Prophet Jonah was called by God to preach to the city of Nineveh about their wickedness. However, Jonah did not want to fulfill this calling because Nineveh was an enemy of his people. He attempted to flee by boarding a ship headed in the opposite direction of Nineveh. God caused a big storm and the sailors discovered Jonah was the cause, throwing him overboard. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and after three days was spit out, at which point he obeyed God and went to Nineveh. The people of Nineveh repented from their wicked ways in response to Jonah's preaching. The story of Jonah teaches about God's sovereignty, mercy for all people regardless of nationality

1. PROPHET JONAH
Tangaza university college.
Class presentation compiled by. Big Ben

2. INTRODUCTION.
This paper shall be discussing about
the life of Prophet Jonah, his prophetic
calling, his teachings, his
characteristics and the relevance of his
teachings to the contemporary society.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE
RESEARCH.
By the end of the lesson, the learner should
be able to:
Know who Prophet Jonah is and what he
stood for.
Appreciate Prophet Jonah’s teachings and
should be able to relate his prophetic
teachings in the African context.

4. THE BACKGROUND
ABOUT PROPHET
JONAH.
 He was the son of Ammitai, the prophet
from Gath Hepher. Jonah ministered
during the reign of jeroboam11, (793-753
BC), of the northern kingdom of Israel.

5. WHO THEN IS PROPHET
JONAH?
 The prophetic author of the book of Jonah
used the name, experience and reputation
of the prophet from 2kings 14:25-28,
inspired by the spirit of God to handle
theological and spiritual issues which
transcends specific historical periods.

6. BEHIND HIS NAME AS
JONAH.
 Jonah son of Amittai, means “dove son of
faithfulness.” It conjures up the image of a
gentle creature with the strong homing
instincts.

7. HIS HOME TOWN
GATH-
HEPHER.
 In 2kings14:23-29, we are told that Jonah
came from Gath-hepher. This is a Hebrew
name meaning “winepress of digging”,
referred to in Joshua 19:13, it was situated
on the border of Zebulun and Nephtali, a
few miles north East of Nazareth.

8. HIS HOME TOWN
GATH-HEPHER.
 In 2kings14:23-29, we are told that Jonah
came from Gath-hepher. This is a Hebrew
name meaning “winepress of digging”,
referred to in Joshua 19:13, it was situated
on the border of Zebulun and Nephtali, a
few miles north East of Nazareth.

9. YOM KIPPUR/DAY OF
ATONEMENT.
 For centuries the book of Jonah has been
read on the Day of Atonement. Yom
Kippur or the Day of Atonement, is the
most solemn feast day in the Jewish
liturgical year.

10. CHARACTERISTICS OF
JONAH AS A PROPHET.
 Unlike any other human being Jonah had
his characteristics and having received the
call to be a prophet never made him ceased
to be him but rather was influenced by his
personality in his prophetic ministry.

11. JONAH THE
RELUCTANT
PROPHET.
 Nixon (2003) purports that to a certain
extent Jonah follows in all authentic
traditions when he follows his reluctance to
accept the call of Yahweh.

12. JONAH THE THINKING THE
UNTHINKABLE PROPHET.
 The prophet believes it to be impossible
that the lord god should send him to
Nineveh. His response to this impossible
request is to free from God.

13. JONAH WAS A MAN OF
AN IRASCIBLE TEMPER.
 Uncorrected, it may be, in early life.
Correction always comes sooner or later;
better sooner than later.
 He was one soon angry, and who could be
very angry. Not a pleasant man to live
with. A complaining man, and fond of
something to complain of.

14. A RABBINIC VIEW.
 According to McGowan (1968), we consider
some rabbinic thought which has suggested
that Jonah was right to protest against God’s
call.

15. PROPHETIC
DILEMMA.
 When the prophets urged God’s people to
repent they were ignored or abused. The failure
of God’s people to respond to God’s word was
a major problem for the prophets of Israel.

16. OPPOSED
TO
FREEDOM
.
 God’s call to Jonah is to go beyond the
boundaries of his world view and to
transcend himself. He is called to freedom.

