Jonah a fishy story – because there is more to it than meets the eye. I believe Jonah is certainly a parable that we are to learn from; yet I also believe that historically it is true.

Structurally

Chapter 1 – Running Away

Chapter 2- Going Back

Chapter 3 – Preaching to Nineveh

Chapter 4 – Disturbing Reflection

Summary: Struggling with God’s Call

1. Giving Good News to Bad People

i.                    Issue of the elitism of the Jews Deut 14.2

ii.                 Israel’s Mission to the World Gen 12.3, Isa 49.6

iii.               The Assyrians the Baddies Jonah 1,2, 3.8,10, Nahum 1.11, 2.12-13, 3.1,4,16,19, “ Evil ways and Violence”

iv.                The Nature of God – His Justice & Compassion 4.2.

2. The One Who Didn’t Get Away

i.                    From God – not intended 1.9

ii.                 From Nineveh – intended 1.2-3

iii.               Pre Scuba Diving Days 1.17, 2.1

iv.                Jonah given a second chance 3.1-2

3. Community Transformation

Nineveh changed – Fasting with penance and prayer 3.6-9

4. Distorted Perspective: When things matter more than people 4.9, 4.1

Jonah was an angry man!

God leaves him with a big question 4.11 !  

5. Challenge: To fulfil our God given call

i.                    As Jesus did – the sign of Jonah Matt 12.39-42, 16.4, Luke 11.29-32.

ii.                 Like Jonah – to grapple with it

iii.               To know we are never out of God’s reach Ps 139