Sometimes, geography is everything. Nineveh lies northeast of Israel; Tarshish is west. But when God called Jonah to leave his home in Israel and travel to Nineveh to preach to the city’s wicked residents, the prophet turned down the divine assignment and headed west rather than northeast. Why?
As a true prophet of the Lord (2 Kin. 14:25), Jonah knew God and recognized Him as a merciful, gracious God, “slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jon. 4:2). Jonah despised the brutal Assyrian city of Nineveh, however, and did not want to give its citizens the opportunity to repent and so perhaps experience God’s mercy. So he ran in the opposite direction.
Once God dampened the prophet’s spirits, however—first by dumping him into the cold ocean currents and then into the fish’s reeking stomach—Jonah realized just how serious God was about His command. Nineveh must hear the word of the Lord; therefore Jonah repented of his disobedience, traveled to Nineveh, and there preached the message God gave him.
Most preachers would feel delighted to speak to a receptive audience eager to respond positively to the featured message—but the Ninevites’ humble reaction angered Jonah. Or rather, God’s gracious response to the Ninevites’ reaction embittered the prophet. He had to learn firsthand to glory in God’s compassion for sinful men, regardless of who they might be.
Throughout modern times the story of Jonah often has been ridiculed as myth, but the Hebrew people accepted it as historical. Jesus Christ Himself also vouched for the truth of the book and the remarkable story it relates (Matt. 12:39–41).
Yonah is the Hebrew word for “dove.” The Latin Vulgate used the title Jonas.
Theme: When we fail to obey God’s calling, we go nowhere but “down.”
Author: Jonah.
Time: Jonah lived during the reign of King Jeroboam II, around 760 B.C.
Structure: Chapter one of Jonah records the prophet’s call and disobedience. Chapter two describes his distress in the belly of the fish. Chapter three recounts the prophet’s declaration of judgment to the people of Nineveh. Chapter four records Jonah’s displeasure at God’s withholding of judgment after the Ninevites repent.
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As you read Jonah, watch for several life principles that play an important role in this book: 13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God. See Jonah 1:1–3. 26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God. See Jonah 2:1–9. 2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. See Jonah 3:1–4. 21. Obedience always brings blessing. See Jonah 3:5–10. 20. Disappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice. See Jonah 4:1–11. |