Introduction. The book of Jonah sums up the vastness of God’s mercy and patience, revealing both His goodness and severity. God’s responses to Jonah’s weaknesses shine a light on how: “the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness.” In God’s working with him we see how God “has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” Jonah reveals the depth of how “as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.”
When God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach against their wickedness, his response was different from all other prophets. He ran away! He sought a place where, in his mind, God would be unable to force him to fulfill this command. He traveled to the seaport of Joppa on the eastern Mediterranean Sea, paid for passage to Tarshish in Spain, on the opposite end of the Mediterranean, and as Cain before him, sought to “flee from the presence of the Lord.” (Gen. 4:16; Jon. 1:3, 10)
God punishment began when He “sent out a great wind and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.” Yet, instead of repentance, Jonah “had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, and was fast asleep” (1:4-5). With no godly sorrow, it appeared Jonah’s fate was sealed. Even though he said, “I know that this great tempest is because of me” (1:12), he chose to be cast into the sea over repentance. When “they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, (1:15), God did two important things. First, as "the sea ceased from its raging,” He created the sign of Jonah that led to Nineveh’s repentance. Second, God prepared a fish to swallow Jonah, giving him time to repent, and a way to bring the message to Nineveh. These events reveal God’s mercy and compassion both to Nineveh and Jonah. “For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. (Lk. 11:30)
When God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach against their wickedness, his response was different from all other prophets. He ran away! He sought a place where, in his mind, God would be unable to force him to fulfill this command. He traveled to the seaport of Joppa on the eastern Mediterranean Sea, paid for passage to Tarshish in Spain, on the opposite end of the Mediterranean, and as Cain before him, sought to “flee from the presence of the Lord.” (Gen. 4:16; Jon. 1:3, 10)
God punishment began when He “sent out a great wind and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.” Yet, instead of repentance, Jonah “had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, and was fast asleep” (1:4-5). With no godly sorrow, it appeared Jonah’s fate was sealed. Even though he said, “I know that this great tempest is because of me” (1:12), he chose to be cast into the sea over repentance. When “they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, (1:15), God did two important things. First, as "the sea ceased from its raging,” He created the sign of Jonah that led to Nineveh’s repentance. Second, God prepared a fish to swallow Jonah, giving him time to repent, and a way to bring the message to Nineveh. These events reveal God’s mercy and compassion both to Nineveh and Jonah. “For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. (Lk. 11:30)
How Jonah passed those three days is not revealed. The details he gives express the anguish of entering the water, but speak little of the fish: “All your waves and your billows passed over me.” “The waters closed in over me to take my life, weeds were wrapped about my head,” and the “bars closed upon me forever” (2:3-7). As Saul, who was “three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink” (Acts 9:9), Jonah was in darkness with no food, no water and no promises.
At some point, while “Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights,” “Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.” This happened “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.” Not only did he pray, but he also offered a vow. God then “spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (2:1-10). Once on dry land, "the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah.” Jonah clearly manifested the fruits of repentance so necessary to a relationship with God.
His message was a proclamation of doom: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Did Jonah run away because he was afraid of the persecution and anger of the Assyrians? Did he not want to be the bearer of bad news? Was he concerned that he could not bring the message well enough for them to believe it? It was none of these things. He was among the most successful of all the prophets! “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (3:4-10)
Jonah had run away because was afraid God would show Nineveh mercy! Jonah did not want to be the instrument of salvation for them. When he saw their response, “it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” His prayer is among the most pathetic of all those found in the Bible. He vents his anger and frustration over God’s mercy: “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (4:2).
So we see a second flaw in Jonah’s character. Not only is he rebellious, but also unforgiving and unmerciful. He wanted Nineveh to be overthrown. In his own words, this was why he fled to Tarshish. Even his own recent experience in the fish did not change his heart. As the unmerciful servant (Mt. 18:15-35), he wanted mercy for himself, but not for others. Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, Jonah said “please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” God’s only response was a question revealing His longsuffering nature: “Is it right for you to be angry?”
The book closes with two acts of providence God did for Jonah to help him understand the truth. After Jonah set up a small shelter to protect him from the sun, God prepared a plant to grow up over Jonah, blessing him with a shade much more beneficial than his own. “Jonah was very grateful for the plant.” God allowed Jonah one day to enjoy this blessing. The next morning God prepared two more things. First, a worm to cause the plant to wither, and then, a strong east wind to increase Jonah’s discomfort. This was not time and chance, but a direct intervention of God to help His prophet grow.
