Jonah for Normal People is a brief guide to reading the book of Jonah through Ancient Near Eastern eyes. Contrary to what you may have heard in Sunday school, this book isn't about a disobedient prophet and the big fish sent by God to destroy him. No, Jonah has much bigger theological fish to fry:* Like, how do we reconcile God's justice with God's mercy? Who are the true worshipers of Yahweh? And what happens when God doesn't act the way we think God should? Through an exploration of Jonah's historical context, themes and language, Jared Byas uncovers the great theological questions that underpin Jonah's perilous journey . . . and finds many of them are still relevant today.
Jared Byas is co-host of the podcast The Bible for Normal People and co-author of Genesis for Normal People. Jared is also the author of Love Matters More: How Fighting to Be Right Keeps Us From Loving Like Jesus. As a former pastor and professor of philosophy and biblical studies, he speaks regularly on the Bible, truth, creativity, wisdom, and the Christian faith. He is a member of the Choctaw Nation and lives outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his spouse and four kids.
