WEBVTT

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Introduction to the Book of Jonah The
events of the Book of Jonah likely

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occurred around 775 B.C.

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The Book of Jonah shows that God desires
the salvation of all peoples, not just the

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Jewish people.

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But that's not how the prophet Jonah felt.

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God tells Jonah to go to the great
Assyrian city of Nineveh and to cry out

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against its wickedness.

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But Jonah doesn't want to go.

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He doesn't want Nineveh to repent.

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Jonah knows that God is gracious and
merciful and would spare this hated enemy

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of Israel from destruction if they repent.

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So he sailed in the opposite direction.

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That's when God used a great fish to
rescue Jonah so the Lord could once again

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send Jonah to Assyria.

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Jonah did deliver God's message,
and Nineveh turned to God.

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But Jonah sulked because they were not
destroyed.

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The story of Jonah shows God's loving
concern for all people.

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It also confronts Jonah's stubborn
reluctance and unwillingness to share the

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Lord's compassion with other nations.

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Consider as you listen how God's purpose
for Israel to introduce all nations to God

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parallels our responsibility to be willing
ambassadors for Him.