A Tale of Two People

The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. — https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › A_Tale_of_Two_Cities

A Tale of Two Cities is structured around a central conflict between Charles Darnay's desire to break free of his family legacy, and Madame Defarge's desire to hold him accountable for the violent actions of his father and uncle. — A Tale of Two Cities: Full Book Analysis | SparkNotes: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/a-tale-of-two-cities/plot-analysis/#:~:text=A%20Tale%20of%20Two%20Cities%20is%20structured%20around%20a%20central,of%20his%20father%20and%20uncle.

One of the morals in A Tale of Two Cities is that things are not always as they seem. Somebody who appears to be no-good and disreputable could become the most righteous person in the world. Individuals who appear to seek justice may be bloodthirsty in the end. — What is the moral of A Tale of Two Cities? - Study.com

Like in the Tale of Two Cities, the book of Jonah has a similar comparison. On the one hand, there is Israel, God’s chosen people and a force to be reckoned with in their region, a people who have the resource of God’s own prophets among them. To the world, the God of the universe is the God of Israel, a great and powerful people.

On the other hand, there are the brutes in Nineveh, from the underbelly of society, notorious at one time, but now without influence or power, wallowing in the debauchery of their own lustful existence.

During this time, the Prophets were God’s mouthpieces among His people, Israel. They were to proclaim justice among His people and serve as those who bring the message of repentance to the disobedient. They were to be righteous, separate from the surrounding nations, and a light on the hill to proclaim the glory of God to all of those nations. But like Dickens’ novel, could it be that these who were to seek and promote justice, could be found at the end to actually be the ones of the narrative that are in fact bloodthirsty?

As with Dickens’ famous novel, “things are not always as they seem.” Come with me to the book of Jonah as we join his voyage, one that has already seen incredible twists and unexpected turns. Jonah chapter 3, starting with vs. 1.

Repentance rescues all, even the most unworthy, but even the most worthy need it.

Repentance rescues all, even the most unworthy of people (Jonah 3:1-10)

++God declares to everyone that He will overthrow evil (Jonah 3:1-4)

++Call on God earnestly (Jonah 3:5-9)

++God is compassionate to all who call on Him (Jonah 3:10)

Repentance is needed even for the most worthy people (Jonah 4:1-11)

++God will confront our hypocrisy (Jonah 4:1-4)

++Heed God’s reprimand (Jonah 4:5-8)

++Adopt God’s compassion (Jonah 4:9-11)

This was a tale of two people. On the one hand were God’s people Israel who were seen as the religious and righteous ones, but was instead, a self-righteous, judgmental, vindictive, and bloodthirsty people.

On the other hand were the Ninevites who were seen as no good, disreputable, bloodthirsty brutes, but instead responded to God’s message of repentance, called on the name of the Lord, and became the righteous of the story.

Repentance rescues all, even the most unworthy, but even the most worthy need it.