Jonah 1-4

Read Jonah 1-4 

Helpful Background Information: 

• The book of Jonah tells the story of the prophet Jonah and his relationship with God. Jonah was a prophet from Israel during a time when the Assyrian Empire was growing in power and violence. The city of Nineveh, where God sent Jonah, was one of the most important cities in Assyria. The Assyrians were feared throughout the ancient world for their cruelty, in particular their cruelty to Jonah’s people. We learn later in the story that Jonah did not want to preach to Nineveh because he did not want to give them the opportunity to repent. Jonah knew God was merciful and feared God might forgive them.

• The story unfolds in four major movements. Jonah runs from God in chapter 1, cries out to God from the fish in chapter 2, obeys God and preaches in Nineveh in chapter 3, and then becomes angry at God’s mercy in chapter 4. 
  

Reflection Questions: 

• Jonah wanted justice for Nineveh but mercy for himself. In what ways are we tempted to think the same way?

• How does God’s response to Jonah in chapter 4 challenge the way you think about justice and forgiveness? 

• The book of Jonah ends very abruptly. We never find out how Jonah responds to God’s final question: “Should I not pity Nineveh…?” (Jonah 4:11). Why do you think God chose to end the story that way?