Jonah & the Nature of God: profound thoughts from the stomach of a fish

1. Where is God?

Jonah 1:3-4; 2:2; Jonah 2:6–7 his presence is everywhere

2. To what extent does God rule over and control this world? What does this mean for us?

Jonah 1:4, 11-12, 14-16; 4:8 the wind and the sea (i.e. the weather/elements)

Jonah 1:7 the roll of the dice/ the actions of man / the physical laws of the universe

Jonah 1:17; 2:10 fish

Jonah 2:9 salvation

Jonah 3:5-8 the heart of man

Jonah 4:3; 4:8-9 life and death

Jonah 4:6, 4:10 plants

Jonah 4:7 worm

3. How is the providence of God displayed through Jonah’s disobedience? What does this teach us about God?

Compare Jonah 1:5 with 1:16 Jonah’s disobedience led to the salvation of the mariners

God is sovereign over sin. He ordains evil for good.

4. What is the right response to God? What does true knowledge of God look like? Why?

Jonah 1:16; 4:5-9 fear the LORD, repentance

Jonah 2:2 trust in the LORD

Jonah 2:8 love the LORD, hope in the LORD

Jonah 3:1-3 obey the LORD

5. How do we know God?

Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2; 4:4; 4:9-11 He speaks

6. How does God deal with evil? What does this teach us about him?

Jonah 1:2; 3:9 God’s judgment on evil – he is holy (Jonah 2:4; 2:7)

Compare Jonah 1:3 with Jonah 2:2,6 God’s mercy on Jonah

Compare Jonah 1:2 with Jonah 3:10 God’s mercy on Nineveh

7. How does God deal with his own people? What does this teach us about him?

Jonah 1:3; 4:1; 4:9 his patience

Jonah 1:4; 1:15; 4:6-8 his discipline

Jonah 2:2-9 his love

8. What does Jonah’s prayer teach us about God? In what ways is this a disappointing prayer?

Jonah 4:2-3 he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster

9. What does Jonah teach us about the love of God?

Jonah 4:10-11 he loves sinners

Jonah 4:11 he loves his creation