About This Book Theme: God’s love is broader than Israel and extends to all men Other Major Themes: – God’s Sovereign Control Over events – God’s Determination to Get His Message to the Nations – The Need for Repentance of Sin in General – The Need for Repentance of Ego and Hypocrisy – The Full Assurance that God will Relent When People Repent

Jonah 1:1 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Jonah means “Dove” He is the son of Amittai (the truth of God) He lives in the days of Jeroboam (782 – 753B.C.) Because he has accurately predicted the recovery of lands from the Arameans (descendants of Aram son of Shem), he is likely in the favor of the King (II Kings 14:25) The Arameans were eventually lost to history, but their language remained Some of the scripture was originally given in Aramaic Israel is deeply in sin and is deeply unrepentant Jonah is the likely author, by the Holy Spirit, of the book

Jonah 1:2 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." Arise… – The Sovereign Lord Commands – He would not have us idle Go to Nineveh – Across from the Modern city of Mosul – It is filled with Israel’s enemies That Great City… – It is 48 miles in circumference – It’s population is greater than 120,000 Call out against it.. – Great cities and great men are under the authority of God – Evil will not be allowed to prosper under the sight of God For their evil has come up before me – Sin must be punished – Though it is grace, the Lord would prefer repentance

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. But Jonah arose to flee From the presence of the Lord He went down to Joppa And found a ship going to Tarshish So he paid the fare And went on board To go with them to Tarshish Away from the presence of the Lord