Minor Prophets

Jonah
GOD’S MERCY
Of all twelve Minor Prophets, I think Jonah is the
most interesting - maybe even amusing. I also think
he is the one we can most easily relate to - not
because he got swallowed by a whale, but because
he tried to run away from God. God called Jonah to
preach a message of judgment to the wicked people
of Nineveh who were fearsome enemies of the Jews.
Jonah refused and ran in the opposite direction.
You’ve probably heard the story. Jonah got on a boat
that could take him as far away from Nineveh as he
could get. But God sent a storm that was eventually
the cause of Jonah being thrown overboard,
swallowed by a whale, and carried back to land so he
could obey God and go to Nineveh to proclaim his
message.
Now maybe you think it’s preposterous that a man
could be swallowed by whale, let alone survive for
three days in the belly of a giant fish. But there is
actual historical documentation of fishermen being
swallowed by big fish and living to tell about it! If you
look online, one of many stories you can find is an
early 1900’s account of a Falkland Islands fisherman
who was swallowed by a sperm whale and rescued
a few days later. When the ship’s crew caught and
killed the giant fish and were working to procure the
fat, they found the missing sailor in the belly. He was
alive, and though it took him many days to recover
from the trauma, he lived to tell about his experience.
But even if no one else had ever been swallowed
by a fish and survived, the story Jonah relates is in
the Bible, which is God’s Word, and if we are going to
believe any of it, we need to believe all of it.
In his prophecy, Jonah recounts his terrors in the
stormy sea. He tells how he called out to God who
rescued him from the breakers and billows and
entangling weeds of the great deep (2:5). Jonah knew
the giant fish had been sent by God to rescue him,
and Jonah gave thanks. At that point, God directed
the whale to dry land where he vomited up the
grateful Jonah.
Jonah was still not excited about delivering God’s
message of judgment to the people of Nineveh,
but he did: “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be
overthrown.” And after he preached, an amazing thing
happened - the most wicked and violent people in
the ancient world - the people of Nineveh - from the
king to the lowliest peasant, repented. They covered
themselves and their farm animals with sackcloth (a
material worn in mourning) and turned away from
their violence. And when the forty days was up and
God’s day of judgment was at hand, God relented.
The people of Nineveh had turned around and turned
to God, so He had mercy on them, and they were not
destroyed.
You would think Jonah would have rejoiced. His
message had been successful, and the people of
Nineveh were changed, and they were saved. But
Jonah was angry. Four times in Jonah Chapter 4, we
are told that he was angry. He even said it himself,
“I have good reason to be angry, even to death”
(Jonah 4:9). He was angry because God had been
gracious and compassionate to the city of Nineveh.
In fact, Jonah admits that the reason he ran away in
the first place is because he knew God is gracious,
compassionate, abundant in lovingkindness, and one
who relents concerning calamity (4:2).
Are you ever like Jonah? Do you expect God to
show you compassion when you sin but become
upset when you see others seemingly “get away with”
sinful behavior? Deep inside, in your heart, do you
long to see your enemies judged and get what they
“deserve”?
So, Jonah marched out into the desert and sat
down where he could look down on the city and
complain to God. Here was a man who supposedly
was a godly man, a prophet, but had defied God and
run away. God had shown him great mercy in saving
his life and giving him a second chance, but Jonah
could not stand the fact that God had dared to show
mercy to his enemies.
Are you ever like Jonah? Do you expect God to
show you compassion when you sin but become
upset when you see others seemingly “get away
with” sinful behavior? Deep inside, in your heart, do
you long to see your enemies judged and get what
they “deserve”? Is your idea of justice compassion
for yourself and judgment for those you dislike? If so,
then you’re like Jonah. And if you’re like Jonah, then
you are very unlike God who is full of compassion and
mercy for all, even the worst of us, who humbly turn
to Him.
Jonah’s story is one we can all take to heart -- not
just the part about God saving those who repent and
turn to Him, but also the part about Jonah and his
disobedience. Even when he obeyed God and went
to proclaim judgment to Nineveh, his heart and mind
were proud, defiant, self-indulgent, and unkind. Poor
Jonah. His message was powerful and effective, but
his attitude was hostile and hateful. Even though he
finally obeyed God, his life is a negative example for
us. God has not made us judges of who will receive
His mercy and who will not. As he said to Moses, “I will
have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans
9:15).
In the New Testament, the apostle James tells us
the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful (James
5:11). So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy
and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).
Are you ever like Jonah?
Do you expect God to show you
compassion when you sin but become
upset when you see others seemingly
“get away with” sinful behavior?
Deep inside, in your heart, do
you long to see your enemies
judged and get what they “deserve”?
14 INTRODUCTION TO MINOR PROPHETS DISCIPLERS BIBLE STUDIES 15