17. AN ESCAPIST.
 It is not unusual for people in profound
denial of the situation in which they find
themselves to seek out ways of avoiding its
implications.

18. The Book of Jonah as a
metaphor.
1. The book exemplifies the
miraculous power and supremacy of God
over His entire creation.
The amazing power of God was illustrated
by these miracles:
The severe winds and boisterous sea that
God sent, then miraculously calmed (Jonah
1:4,

19.  The sailors cast lots and by a miracle, the
lot identified Jonah (1:7).
 The “great fish” was “prepared” to
swallow Jonah (1:17).
 Jonah was alive after three days and nights
in the fish (1:17).
 The fish was guided (“so the LORD spoke
to the fish”) to a place where Jonah was
spewed out on dry land (2:10).
 Among others…..

20.  These events are manifestations of the
mighty power of the Creator of the entire
universe.

21.  2
 God’s servants must obey Him even when
the circumstances are contrary to their
expectations and hopes.

22. 3
 Despite human weaknesses in those God
selects, He is still able to use them in His
service. The narrative presents a noticeable
contrast between God’s mercy and
forgiveness and the shortcomings of His
servant. The Bible mentions imperfections
in other renowned individuals, such as
Noah, Abraham, Jacob, David,

23. 4
 God’s willingness to forgive upon heartfelt
repentance is striking and an
encouragement to those who seek to please
their Creator but at times succumb to
human weaknesses. Upon genuine
repentance God is willing to forgive, and
will continue to work with us.

24. TEACHINGS OF
PROPHET JONAH.
 This section shall be looking at some of the
main teachings of Prophet Jonah.

25. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF JEHOVAH.

26. GODS
INTEREST
IN
ALL
PEOPLE.

27. PEOPLECANCHANGE.

28. REPENTANCE
REQUIRES
W
ORK.

29. JO
N
A
H
’S
C
O
N
D
ITIO
N
A
L
PR
O
PH
EC
Y
.

30. CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROPHET
JONAH
TO
THE
CONTEM
PORARY
W
ORLD.
The book of Jonah is not just
about a man who ran away
from God…
… it is about how a great God
was up to something great
even through a runaway like
Jonah!

31. The purpose of a call
is to serve other
people. Jonah’s call
is for the benefit of
Nineveh.
JONAH’S CALL AND RESPONSE.
After how they had treated his
people, they deserved to be wiped
out. The last thing Jonah wanted
was for his enemies to receive
Gods blessing.

32. “Go to the great city of
Nineveh and preach against it,
because its wickedness has
come up before me.” Jonah
ran
away
from
God.

33. GOD’S
BLESSING
FOR
ALL
NATIONS
 God’s blessings is
not a bucket with
limited capacity,
but an overflowing
fountain.
After how they had treated his
people, they deserved to be
wiped out. The last thing
Jonah wanted was for his
enemies to receive Gods
blessing.

34.  Jonah’s proclamation
moved the Ninevites to
humble themselves and
seek divine mercy.
TEACHING ABOUT REPENTANCE.
The Book of Jonah is about
a great God… a God of
salvation and mercy and
grace and power.

35. 
Likemanyofthe
contemporarysociety
prophets,Jonahwasnot
abletoobeythelord,
althoughhewasaprophet
whoseworkwasbutto
callpeopletothelord’s
obedience.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROPHET JONAH’S
TEACHINGS.
TheBook
ofJonah
ism
orethana
fascinating
accountofonem
an's
futileattem
ptto
runaway
from
God.Itisastory
ofGod'slovefor
eventhem
ostunlovable,
despicablepeoplewecan
im
agine
—
and
ofourresponsibility
to
tell
them
theGoodNews.

36. Why Jonah had to had
to run.
 God told Jonah to preach to the Assyrians
in Nineveh. Jonah knew that if he preached
to them, they would have an opportunity to
avoid God's wrath. Jonah hoped to see
these enemies punished by God, so he ran
away.

37. Thanks……………….