Scripture Readings - Jonah

Jonah

The prophecy of Jonah, especially his three days in the belly of a great fish, is one of the most memorable accounts among the books of the Prophets. Our Lord Himself uses this image to foreshadow His own three days and nights in the tomb (Matt. 12:38–41; Luke 11:29–32). Through Jonah’s mission, the prophet calls Israel to repentance and reminds her of her responsibility to proclaim to all nations the breadth of God’s mercy and His willingness to forgive.

The book can be conveniently divided into two parts:

1. Chapters 1–2: Jonah’s first call from God and his disobedience, which culminates in his three-day sojourn in the belly of the great fish.
2. Chapters 3–4: Jonah’s second call and his preaching to the people of Nineveh, who respond with repentance.