The Old Testament book of Jonah is a gripping, interesting, and engaging story. Jonah is considered one of the most difficult books to comprehend and understand properly. This book can be summarized with these four headings: Jonah flees from God, Jonah prays, Jonah goes to the city of Nineveh, and Jonah’s anger at the Lord’s compassion. Obviously, the main character in the story is Jonah; although whether he is a protagonist or an antagonist is debatable. Seemingly, Jonah does not look like the “most qualified” to be one of God’s prophets or messengers judging by his rebellious attitude. However, God uses people from all walks of life to accomplish His plan. The first heading: Jonah flees from God gives the initial tone of the book; the tone …show more content…
How would Jonah escape the whale? Jonah prays to God to escape! He does just that in Jonah 2:1-9 and the good Lord commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto land. The word of God came to Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh and preach there. Moving forward, following this occurrence Jonah travels to Nineveh. Jonah simply said, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” At this all the people wore a sackcloth and repented of their sins. God’s response to this rejection of sin was compassion. Unexpectedly, Jonah becomes furious with God for showing grace to the Ninevites. God answered with “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah decided to rest and God grew a plant to give Jonah shade. God is truly good; He initially rescued Jonah from the roaring sea by sending a whale and now God produces a plant to rescue Jonah from the heat of the sun. However, God sent a worm to eat the plant and Jonah was left feeling faint. Again, Jonah responds in bitterness, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” God again said, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah’s expected response is “It is and I am so angry I wish I were dead.” In the closing verses of this book God’s conversation with Jonah ends abruptly (see Jonah