Jonah- the Reluctant MissionarySýnishorn

Running from God 

Have you ever wondered how a man of God, a prophet called to be a missionary, can so stubbornly refuse to do what God has clearly called him to do? That is where our story begins: with Jonah running from God’s call. He steadfastly refuses to preach the good news of God’s love to the Ninevites.

That God would send a missionary to the people of Nineveh shows us right away that God is concerned about people of all nations. Nineveh was the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire. Renowned for brutality, raw power and unbridled wickedness, the Assyrians were the evil enemies of God’s people. The call on Jonah to go to Nineveh shows us God’s love and concern not only for Israel, but for all people–even enemies. 

At this point in the story, we are not told specifically why Jonah disobeyed. Was he intimidated by the power of the “great city”? Was Jonah afraid of what the “evil” Ninevites might do to him? Did his national pride lead him to believe that God’s Word was for his people, Israel, alone? We wonder. What is clear is that Jonah’s problem is not ultimately with the Ninevites, but with God. With a heart that is not in alignment with God’s, Jonah refuses to obey and runs “to get away from the Lord” (verse 3).

Jonah’s blatant disobedience might lead us to assume that God is done with him. However, his story is not over—it is just beginning. God lets Jonah run, but he is not finished with him yet. God still fully intends to reach the Ninevites through Jonah.

It is easy for us to be hard on Jonah. However, we need to understand that Jonah’s call is our call, too. All believers are called to bring the Good News to the lost. Yet, like Jonah, many believers resist or even refuse to follow God’s call. We are just like Jonah when we want our way in God’s world; or when we want his mercy for us, but his judgment for others. Yet God, as we will see, pursues us: not because of who we are, but because of who he is (Romans 5:8).