Summary of the Book of Jonah

Author:
Jonah 1:1 identifies the book as narrating the story of the prophet Jonah. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional belief is that Jonah is the author of the book, and there is no compelling reason to speculate about an unidentified author. Full article: Who wrote the book of Jonah? Who was the author of Jonah?

Date of Writing:
The Book of Jonah was likely composed between 793 and 758 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
Disobedience and revival are the central themes in this book. Jonah’s ordeal in the belly of the whale presents him with a unique opportunity to seek deliverance, as he repents during this extraordinary retreat. His initial disobedience leads not only to his personal revival but also to that of the Ninevites. Many consider the revival that Jonah brings to Nineveh as one of the most significant evangelistic endeavors of all time.

Key Verses:

Jonah 1:3, “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish…”

Jonah 1:17, “But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.”

Jonah 2:2, “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Jonah 3:10, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”

Brief Summary:
Jonah’s fear and pride prompt him to flee from God. He refuses to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people, as God has instructed, because he views them as his adversaries and is convinced that God will not follow through with his promise to destroy the city. Instead, he boards a ship for Tarshish, which is in the opposite direction. Soon, a violent storm causes the

crew to cast lots and determine that Jonah is the problem. They throw him overboard, and he is swallowed by a great fish. In its belly for 3 days and 3 nights, Jonah repents of his sin to God, and the fish vomits him up on dry land (we wonder what took him so long to repent). Jonah then makes the 500-mile trip to Nineveh and leads the city in a great revival. But the prophet is displeased (actually pouts) instead of being thankful when Nineveh repents. Jonah learns his lesson, however, when God uses a wind, a gourd, and a worm to teach him that He is merciful.

Foreshadowings:
That Jonah is a type of Christ is clear from Jesus’ own words. In Matthew 12:40-41, Jesus declares that He will be in the grave the same amount of time Jonah was in the whale’s belly. He goes on to say that while the Ninevites repented in the face of Jonah’s preaching, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who rejected Jesus were rejecting One who is far greater than Jonah. Just as Jonah brought the truth of God regarding repentance and salvation to the Ninevites, so too does Jesus bring the same message (Jonah 2:9;John 14:6) of salvation of and through God alone «For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.», (Romans 11:36).

Practical Application:
We cannot hide from God. What He wishes to accomplish through us will come to pass, despite all our objections and foot-dragging. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that He has plans for us and will see to it that we conform to those plans. How much easier it would be if we, unlike Jonah, would submit to Him without delay!

God’s love manifests itself in His accessibility to all, regardless of our reputation, nationality, or race. The free offer of the Gospel is for all people in all times. Our task as Christians is to be the means by which God tells the world of

to rejoice in the offer of salvation for others. This is an experience God desires us to share with Him, without being envious or resentful of those who turn to Christ in “last-minute conversions” or through circumstances different from our own.