Jonah has 4 chapters and is divided neatly in 4 acts - like 4 acts of a play. Jonah is a relatively easy book to read, and reading it is the best way to get a feel for the story. But below we will give you a structure and some historical background of the book.
Act 1 - Jonah Disobeys God
God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was a prophet in Israel (the Northern Kingdom, see 2 Kings 14:25). Nineveh was a city in Assyria. It is important to note that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was at odds with Assyria and Nineveh was a great city in Assyria. Some time after this story of Jonah and the Ninevites, the Assyrians attacked Israel and led them into captivity. Assyria was responsible for the ultimate demise of the Northern Kingdom (we will learn about that in a future lesson).
Jonah was fleeing to Tarshish when his voyage was interrupted by the fish. Tarshish is 2200 miles away from Joppa. Nineveh was about 600 miles from Joppa. Jonah really wanted to run away!
Act 2 - Jonah Prays and God Delivers Him from the Fish
Jonah repented from inside the fish. He acknowledged who God was and committed to him that he would do what God asked him to do. This is where the story usually ends when people re-tell it. But there are 2 more acts to go!
Act 3 - Nineveh Repents
Nineveh actually heard Jonah's message (not exactly a thoroughly-prepared "relevant" message: "In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed."). The people fasted and prayed. The king of Nineveh got into the action as well and declared a city-wide fast (including the animals!). God responded by not destroying the city.
Act 4 - God Relents and Jonah Sulks
Jonah preaches, an entire city repents, God relents, and Jonah is upset? Jonah left Nineveh and went to a place overlooking the city. He made a "booth", or a shelter to give himself shade and sat waiting to see if Nineveh was really going to be destroyed. First, God miraculously sent a vine (just like he sent a fish to swallow Jonah) to grow over Jonah's booth to make him more comfortable. But then he took it away by sending a worm and he sent a dry, hot wind. Jonah was more concerned with his own comfort than seeing God work in the lives of the Ninevites.
Most only concern themselves with Jonah and the fish in this story. But God actually sent at least 6 of His created things to accomplish his purpose. He sent Jonah to Nineveh, a storm to his boat, the fish to swallow Jonah, the vine to give Jonah comfort, the worm to destroy the vine, and the scorching east wind.
