I am Jonah: God of Second-Chances (Jonah 3:1-10) Questions for Discussion and Reflection

In his book The Grace of God Andy Stanley writes of Jonah, “From Jonah’s point of view, these people (the Ninevites)  weren’t worth saving. The last thing he wanted to do was be God’s emissary of grace. They didn’t deserve grace… So he ran… Yet God heard his cry for help. Perhaps it was then that Jonah realized that the purpose of God’s discipline was not to pay him back but to bring him back.” (page 109,112)

Compare Jonah 1:2 with Jonah 3:2. What does the change in God’s command to “preach against” Nineveh to “proclaim to” Nineveh reveal about Jonah’s experience of grace?

Read Jonah 3:1-10. How was Jonah “brought back”? Compare Jonah’s experience of grace with that of the Ninevites.

If Jonah’s lament in Jonah 4:2 is any indication of his attitude while preaching in Nineveh, his obedience was less than wholehearted. Despite this, the result of his preaching was revival. What encouragement do the following Scriptures offer regarding the effect of the Scriptures being proclaimed?

Joshua 1:8-9--

Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25--

Isaiah 55:8-10--

Psalm 119:9-11--

Matthew 5:17-18--

John 17:17--

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2--

To whom is the Holy Spirit leading you to be a messenger of grace?