The Book of Jonah
Mercy for enemies — a reluctant prophet and a God whose compassion knows no borders.
Overview
Jonah is the story of a prophet who ran from God rather than preach to enemies he despised — and of the God who pursued him, even into the belly of a great fish. When Jonah finally obeys, an entire city repents.
The real surprise of the book is not the fish but the depth of God's mercy, which reaches even the people we would rather see judged.
Key themes
God's mercy for all
God's compassion extends even to Israel's enemies.
Running from God
Jonah learns there is nowhere God's call cannot reach.
The heart behind obedience
God cares not just what we do, but the heart with which we do it.
Key verses from Jonah
Salvation is of the LORD.
The lesson Jonah learned in the depths.
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,
How to read Jonah
Read it as a story about God's mercy, not mainly about a fish.
Notice Jonah's anger at grace — and ask if you share it.
Let it stretch your sense of how wide God's compassion is.