Jonahs response in Chapter 3 is a stark contrast to his response in Chapter 1. It is interesting to read the two similar verses (I have italicised the common words). As follows:
Jonah 1 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me”
Jonah 3 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you”
The subtle differences between the 2 verses are important to understand. Firstly God says to Jonah to simply cry out. Well did Jonah know what to say? Was he just going to denounce their wickedness using words tainted with revenge and not words from the heart of forgiveness and mercy? Would he really say the right thing if in his heart he had “hatred” for the people of Nineveh. After all he had good reason to think like that, considering how they killed many Hebrews in the past.
In Chapter 3 we see that Jesus will give him the words to speak. I think the difference is significant. The first arise and go to Nineveh (in Chapter 1) was more about a metaphor about Jonah going to the place where he was really no different to the people there. Yea Jonah’s relationship with God was no different to the people of Nineveh despite him being a Hebrew and I say that because of his response to God’s call to him. You see Jonah was quite comfortable with his lifestyle on his farm and practicing the traditions of worshipping the one and only true God.
You see Jonah may not have been showing the evil deeds and wickedness of the Ninevites, but inside he hated the Ninevites because in reality his relationship with God was more about traditions and not from the heart. So God sent him on a mission to find Him. Because God could have called many others to warn the Ninevites and we see when Jonah gave his heart to God that he could then be an instrument to save others.
God literally had to shake him up and pull him out of his complacency. In Jonah’s case do you think God used a rather extreme method of winning him back to God? Do you think God used an extreme measure to win your heart?
Jonah certainly had a conversion experience and this resulted in him becoming a mouthpiece for God. Sort of reminds me of Moses. He was reluctant to go back to Egypt for a host of reasons. Yet Moses had the experience of the burning bush. Yes, God spoke to him and despite his lack of confidence he went back and Aaron was his spokesperson.
As you know, the people of Nineveh turned from their evil ways and God spared them. The only reason the words were life changing was that they were from God. It wasn’t Jonah’s words that saved them, it was God speaking through Jonah that saved them. We are simply portals for God to express His love to mankind.
After thought
Don’t you find it also interesting that Jonah cried the following words out to the Ninevites “Yet in forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” What does “40 days” remind you of? It reminds me of the 40 days Jesus was in the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. It also reminds me that Jesus was with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection and that Moses was in the mountain with God for 40 days as well and the list goes on. Why was Jonah preaching to the Ninevites for 40 days. Maybe it symbolises a testing period or a period of reflection and meditation on what really matters in life. In all cases after the 40 days great things happened. Especially when you remember the Holy Spirit came after the 40 days.
I am thinking this is a great topic for another blog, so I leave it for you to ponder for now.
My Biblical Thoughts 