Theory question 103
God's Divine LoveHow did Jonah react to God's message? What two lessons do we learn about the nature of God from this episode?
Show the model answer
God told Jonah to go and cry against the wicked city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2).
Jonah fled toward Tarshish by ship to escape from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3).
God sent a great storm; Jonah slept, was found by lot to be the cause and asked to be thrown into the sea (Jonah 1:4-15).
A great fish swallowed him; he prayed from its belly and was vomited onto dry land (Jonah 1:17; 2:1-10).
Sent a second time, he obeyed and preached that Nineveh would be overthrown in forty days (Jonah 3:1-4).
When Nineveh repented and God spared it, Jonah was angry and wanted to die (Jonah 4:1-3).
God taught him through the plant and the worm that He cares for Nineveh (Jonah 4:6-11).
Lessons: God is sovereign; no one can run from His presence; He is merciful and forgives those who repent; He is patient and gives second chances; His love extends to all nations, not Israel alone.
Describe Jonah's reactions both times, then state two attributes of God.