A Reluctant Prophet
Downtown Campus Pastor
The book of Jonah begins with a shocking mission and a prophet running from God. Like Jonah, we don’t always understand what God is doing, but all things are under his control, and his love for us means he will relentlessly pursue drawing us into his story.
Study Questions
Application
Take some time to consider how you may be running from God. How has he made his will plain to you, and are you trying to suppress or escape it?
In what ways might your view of God or others be too small? Is there anyone in your life you feel is so different or broken, you could never have a healthy relationship with them?
Key Points
Jonah’s assignment to call Nineveh to repentance is challenging. They are a nation of violence, arrogance, and destruction.
Like Jonah’s attempt to run from God is irrational, so our sin also causes us to make foolish decisions.
Our sin not only affects us, it introduces evil and harm to those around us.
God is trying to do something in and through Jonah, and even when Jonah is resistant, God continues to pursue him.
God is willing to hurl storms because he loves us. His grace, goodness, and power will outpace us at every turn.
The pagan sailors show Jonah more mercy than he’s willing to consider showing others. In doing so, they are a mirror to Jonah, showing what faith and obedience should look like.