial and miraculous resurrection.