1. What was God’s command to Jonah? What did Jonah do instead, and why?

God commanded Jonah to go to the wicked Assyrian city of Nineveh and proclaim God’s coming judgment. But instead, Jonah fled in the opposite direction by boarding a ship for Tarshish. He hated the Ninevites for their cruelty and did not want God to show mercy to them, so he ran away from God’s command.

2. When God sent a major storm, how did the sea finally calm?

God sent a violent storm that threatened to sink the ship. After the sailors woke Jonah and learned the truth, Jonah told them to throw him overboard. As soon as they did, the sea calmed—because the storm had been sent by God to confront and discipline Jonah.

3. What happened when Jonah was thrown into the sea? What happened to him for the next three days?

God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, just as He had appointed the storm. Jonah remained alive inside the fish for three days and three nights, until God commanded the fish to vomit him onto dry land.

4. When Jonah finally obeyed, how did Nineveh respond? How did Jonah respond afterward?

When Jonah preached, the people of Nineveh believed God’s warning, repented, fasted, and put on sackcloth. But instead of rejoicing, Jonah became angry that God showed mercy to people he viewed as enemies. He said he would rather die than see God forgive them.

5. How did God test Jonah to show whether his anger was right or wrong?

God appointed a plant to grow and give Jonah shade, and Jonah was very glad for it. Then God appointed a worm to destroy the plant, and an east wind to make Jonah miserable. Jonah became angry enough to want to die. God used this to show Jonah that if he cared so much for a plant that lived only one day, how much more should God care for an entire city full of people and animals.

6. What does this book teach us about God?

The story teaches that God is sovereign over every detail—storms, fish, plants, prophets, and nations. It also shows that God is full of mercy and sees genuine repentance. He desires to show compassion even to the most wicked nations if they will turn from their sin and trust in His word.