Example and Warning
Purpose
PURPOSE:
1. The Historical Purpose: Jonah’s message of judgment was preached in Nineveh to bring the people to repentance. Why, then, was the book written and preserved for the Israelites, God’s specially chosen people? Several reasons seem likely:
a. First, to remind the people of their duty to bear witness for the LORD. The Israelites had long forsaken their call to be a light to the nations. The people were supposed to be a living example of God’s love and requirements for the human race. This was, in fact, God’s very purpose for choosing Israel, a special people to call His own. It was God’s desire to bless the whole world through Israel (Ge. 12:1–3). But the people had abandoned their mission and often set an evil example instead. Thus, through the message of Jonah, God was calling the Israelites back to their original purpose, reminding them of their duty to be His light in the world.
b. Second, to remind Israel of God’s great love for all people, even their enemies. It is notable, even shocking, that the LORD called Jonah to go to Nineveh in Assyria. The Assyrians were known as some of the cruelest people in the ancient world. They were infamous for their brutality, oppression, and malicious treatment of other nations. Thus they were perhaps feared more than any other people in Jonah’s day. But note God’s unbelievable mercy. Because of His great love for the human race, the LORD sought to offer even the barbaric Assyrians a chance to repent. Israel had grown arrogant and complacent over the years, and sorely needed to be reminded of God’s love for all people, not just for themselves.
c. Third, just as Jonah repented from his disobedience and hard-heartedness, so it was God’s desire that all of Israel repent. Historically, the people had shown little concern for the souls of other people and nations. Like Jonah, they were callous and hard-hearted. Note also the clear contrast between the heathen sailors’ concern for Jonah during the storm at sea (1:11–14) and Jonah’s lack of concern for the Ninevites (shown throughout the book). Jonah’s uncaring attitude was representative of the whole nation.
2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose: tragically, the message of Jonah is often overshadowed by the miraculous events found in its story. Almost everyone knows that Jonah was swallowed by a large fish or whale. But most would be hard-pressed to explain what God teaches us in this great book. It certainly has nothing to do with fish or whales.
Jonah reminds us of the LORD’s desire for all people to be saved—even our enemies! It is God’s will that no one should perish but that all people come to repentance (2 Pe. 3:9). How are we to respond? Certainly not like Jonah, who ran from the will of God. Rather, we are to conform to God’s will. And we are to surrender to His call upon our lives, no matter how difficult that call may be. This is one clear lesson from the great book of Jonah.
Jonah also reminds us of the radical love of God. The LORD desired mercy for the Assyrians more than judgment. Therefore, so should we. Keep in mind just how wicked, idolatrous, and cruel the Assyrians were. Yet God still sought to save them, to show them mercy. We should all desire mercy, not judgment, for others.
Jonah further reminds us of our own need to repent. If the idolatrous Ninevites repented of their sins, how much more should we, the people of God? Believers need to live in a constant state of repentance, daily seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Jonah powerfully demonstrates the sovereignty of God. God’s plans will not be ruined or stopped. Israel was failing in her mission to be a light to the world. The people had had no impact that we know of on the wicked Assyrian nation. Therefore, God called His servant Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to the people. When Jonah rebelled and sought to escape his duty, the LORD pursued him all the way to Tarshish. God even controlled the sea, the storm, and the great whale to put His servant back on track. In so doing, God accomplished His purposes for Nineveh. The whole book of Jonah in fact shows God’s sovereign actions, His unmistakable power to bring about His plans and purposes in the world.
3. The Christological or Christ-Centered Purpose: Christ’s love for sinners is pictured in God’s great love for the Ninevites. Despite the Ninevites’ wickedness, God determined to show them mercy, just as Christ showed us mercy while we were yet sinners (Ro. 5:8). Thus, God’s mercy in Christ—which has been extended to all humankind—is foreshadowed by God’s mercy to Nineveh.
