Who’s Your Ninevite? Jonah - Chapter One

 “Jonah – Who’s Your Ninevite?”

I. Introduction: The Challenge of Jonah

Jonah is more than a fish tale—it’s a deeply layered story about God’s character, human resistance, and grace to outsiders.

The lesson asks us to wrestle with this: Who is your Ninevite? (i.e., who do you resist extending grace to?)

The story functions on multiple levels: historical narrative, parable, and theological mirror.

II. Setting the Stage

Who: Jonah, a prophet from 2 Kings 14:25, is introduced as God’s messenger—but he’s reluctant, disobedient, and emotionally volatile.

When: The events occurred in the 8th century BC, though the book may have been written later (post-exile).

Where: Tarshish (opposite direction of obedience), Nineveh (enemy capital), the sea (chaos and death).

What: God calls Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but he flees.

Why: This is what we are invited to explore: Why does Jonah resist? What does that reveal about God and us?

III. God’s Sovereignty: Over All Things

God controls:

Nature: Storms, sea, fish, wind, plants, and worms.

Nations: Nineveh is a foreign, Gentile city, yet God cares.

Death: Jonah goes to the depths (Sheol) but is preserved.

People Outside the Covenant: Gentiles (sailors, Ninevites) respond to God better than the prophet does.

IV. Literary Depth & Structure

The book uses chiastic structure (mirrored patterns) and callbacks to earlier scriptures (Genesis, Kings).

Key words (“down,” “great,” “threw”) help readers trace Jonah’s descent and God’s movement.

Echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18) and Elijah’s despair (1 Kings 19) frame Jonah as a deeply flawed but relatable prophet.

V. Chapter 1 – Flight and Storm: Jonah vs. the Gentiles

A. Jonah’s Disobedience

God calls, Jonah runs—to Tarshish, the opposite direction.

His flight is not just physical but theological: he flees God’s mercy toward his enemies.

B. The Storm at Sea

God hurls a storm. Sailors panic and pray; Jonah sleeps.

The Gentiles show spiritual awareness; Jonah, the prophet, is indifferent.

C. The Great Contrast

Jonah confesses belief in “the Lord of heaven, sea, and dry land,” but his actions deny his theology.

The sailors fear God, pray, and make vows—Jonah must be thrown overboard to bring peace.

Reflection Questions:

Do our actions match our theology?

How does Jonah mirror us in disobedience or selective compassion?