Expert: John - 6/30/2004

Question
I was wondering if you could explain or find out what the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, specifically, the first chapter means.  I was also pondering about how the first chapter affects us in today's society.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Jeff, I will do my best to answer your question and I have to say that this is an excellent question in that it does affect us in today's society.
The book of Jonah opens with God's call to Jonah to preach against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh.  The city in the story represents the great kingdoms of this world that stand in opposition to God's people and His kingdom.  Jonah responded to God'scall with disobedience.  He set out in the opposit direction.  We are not given teh motives for his disobedience at this point in the story.  We are tempted to suppose that he was afraid to carry out God's plan because Nineveh was a "great city".  We will see, however that this was not the reason.  The real reason is kept concealed by the writer until Chapter 4 at which time we discover that Jonah disobeyed God because he did not want Nineveh to receive God's grace.  
This chapter shows us that God wants us to receive His wonderful grace and would do anything for us to have it.  This Book shows us that God has compassion on all.  
This affects us today for the fact that it shows us God's compassion and the He wants us to receive it.  If you take this further God has so much compassion for us He sent His only true Son to us to go through the pain of being crucified on the Cross and die for our sins.  If that does not show compassion than what does?
I hope this helps.  If not you can visit my webpage and fine my e-mail address or post on my message board at
http://www.homepage-host.uni.cc/p/godslove/index.html
Take care and my God bless you in your study of His wonderful Word
Pastor John