The book of Jonah is an emotional roller coaster, and Jonah seems to be extremely volatile. He is not really the type of person that you would imagine being a preacher.
God told the prophet Jonah that He (God) was aware of what was going on in the world and that he had to go to Nineveh and warn them that they were fast approaching a time when God would judge them.
Initially, he disobeyed God and ran in the opposite direction. Then, after his near-drowning and rescue by a whale, he accepts the commission and sets off for Nineveh.
The story ends with his simmering anger with God for being forgiving. He thought that God should have damned the people of the sinful city of Nineveh. In his heart, Jonah obviously knew that God would forgive, which is why in chapter 4, verse 2, he says to God, 'This is what I was talking about in my country'. Presumably, he had argued with God before he decided to disobey, as he knew how God operated: if there was the slightest possibility that the people would turn from their sins, God would forgive them (and that really annoyed him). God is still the same today - He is 'long-suffering . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance ', (a change of mind and faith in and obedience to God) 2 Peter 3:9.
Jonah's behaviour is a direct contrast to how God consistently sticks to His high standards of moral perfection and holiness, constantly reminding us of His anger and judgment against wickedness, yet announcing His mercy towards those who repent and trust Him.
Parallels with the 21st Century World
- God is aware of human sin, and far from ignoring it, He patiently offers humans time to change and seek forgiveness.
- God told Jonah to go and tell the people of Ninevah that His judgment was coming. Christians have an obligation to be honest and to warn fellow humans about the seriousness of breaking God's moral code. Jesus said, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,' Mark 16. 15 LSB.
- The people of that city-state were renowned for their violent, aggressive and extremely sinful behaviour. God classifies the whole world as guilty in His estimation (Romans 3:19), and he drills that down to each of us as individuals - 'all have sinned,' Romans 3.23
- Sadly, Jonah saw them as enemies. not as people that God was willing to forgive if they recognised and admitted their sin and turned from it. Not every Christian is a good advert for Christianity, just as not every atheist sells their belief system well. The truth is bigger than individuals, even if we sometimes let 'the side' down.
- Jonah was probably the most successful preacher in the Bible, as a whole city-state repented in response to his preaching. But Jonah did not see it that way. He was enraged that God would forgive them. He had certainly forgotten how good the God he served was.
- God is not only holy but kind, patient, gracious and forgiving.
- God is not in the business of populating hell. His greatest desire is to forgive. However, forgiveness has a cost. Injustice and sin cannot just be ignored. Someone has to pay. Please understand that this is not a vindictive attitude, as in God saying, 'I will get you in the end'. This is a kind and gracious approach to justice as God 'sent His Son (Jesus) not to condemn the world but that the world through Him (Jesus) might be saved - this is a rough quote from John 3.17.
- The Lord Jesus (the Son of God) came from heaven to earth to pay for all wrong (and our personal wrongdoing) by His death, burial and resurrection.
My aim in writing these Bible Book summaries is to relate the wonder and honesty of God's word to you. If you find them helpful, please get in touch or visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk for more resources.
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