River Valley Church SOAP - Part 4Sample

Although we don't fully know who the author of this book is, it is a contrast to many of the other minor prophet books as it is simply a narrative of the prophet Jonah. He was instructed to rebuke the great city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. They would be considered modern-day terrorists for their cruelty and hatred of all those around them. Jonah flees God's command and is swallowed by a giant fish and stays in its belly for 3 days. This is the reference Jesus makes when He says, "the only sign that will be given is the sign of Jonah" meaning he will be dead for three days but rise again. Jonah finally reaches Nineveh and rebukes it. The people repent of their sins allowing God's anger of them to subside and He accepts their repentance. Jonah is not happy at the end because Jews thought themselves superior to other races because they thought God only loved them. God was showing His people that His love and mercy extended farther than just the Jews.