Jonah: God’s Compassion For The Nations

The book of Jonah dramatically illustrates God’s boundless mercy and concern for all people. It begins with God calling Jonah to prophesy to Nineveh, the capital of Israel’s enemy, Assyria. Jonah’s reluctance and attempt to flee God’s presence leads to his famous encounter with the great fish.

After his miraculous deliverance, Jonah obeys and preaches to Nineveh, resulting in the city’s repentance and God’s compassion. The narrative concludes with God gently rebuking Jonah’s anger at Nineveh’s salvation, using the object lesson of a plant to teach about divine mercy.

This short but powerful book challenges narrow nationalism and religious exclusivism, revealing God’s heart for all nations. It emphasizes themes of divine sovereignty, the futility of running from God’s call, the power of repentance, and ultimately, the surprising scope of God’s compassion that extends even to Israel’s enemies.

This series of messages is a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Jonah by Jim Osman, a pastor at Kootenai Community Church. It was preached during our Sunday Morning Worship Service. Click here for more teaching by Jim Osman.

Jim Osman

Jim Osman

Pastor-Teacher

Jim Osman was born in May of 1972 and has lived in Sandpoint since he was three. He achieved his life’s ambition by graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1990. Jim came to know Christ through the ministry of Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp. Kootenai Community Church has always been his home church, attending Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Group.

After graduating from High School, he attended Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, Saskatchewan. It was at Bible College that Jim met his wife-to-be, Diedre, who was also enrolled as a student. Jim graduated with a three-year diploma in April 1993 and married Diedre in August of that same year. He returned to Millar to further his education in September 1994 and graduated from the Fourth Year Internship Program with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Ministries in April 1995.

Jim and Diedre returned to Sandpoint, where Jim began working in construction and as a Roofing Materials Application Specialist (roofer) until he was asked to take over as the Preaching Elder of Kootenai Community Church in December 1996. Now, he counts it as his greatest privilege to be involved in ministering in the Church that has ministered to him for so many years. It has been a great adventure!

Jim is the author of Truth or Territory: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual WarfareSelling the Stairway to Heaven, The Prosperity of the Wicked: A Study of Psalm 73, God Doesn’t Whisper, and his latest book, God Doesn’t Try, which he co-wrote with co-elder Dave RichJim and Diedre have four children: Taryn, Shepley, Ayden, and Liam.

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