Introduction

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Those of us who have encountered a profound spiritual awakening commonly referred to in religious terminology as the ‘Conversion experience’, often like to testify about how our perception of God has changed over the years. From a God who erstwhile seemed remote and disconnected, we have now come to know him as a personal God who is always accessible to his children. This intimacy however must not lead us into an erroneous assumption that owing to this proximity, we can now fully comprehend the mysteries of God’s heart and mind and understand his ways perfectly well. On the contrary, the true test of our spiritual intimacy is in acknowledging our own poverty of spirit and in admitting that there may be certain facets to God that we have not yet comprehended. As God himself declared through the prophet Isaiah - As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

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Prophet Jonah the protagonist of our story realized this truth the hard way. Let us examine the kaleidoscope of emotions, Jonah went through when he received a disturbing mission from God.

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A complacent Jonah- The Old Testament contains few details about the historical background of this prophet. He was a resident of the northern kingdom of Israel during the time of King Jeroboam II. Like the prophets of his time, he would have preached on the themes of repentance and obedience to the God-given laws. As one belonging to the elite group of prophets, he must have enjoyed a place of honor and respect among the people of Israel. According to 2 kings 14:25, the reigning king restored the country’s border based on his prophetic advice.

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An angry Jonah- Being a spokesperson for God, Jonah thought that he knew his God well. Until one day, he received a specific mission from God, which was totally disagreeable to him. To preach a message of repentance to Assyria, a gentile nation that happened to be Israel’s number one enemy!! He just could not wrap his mind around this command from God. During Jonah’s time, Assyria was a world superpower that ruthlessly demolished nations and annihilated any kingdom that seemed to be a threat to its supremacy. It must have been a time of great frustration, grief and inner turmoil for Jonah who became angry with God himself!! He simply did not want God to extend His hand of mercy and forgiveness to an unrighteous and idolatrous nation.

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A defiant Jonah- We do not know what was going on in Jonah’s mind when he decided to disobey God. Did Jonah believe that His God resided only in Israel, or that he would not hear God’s voice outside of Israel? Whatever may have been his justifications, Jonah fled from the Lord’s presence. (Jonah 1:3). From port Joppa, he headed in the opposite direction to Tarshish. This city was at a distance of two thousand five hundred miles from Nineveh; almost five times the distance from the place God had commanded him to go!!

Yet God was not the one to give up on Jonah so easily. Through a devastating storm, a plunge in the icy cold water of the raging sea and three nightmarish days spent in the belly of a whale, God revealed to Jonah his absolute sovereignty over his creation and his omnipresent nature. Jonah finally came to his senses and from the belly of the whale, praised God for his awesomeness (chapter 2). Once Jonah was spewed out of the whale’s belly, God recommissioned him once again- to preach the message of repentance to Nineveh.

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An obedient Jonah- Having learnt his lesson the hard way, this time Jonah instantly obeyed and went to Nineveh. Jonah 3:4- Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

It was the shortest message Jonah must have ever preached- just eight words!!! Nevertheless, the word of God spoken through the power of the Spirit had the desired impact. From the king on the throne to the last citizen, every single person in the kingdom showed their seriousness of repentance by wearing sackcloths and fasting. The king issued a decree.“ By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water.  Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.” (Jonah 3:7-9)

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A smug Jonah- Meanwhile having completed his mission, Jonah went to the outskirts of the city and waited for his prophetic words to be fulfilled. He hoped to be in a safe place when God would begin pouring out his fierce wrath on this sinful nation; He wanted to watch the downfall of his enemies from a distance!! Forty days passed and some more days. Nothing happened. No sound of enemies invading, no earthquakes, plagues, no heavenly chastisement, absolutely nothing!! The city seemed safe and sound. Gradually when the Ninevites fears were laid to rest, their mourning soon turned into rejoicing.

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