Jonah 1:1–3; 3:1–5, 10

Bible Studies for Life 
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Perspectives, Samford University

Return to God

Jonah 1:1–3; 3:1–5, 10

The story of Jonah is, in part, a story about a man running from God. Jonah is given a command — to “cry out” against the city of Nineveh. 

Twice in four verses the narrator explains that Jonah went away from the presence of the Lord. Jonah’s story may resonate with those of us who have attempted to run either from God or His call. Jonah’s story affirms that the insight of the psalmist is true: “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me” (Ps. 139:5). The grip of God on the lives of His children is inescapable.

God calls us to join Him in what 

He is doing. (1:1–3)

The Lord called Jonah as a prophet to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Jonah’s task was to proclaim, “thus saith the Lord.” 

In the Hebrew Bible, when a prophet arrived in a city or at a person’s house, it was usually a difficult visit. Prophets typically proclaimed the Lord’s judgment, usually for reasons of idolatry or social injustice. The task itself was arduous, as a prophet’s words often went unheeded (Isa. 6:9–12). As an intermediary between the people and the Lord, a prophet was often cast in the role of social pariah. 

Nevertheless the call of the Lord upon the prophet’s life commanded obedience. Why did Jonah flee from the face of the Lord and from his task? He did not flee because he had an incorrect picture of God. He fled because he knew exactly who the Lord was: “O Lord. Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing” (Jon. 4:2). Jonah fled not because he thought the Lord was bad but because he knew the Lord was good.

God continues to call us back to Himself. (3:1–3)

Jonah was called to proclaim repentance and return to a group of people he hated. The Israelites and the Ninevites had a storied relationship built upon bloodshed, enslavement and exile. First mentioned in the Table of Nations in Genesis, Nineveh was founded by Nimrod, who went on to found another hated kingdom, Babylon (Gen. 10:11). Nineveh is connected to the Israelites as early as the wilderness period as a kingdom that would one day fall (Num. 24:22–24). 

After a tumultuous relationship between the two kingdoms, in 722 and 721 B.C. the king of Assyria, Sargon II, finally captured Samaria, the capital of Israel. The result was a series of speeches by Nahum depicting their fall and the call of Jonah for repentance.

God calls us to repent and responds to us with grace and mercy. (3:4–5, 10)

When Jonah finally obeys God, he preaches a message of repentance and the Ninevites respond wholeheartedly. The book of Jonah depicts the Ninevites responding in repentance, donning sackcloth and sitting in ashes. People and animals alike fast from food and water. God looks favorably upon their change of heart. The Lord responds to the situation from a longsuffering heart and extends His mercy even to his prophet, whom He grips from the beginning (Jon. 1:4–17). 

The story is as much about God’s prophet as it is about His message to the Ninevites. And the message is clear for Jonah and for today’s believer — the severe mercy of God is inescapable (Ps. 139:1–10).