The Results of Obedience (Jonah 3,4)
Any doubts Jonah had about the people of Nineveh receiving his message were quickly dispelled. Right away the people of the city — from the most important to the least — heard what he was saying, took heed of the message, and repented.
But there was more. Even the king of Nineveh took Jonah';s message seriously. He stepped down from his throne, took off his royal robes, and went into “sackcloth and ashes” repentance. Not only that, he and his nobles passed this decree for the city:
No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us. (Jonah 3:7–9)
Because Jonah had obeyed God — after a three-day side trip — and because he preached the truth that God had given him to speak, the city of Nineveh was spared. God saw how the people had repented and changed their ways, and He changed His mind and didn';t carry out the destruction He had earlier threatened.
Jesus himself mentioned Jonah and actually likened Jonah';s assigned mission to his own: “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here — but you refuse to repent” (Matthew 28:41).
God had shown mercy, just as He had wanted to in the first place, but that only angered Jonah, who complained, “Didn';t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I';d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen” (Jonah 4:2–3).
This seems like a strange response to the mercy of God, who asks him, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” (Jonah 4:4). Jonah then went out to the edge of the city and started pouting while he waited to see what would happen to it. Would God do as He had said?
Jonah seems angry that such a wicked city had been saved, that what God had said was going to happen didn';t. It seems that he was more concerned that what he prophesied come true than have his warnings lead to the repentance and salvation of a huge city. Finally, God uses a series of miracles to demonstrate the rightness of his mercy on the people of Nineveh.
The book of Jonah ends abruptly, and God has the last word, saying to Jonah, “Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn';t I feel sorry for such a great city?” (Jonah 4:12).
In the end, it seems that this question is posed for the reader to ponder as there is no answer from Jonah. In fact, that question leaves us only to think about the immense compassion of God — even for those who were not his “chosen” people.
God cares about and loves all people, regardless of what country or race they belong to. The mission of Jonah was an example of that great love and compassion.
Study Questions
How would you answer the question that God poses at the end of the book of Jonah?
How would you respond if God used you or someone you know to lead someone you thought wasn';t worthy to salvation?
