Jonah
Prophet of God's Universal Mercy
Divine Inspiration Process
"All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16). Through Jonah, God revealed His universal love and mercy, using even a reluctant prophet to demonstrate His sovereign grace.
The Holy Spirit guided Jonah's experiences and inspired the recording of this profound narrative, showing God's patience with both rebellious prophets and repentant nations.
Divine Attributes Revealed
The Inspiration Behind Jonah
"But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up... And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah."
God orchestrated every detail of Jonah's journey - from the storm to the fish to the plant - demonstrating His complete control over creation and His persistent love for all people.
Universal Message
Through Jonah's story, God revealed that His mercy extends to all nations, foreshadowing the Great Commission and the gospel's reach to every tribe and tongue.
Jonah, son of Amittai, was a prophet from Gath-hepher in the northern kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC. His name means "dove," yet his initial response to God's call was anything but peaceful submission.
When God commanded him to preach to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria and Israel's greatest enemy, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. His journey from rebellion to reluctant obedience became one of the most memorable stories in Scripture.
The account of Jonah reveals profound truths about God's character: His sovereignty over creation, His mercy toward repentant sinners, and His persistent love even for reluctant servants.
Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the great fish became a powerful symbol of death and resurrection, which Jesus Himself referenced as a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
From the depths of the sea and the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed one of the most beautiful psalms of thanksgiving and deliverance recorded in Scripture, acknowledging God's salvation and sovereignty.
"I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice." - Jonah 2:2