The story of Jonah is one of the most recognized in the entire Bible. Jonah appears frequently in early Christian art; only three stories are depicted more. Herman Melville’s Moby Dick devotes a portion of the book to a sermon about Jonah. Jonah is quite the popular fish story.
However, for all of its familiarity, Jonah is one of the most misunderstood stories in the Old Testament. Ray Stedman called Jonah “probably the best known yet least understood book in the Bible.” Known for its outlandish claims about a man spending three days in a fish, Jonah is the ultimate fish story. But Jonah is really so much more.
The story of Jonah is really not even about Jonah. Like our lives, it is ultimately the story of God’s relentless love toward rebellious people. In Jonah, we see God’s relentless love for a rebellious prophet running from God. We catch a glimpse of God’s relentless love toward a rebellious people no one expected to be saved. And ultimately we get a glimpse of God’s relentless love in his heart for mission. Jonah is more than a fish story; Jonah is a story of the gospel.
Join us as we dive into this familiar story.
May 26—Jonah: A Fish Story
June 2—Jonah 1: God’s Pursuit of a Rebellious Prophet
June 9—Jonah 2: God’s Pursuit of a Prophet’s Heart
June 16—Jonah 3: A Certain Hope
June 23—Jonah 4: God’s Love for an Angry Prophet
June 30—Jonah 4/Psalm 145: God’s Call for a Gospel People
Resources on Jonah
Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchividjian
