Minor Prophets

Jonah

Jonah’s name means “Dove”. Jonah was sent to warn Nineveh of her impending destruction. It is thought he prophesied to Nineveh around the early years of Jereboam II’s reign, around 784 to 760 B.C., Prior to Amos. Jonah’s writings show that salvation extends to anyone who will repent and turn to the Lord, even the Gentiles.

Jonah flees from God

[Jon 1] God calls on Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, because of their wickedness. Instead, Jonah tries to hide from God by taking a ship to Tarshish, in Spain. The ship runs into a storm and the superstitious sailors, fearing for their lives, cast lots and decide Jonah’s God is the cause. Jonah admits his behaviour is to blame, so is thrown overboard and swallowed up by a great fish. Jonah is in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

Jonah’s prayer

[Jon 2] Jonah calls out to God in prayer from the fish’s belly, to which God responds and Jonah is thrown up onto a beach.

Nineveh responds to Jonah’s message

[Jon 3] For a second time, God calls Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. This time Jonah obeys and sets off for the great city, so large that it takes three days to travel around it. When Jonah enters the city his message is simple: Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Nineveh appears to respond without question, and the king orders everyone to fast and repent in sackcloth and ashes. God acknowledges their repentance and the city is saved .

Jonah’s lesson

[Jon 4] Jonah is angry that Nineveh was spared a deserved judgement and leaves the city to watch from a distance, in case their repeal is short lived. Here, God reproves Jonah. He uses the withering of a plant (originally provided to give Jonah shade) and Jonah’s attitude towards it to show him just how important the souls of Nineveh are.