Jonah 1:1-3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What stands out to you most from Jonah 1:1-3 and why?
Like many prophetic books, Jonah begins with “the word of the LORD” coming to God’s messenger (cf. Joel 1:1; Micah 1:1; Jeremiah 1:4). What did God command Jonah to do, how did Jonah respond, and why is it so surprising (cf. Isaiah 6:8; Hosea 1:2–3; Jonah 1:1–3)?
Why would God’s concern for Nineveh have been shocking to Jonah and to Israel? What does this teach us about God’s heart for the nations (cf. Gen 12:2-3; Ps 67:1-3; 96:3; Is 49:6; Matt 28:28-20; 1 Tim 2:4; Rev 7:9)?
The Lord only asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and “call out against it, for their evil.” What is Jonah’s real issue for why he fled, and what does it reveal about his heart (cf. Jonah 4:1-2)?
Jonah knew God’s word, but his heart was out of sync with God’s heart. Why is this so important for us to see and learn from? What are some ways this can happen in our own lives?
Jonah’s rebellion led him away from God’s word, God’s people, God’s mission, and God’s presence. Why does distancing ourselves from those things make sin easier to justify? How have you seen that pattern play out personally or in others?
Jonah tried to flee from the presence of the Lord, yet passages like Genesis 3:8-9, Psalm 139:1–12, Jeremiah 23:23–24, and Hebrews 4:13 remind us that God is everywhere present. Why is that both sobering and comforting?
When or where are you most tempted to resist God’s word, withhold grace from others, or run from what God is calling you to do? How does the gospel of Jesus meet us in those moments?
In Jonah 1:1–3, whose heart do you most identify with right now—Jonah’s resistant heart or God’s compassionate heart? What might repentance and renewed trust in God look like for you this week?