Christ’s teachings are also foreshadowed. Christ commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to love even our enemies (Mk. 12:31; Mt. 5:44). This is the will of God for all believers and for every one of His servants. As Jonah was sent to proclaim God’s Word to Nineveh, so Christ has commanded us to go to all nations:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost …” (Mt. 28:19).
Finally, the death and resurrection of Christ are pictured by Jonah’s three days in the belly of the whale. In the same sense that Jonah was brought back from death and the pit of hell on the third day, Christ was brought back from the grave and resurrected to eternal life on the third day. What a glorious hope for the believer!
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Mt. 12:40).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The book of Jonah can be divided into four parts, essentially by its chapter divisions.
1. Jonah is the great book warning us against disobedience, against resisting God’s call on our lives: “Jonah Runs Away from the LORD” (1:1–16). God first calls on Jonah to pronounce His coming judgment on the Ninevites. However, Jonah rejects God’s call and attempts to flee to Tarshish (as far away as possible). Therefore the LORD disciplines Jonah by bringing him to the brink of death. During a severe storm, the prophet is cast overboard and spends three days and nights in the belly of a great whale.
2. Jonah is the great book picturing God’s discipline, love, and forgiveness, how the LORD pursues us even when we disobey Him: “Jonah is Saved: He Prays and Repents” (1:17–2:10). In this section, Jonah is saved when he cries out to God for deliverance. The prophet acknowledges his sin and repents, but only after nearly drowning and then being swallowed by the great whale.
3. Jonah is the great book demonstrating God’s mercy and sovereignty: “Jonah Is Given a Second Chance to Fulfill His Mission” (3:1–10). God graciously offers Jonah a second chance. Once again He commands the prophet to go to Nineveh and preach. This time the prophet obeys and the whole city repents. This result shows God’s sovereignty in a mighty and most unusual way. The LORD took extraordinary measures to get Jonah to complete his mission, and so God’s purposes for Nineveh and Jonah were both fulfilled.
4. Jonah is the great book revealing the wondrous depth of God’s mercy: “Jonah Is Taught the Depth of God’s Mercy” (4:1–11). In this closing chapter, the reader sees God dealing one on one with His prophet, His very human servant, Jonah. It is in this personal exchange between God and man that the depth of God’s mercy and His love for all mankind are gloriously demonstrated.
The message of Jonah includes the lesson that God’s will must be obeyed with a pure heart. Merely going through the motions is not enough. We are to have true compassion and mercy on the people of this world, even the most unworthy. God has surely shown mercy to us, so how can we not have mercy on others?
IMPORTANCE FOR TODAY: the relevance of the great book of Jonah cannot be overstated. More than a mere folk tale, legend, or myth, this short book takes us from one extreme to the other: the depths of Jonah’s despair to the depth of God’s great love and mercy. This miraculous event, often called simply, Jonah and the Whale, splendidly conveys this wonderful truth: the LORD desires mercy more than judgment. But we must listen carefully to these powerful words of warning from Jesus Himself, speaking to the people of His day:
“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Mt. 12:41).
Indeed, Jonah’s message of repentance is needed as much today as in Christ’s day, for the One “greater than Jonah” has come and is coming again. If the people of Nineveh repented at the simple message of Jonah, how much more should people repent today after hearing the full gospel of Jesus Christ? To our shame, the Ninevites’ true sorrow over their wickedness stands in stark contrast to the lax attitude most people have toward sin today. Sin and wickedness are no laughing matters. Nor is rebelling against God and His call. Jonah was mercifully given a second chance to do God’s will. But none of us is guaranteed that second chance. We must first repent to receive God’s mercy and grace. Then we must be courageous enough to fulfill our God-ordained purpose, serving the LORD faithfully no matter the cost. Just as there are many Ninevehs waiting to hear God’s message, there are many more eyes watching to see God’s message in your life. May we all bear the fruit of God’s mercy in our daily walk.