This is John at the Bible Project. This week on the podcast, we're releasing a series

of question and responses that Tim and I did on the book of Jonah. Likely you've heard

the story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, swallowed by a large fish and sent to the city

of his enemies to help them find salvation and the love of God. It's a remarkable story

and it has a surprising ending. Tim and I discussed this book and we answer questions

from you. Such as is Jonah a real person or is this a parable? Why did God choose Jonah?

And why did Jesus talk about Jonah in Matthew 12 in relation to his death and resurrection?

We'll look at those questions and more. Here we go.

I think many people are introduced to this short book of the Bible in a really white

washed, watered down form of a children's story. And Jonah is a perfect example of what

you, your expectations, what you think you're going to get out of something determines

what it is you'll get out of it. And I think most of people come to the book of Jonah thinking

they're going to get out of it some moral message that's about as profound as a children's

book. And unfortunately that is just a really shallow under reading of the book. And usually

I have three children's books at home. I collect them on Jonah now because I'm so fascinated.

But the fourth chapter, I have three versions of Jonah in children's book at home and two

of those three simply omit the last chapter. They don't even include the last chapter.

Oh yeah. In the children's book. Yes. The whole book is about evil people repenting and finding God's

magic. And Jonah having done that. And Jonah is the hero for getting the bad

most of your life. If you do the last chapter then the kids are going to be like wait a second.

Yeah, yeah. The last chapter is too sophisticated for toddlers apparently. So anyway, all that to

say, the book of Jonah is the work of literary ninjas that's incredibly sophisticated story.

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