The story of Jonah is one of the most familiar Bible stories of all time. Ask the average church goer what happened to Jonah, and they’ll tell you he’s the one that got swallowed by a whale. What they may or may not remember is that Jonah was a prophet that had been used of God. This account reveals a time that God came to Jonah with a new mission. God told him to go to the great city of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, and cry out a message of impending judgment if they don’t repent. God’s word to Jonah is recorded in…

Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

The task that God gave to Jonah was not unusual for a prophet. Throughout the Old Testament, God gave men of God assignments that usually included delivering a message of judgment. Jonah should not have been surprised at what God said. However, Jonah’s reaction was dramatic. Instead of yielding himself to do the will of His Heavenly Father, he fled. He ran to the local docks, found a boat going in the opposite direction, paid the fee, and sailed away.

Of course, we know that God was not finished with either Jonah, or Nineveh. God was intent in mercifully offering Nineveh a chance to repent, and He was not going to let Jonah off from completing His will. So, God made a great fish, called here a whale.  After Jonah was thrown overboard, swallowed by the great fish, spent three days and nights sloshing around in its stomach, and was then vomited up on shore; Jonah decided to try it God’s way.

The Assyrians were a ruthless and heartless people. They had no morals and no reserves when attacking their enemies. Their cruelty was well known to all their neighboring nations. They were a conquering people, intent on expanding their empire. The city of Nineveh, its major city, grew to an enormous size. Nineveh was especially cruel to Israel. It is very likely that Jonah had been the victim of Nineveh’s brutality, either personally or through one of his family. Jonah had nothing but cold hatred for Nineveh, and he was not about to give them a chance to avoid judgment.

It took a three day and night ride through the ocean, coughing up rotten seaweed and salt water to get him to change his mind. After drying out, Jonah went into the city and delivered God’s message. Lo and behold, they repented in sack cloth and ashes! They grieved before the Lord for their wickedness and got right with God. God spared them from immediate judgment.

Jonah’s response? He sulked off and wished he could die. Obviously, though he surrendered on the outside, he had not had a change of heart towards them.

The story of Jonah illustrates the incredible mercy of God. God is not willing that any should perish, and gives them chance after chance to repent. Let’s remember God’s mercy, and show His love to this lost world.