Reflections from D-Group: Jonah’s Story
Resources I used while studying the book of Jonah:
My John MacArthur Study Bible NASB
Through The Word Bible Study App
During Our Discussion:
Women Living Well Ministries - This was shared with us by one of the members of our group.
Tonight, our D-Group dove into the story of Jonah. Like many, I remember Jonah from Sunday School and VBS—it was always about the guy who got swallowed by a whale. But until now, I had never actually studied the book of Jonah for myself. And wow... it’s so much more than a fish tale.
For starters, the Bible doesn’t even say “whale.” It specifically describes it as a large fish:
“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
—Jonah 1:17
Before I get into what we discussed around the table, here’s a very short summary of the book:
God tells Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but Jonah runs the other way. After a storm and a detour inside a big fish, Jonah finally obeys—Nineveh repents. But Jonah gets upset about God’s mercy, and God reminds him that His compassion extends to everyone.
The book is only four chapters long, but when I finished reading it, my immediate thought was: “Wait—what happened to Jonah after his last words to God?!” It ends so abruptly! Apparently, I wasn’t alone—everyone in the group was wondering the same thing. The last few verses of chapter 4 just stop you in your tracks:
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.
And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
—Jonah 4:9–11
“And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
That’s the last we hear from Jonah. A prophet—called by God—ending with words so heavy and heartbroken. It’s clear he had a serious heart issue: one tangled with unforgiveness, a lack of compassion, and a warped sense of justice. God points out that Jonah cared more about a plant than about an entire city of people. That really hit us.
We realized how often we’re guilty of the same thing. While none of us have been that angry, we’ve all struggled with bitterness or disappointment. We’ve all had moments where we resented seeing others—especially those who’ve hurt us—being blessed, while we’re trying hard to “do the right thing.”
We ended up asking God to search our hearts. Where are we running from Him? What are we avoiding that He’s clearly called us to do? Are we holding onto unforgiveness? Are we secretly angry because life seems unfair?
Our leader, W, said something that stuck with me:
“You can look like a Christian on the outside, but your heart may not be aligned with God.”
That led to more honest reflection. Sometimes we spiritualize our stubbornness—saying things like, “Well, they’ll never change,” or “I’m not casting my pearls before swine.” But that’s just using Scripture to justify selfishness or bitterness.
Jonah ran from God, and that decision endangered everyone around him—those sailors on the boat to Tarshish had no idea they were caught in a storm because of a disobedient prophet. And where was Jonah during the chaos? Asleep. Oblivious.
We talked about how easy it is, even as Christians, to sleepwalk through life—looking the part, going through the motions, but completely out of step with God. We disobey in subtle ways, turn away in our hearts, and then get upset when God shows mercy to people we don’t think deserve it.
But the truth is: God’s mercy is for everyone. Not just the ones we approve of.
Read the book of Jonah for yourself and I hope you see it for more than a man getting swallowed by a big fish.
Peace,
B
