Jonah Flees His Mission (chs. 1–2)
- Jonah’s Commission and Flight (1:1–3)
- God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. Jonah, however, flees to Tarshish, attempting to escape God’s call.
- The Endangered Sailors’ Cry to Their Gods (1:4–6)
- A violent storm threatens the ship. The sailors, fearing for their lives, cry out to their gods for help, but Jonah remains asleep below deck.
- Jonah’s Disobedience Exposed (1:7–10)
- The sailors cast lots to determine who is responsible for the storm, and the lot falls on Jonah. He confesses that he is fleeing from the Lord and acknowledges the storm is his fault.
- Jonah’s Punishment and Deliverance (1:11—2:1; 2:10)
- The sailors, instructed by Jonah, throw him into the sea, and the storm ceases. Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, where he remains for three days and three nights.
- His Prayer of Thanksgiving (2:2–9)
- From the belly of the fish, Jonah prays a prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging God’s salvation and promising to fulfill his vow to the Lord.
- Jonah’s Deliverance (2:10)
- God commands the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land, delivering him from his predicament.
Jonah Reluctantly Fulfills His Mission (chs. 3–4)
- Jonah’s Renewed Commission and Obedience (3:1–4)
- God gives Jonah a second chance, commanding him to go to Nineveh. Jonah obeys and delivers God’s message of impending destruction in 40 days.
- The Endangered Ninevites’ Repentant Appeal to the Lord (3:5–9)
- The people of Nineveh, from the king to the commoners, repent in sackcloth and ashes. They turn to God in hopes of averting the disaster.
- The Ninevites’ Repentance Acknowledged (3:10—4:4)
- God sees the Ninevites’ repentance and relents from the planned destruction. Jonah, however, is displeased with God’s mercy and becomes angry, expressing his frustration.
- Jonah’s Deliverance and Rebuke (4:5–11)
- Jonah leaves the city and sits outside, hoping to see Nineveh’s destruction. God provides a plant to shade him, but then sends a worm to destroy it. Jonah expresses anger over the loss of the plant. God rebukes Jonah, pointing out that he had more compassion for the plant than for the people of Nineveh, who repented and turned to God.