INTRODUCTION TO JONAH
This is a story from the life of Jonah, son of Amittai (1:1), a prophet through whom God spoke to Northern Israel during the time of Jeroboam II (2Ki 14:25). God commands Jonah to preach against the people of Nineveh (1:2), the capital city of Assyria. A world power on the rise at that time, the Assyrian empire was known as cruel and violent, gloating in victory with torture and humiliation over conquered foes. Yet God was concerned for these people enough to send his Word to them through Jonah.
The book is divided into two halves with similar structure: the word of God to Jonah (1:1, 2 and 3:1, 2), Jonah's response (1:3 and 3:3), the Gentiles' better response (1:14, 16 and 3:5, 6), and God's grace to Jonah through a fish (1:17-2:10) and a plant (4:1-11).
The dominant theme is the tension between a God of justice and a God of mercy-and how God's people should understand and respond to him. Jonah could not reconcile with a God of mercy toward Gentile "sinners". But Jonah's story is a sign that points to where God reconciles his justice and mercy for all sinners: in Jesus, who is greater than Jonah (Mt 12:41).
God is concerned today with a world that "cannot tell their right hand from their left"; will his people share his word of mercy in Jesus, or angrily seek justice and wrath, becoming bitter?

God is the God of love. No matter how sinful we are, he wants to save us. Although the city of Nineveh was full of sinfulness, God sent his prophet Jonah to warn them of coming destruction in order that they may repent and be saved.

However, Jonah did not obey God's command. He did not want the Ninevites to repent and be saved. So, he ran away from God. We all know someone whom we do not want to bless or even be saved. But God is the God of love. He wants everyone to repent and come to salvation.

Jesus did not come to save the righteous but sinners. He came to save those who crucified and killed him. We need to have the same heart as Jesus for whomever God sends our way. No matter what their attitude is towards us, we must preach the gospel message of Jesus so that they may repent and be saved. This is what God wants most.


Application: Lord, please help us to bless and pray for those who sin greatly-even against us-and bring them to salvation in Christ.
One Word: Preach the words of God to those who sinned against you!