Jonah’s initial response was to murmur: “he wished death for himself, and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’” Yet God still manifested mercy and longsuffering. Once again He asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah’s response was again that of an angry child with no wisdom or self-control: “he said, ‘It is right for me to be angry, even to death’” Even speaking such things in His presence, God still manifested mercy and pity. Instead of destroying Jonah, God used the plant, the worm and wind as a way to teach him (and us) the truth.
God contrasted Jonah’s love for the plant and His own love for Nineveh: “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow.” Jonah’s interest in the vine was purely selfish. He hadn’t planned or labored for it. His only concern was the pleasure it had given him for one night.
God’s concern for Nineveh was much deeper: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-- and much livestock?” (4:11)? Not only were there penitent souls who had confessed their sins, but also innocent infants who had not yet learned the difference between their right and left hand. Even the suffering of the animals was in God’s mind.
Conclusion. God’s interactions with Jonah, both by the fish and the plant, help us better understand the depth of His mercy and pity. Jonah was a very rebellious and wicked man. Yet God called him to be a prophet and helped him work through his weaknesses. God works with broken and deeply flawed people, seeking to help them see themselves clearly and giving them the time and opportunity they need to grow out of them.
At some point, while “Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights,” “Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.” This happened “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.” Not only did he pray, but he also offered a vow. God then “spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (2:1-10). Once on dry land, "the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah.” Jonah clearly manifested the fruits of repentance so necessary to a relationship with God.
His message was a proclamation of doom: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Did Jonah run away because he was afraid of the persecution and anger of the Assyrians? Did he not want to be the bearer of bad news? Was he concerned that he could not bring the message well enough for them to believe it? It was none of these things. He was among the most successful of all the prophets! “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (3:4-10)
Jonah had run away because was afraid God would show Nineveh mercy! Jonah did not want to be the instrument of salvation for them. When he saw their response, “it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” His prayer is among the most pathetic of all those found in the Bible. He vents his anger and frustration over God’s mercy: “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (4:2).
So we see a second flaw in Jonah’s character. Not only is he rebellious, but also unforgiving and unmerciful. He wanted Nineveh to be overthrown. In his own words, this was why he fled to Tarshish. Even his own recent experience in the fish did not change his heart. As the unmerciful servant (Mt. 18:15-35), he wanted mercy for himself, but not for others. Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, Jonah said “please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” God’s only response was a question revealing His longsuffering nature: “Is it right for you to be angry?”
The book closes with two acts of providence God did for Jonah to help him understand the truth. After Jonah set up a small shelter to protect him from the sun, God prepared a plant to grow up over Jonah, blessing him with a shade much more beneficial than his own. “Jonah was very grateful for the plant.” God allowed Jonah one day to enjoy this blessing. The next morning God prepared two more things. First, a worm to cause the plant to wither, and then, a strong east wind to increase Jonah’s discomfort. This was not time and chance, but a direct intervention of God to help His prophet grow.
Jonah’s initial response was to murmur: “he wished death for himself, and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’” Yet God still manifested mercy and longsuffering. Once again He asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah’s response was again that of an angry child with no wisdom or self-control: “he said, ‘It is right for me to be angry, even to death’” Even speaking such things in His presence, God still manifested mercy and pity. Instead of destroying Jonah, God used the plant, the worm and wind as a way to teach him (and us) the truth.
God contrasted Jonah’s love for the plant and His own love for Nineveh: “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow.” Jonah’s interest in the vine was purely selfish. He hadn’t planned or labored for it. His only concern was the pleasure it had given him for one night.
God’s concern for Nineveh was much deeper: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-- and much livestock?” (4:11)? Not only were there penitent souls who had confessed their sins, but also innocent infants who had not yet learned the difference between their right and left hand. Even the suffering of the animals was in God’s mind.
Conclusion. God’s interactions with Jonah, both by the fish and the plant, help us better understand the depth of His mercy and pity. Jonah was a very rebellious and wicked man. Yet God called him to be a prophet and helped him work through his weaknesses. God works with broken and deeply flawed people, seeking to help them see themselves clearly and giving them the time and opportunity they need to grow out of them.
- “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mt. 11:28-30)