8th+period's+Jonah+comments

Jonah's motives are debatable. His prayer implies he repented and went to Ninevah because he had an epiphany in the whale that it is necessary to save sinners from a life of corruption. However, he may simply have been telling God what He wanted to hear to save himself from a life in the belly of a giant marine animal. His actions may have resulted solely from his fear of God's wrath. –Rebecca K.
 * Who is Jonah? **

You know that he feels guilty when he tells the crew of the ship to throw him overboard so that God will leave them alone. You can debate Jonah's choice to run if you want. Two sides of the debate would be why he should have run (because God's going to forgive the people of Nineveh anyway) and why he should have stayed (because he had to do his part before the people of Nineveh asked for forgiveness).—Pat O.

In the beginning, when he spoke with God, his thoughts were presented in a third person format. However, in his epiphany in the whale, his thoughts were presented in first person; this gives the reader the ability to get his exact emotions during his time of reflection.—Courtney K.

We could debate why Jonah decided to face death instead of warning the city of Nineveh about their imminent danger. One side of the debate would [support] the most devoted Christians who believe that God is almighty and that Jonah should have obeyed the LORD's request. The latter believe that what Jonah did was right because the people of Nineveh were enemies and deserved their demise. The ultimate debate is should God punish the bad people or should he be all-forgiving? –Alex V.

For example, near the beginning of the story, Jonah's flight to Tarshish represents his flight from the word God, and his disagreement with His methods. Later on, the swallowing of Jonah by the whale shows his shirking of his God. Other than when Jonah speaks to God, little emotion is shown in any character. This can lead to a debate regarding why Jonah decides to preach to Nineveh after God rescues him, when at first he was so opposed to it. Initially, Jonah seemed to think that God should take a harsh stance with the people in the city, which caused his initial flight. Did Jonah agree to go to Nineveh simply because he was scared of his lord, or did he realize that it was better to help the people in the city instead of punishing them?-Joe W.

Jonah's thoughts are indirectly stated through his actions. . . Jonah tries to flee God's presence exemplifying his stubbornness and disobedience.-Chiara

When Jonah becomes angry with G_d there are several possible explanations for his anger. One is that Jonah is bitter because his faith waivered for merely a day and he was swallowed by a whale, in a storm, and kept there for three days. The people of Nineveh have been evil for some time and God forgives them, exacting no punishment whatsoever. This, understandably, could be upsetting Jonah, enough to put a gourd on his head.-Gil.

This time on the ship occupies more verses than any other topic, extending from chapter 1 verse 4 to verse 16. I feel that this section is significant because it emphasizes to the reader that God is omnipresent, and therefore cannot be run from, is omniscient, and therefore knows what Jonah is doing and why, and is omnipotent, and therefore can command the sky to send this storm to Jonah. Jonah realizes all of these things and knows that he must give himself up to God by jumping off the ship for the sake of the group and allow God to decide how to handle it from there. When the storm calms immediately, it is proof to the shipmates that God is in fact, all-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and they bow down and worship him.—Ilsa

Instead his thoughts are presented indirectly and in third person. They are sort of given by an outsider, and is relative to a storyteller retelling the events that occurred. The debate focuses around the reasoning behind his actions and the possibility of him having fear or God and his absolute power.-Farrah B.

The most developed part of the book of Jonah is the section regarding the gourd that God grows around Jonah to shield him from the heat which he eventually destroys with a worm. God does this to prove a point to Jonah: if Jonah can be grateful for God’s graciousness towards him on such a small scale, why can he not be grateful for God’s immense graciousness towards the city of Nineveh? –Emma D.
 * What is the nature of G-d? **

Based on His actions in this particular case, God may appear as somebody not so inclined to accepting disobedience. But He wanted the people of Nineveh to recognize their sins and take the right steps to be forgiven and the selfishness or fright of a single man (Jonah), was not the right excuse to punish an entire city. Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam portray this episode as an act of mercy by God, towards the sinful people, as well as an act of discipline to straighten a person’s path towards the right direction.--Piero

The G-d seen in the Book of Jonah is a meshing of the deities seen in The Quran, the New Testament, and the Torah. G-d’s forgiveness of both the other sailors and the people of Nineveh are very classically Christian, with the absolving of sin through penitence. However, the harshness he initially shows through his judgment of an entire city, as well as his endangering of an entire boat to compel Jonah into action, are very close to his treatment of non-believers throughout the Torah. His demand for reverence is a central theme of the writings of the Quran.—Ari.

I think it is important because it shows the mens' fear of the power of God. This part illustrates the idea of faith. The men beg and pray to God to take away the storm. It also says that Jonah told the men he had run from God, and they believed this was the reason for the storm.-Maddie The importance of the detail in his confession and willingness to be cast away is that it is a lesson to never go against the word of God. If Jonah had fulfilled God's wishes in the first place, he would not be the victim of such punishments and have to repent at his lowest point. –Julie J.