The account of Jonah, a prophet of the Lord, provides a profound example of missionary work as depicted in the Old Testament. Jonah's account is primarily found in the Book of Jonah, which is part of the Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. His mission to the city of Nineveh highlights themes of obedience, repentance, and God's mercy.

Divine Commission and Initial Resistance

Jonah, son of Amittai, was called by God to deliver a message of impending judgment to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, known for its wickedness. The Lord's command is clear: "Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me" (Jonah 1:2). Despite the clarity of his mission, Jonah initially resists God's call. Instead of heading to Nineveh, he attempts to flee to Tarshish, boarding a ship in Joppa. This act of disobedience underscores the human tendency to resist divine assignments, especially when they involve confronting formidable challenges or enemies.

Divine Intervention and Repentance

Jonah's flight from God's command leads to a dramatic intervention. The Lord sends a great storm upon the sea, threatening the ship and its crew. Recognizing that the storm is a divine response to his disobedience, Jonah instructs the sailors to throw him overboard to calm the sea. As a result, Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, appointed by God, where he spends three days and three nights. In the belly of the fish, Jonah prays to the Lord, expressing repentance and acknowledging God's sovereignty: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice" (Jonah 2:2).

Fulfillment of the Mission

After being vomited onto dry land, Jonah receives the command from the Lord a second time: "Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you" (Jonah 3:2). This time, Jonah obeys and travels to Nineveh. He delivers a simple yet powerful message: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" (Jonah 3:4). The response of the Ninevites is immediate and profound. From the greatest to the least, they believe God, declare a fast, and put on sackcloth as a sign of repentance. Even the king of Nineveh rises from his throne, covers himself with sackcloth, and issues a decree for the entire city to turn from their evil ways and violence, hoping for God's mercy.

God's Mercy and Jonah's Reaction

The repentance of Nineveh leads to a remarkable display of divine mercy. "When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them" (Jonah 3:10). This outcome, however, displeases Jonah, who becomes angry with the Lord's compassion towards Nineveh. Jonah's reaction reveals the struggle within the human heart to align with God's boundless grace and mercy, even towards those deemed undeserving.

Lessons from Jonah's Missionary Work

Jonah's account serves as a powerful narrative on the nature of missionary work and the character of God. It illustrates the importance of obedience to God's call, the power of repentance, and the extent of God's mercy. Jonah's initial reluctance and subsequent compliance highlight the challenges faced by ministers in fulfilling divine missions. Moreover, the account emphasizes that God's desire for repentance and salvation extends to all people, regardless of their past transgressions. Through Jonah, the Lord demonstrates that His compassion is not limited by human prejudices or boundaries, offering redemption to all who turn to Him in faith.Jonah 3:2
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the preaching that I bid you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Claim of Missions on Ministers of Influence.
... and be prevailed upon to enter the missionary work before they ... the present amazing
disproportion between settled ministers at home ... it is the duty of Jonah to go ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter vi claim of missions.htm

Self-Denial.
... The missionary cause must be supported not only to convert ... and we another, but He
using our work as a ... And from this motive the faithful ministers of the Word ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi self-denial.htm

General Index.
... ministers of to-day compared with, 596. Printing, art of, 61, 88, 288. ... self-sacrificing
missionary labors of, 70-76, 237. results of work of, 71-76. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm

Who Can Tell?
... should have parcelled it out into missionary districts; we ... hundreds, it not thousands,
of able ministers; at once ... of an empire, could not even begin the work. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm

The Society of Friends, or Quakers.
... He made various missionary journeys in company with William ... the combined hostility
of magistrates, ministers, and people. ... It is his most elaborate work, and is ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 107 the society of.htm

The Social Test of Religion
... of the efficiency of religion bear on the foreign missionary movement? ... in full sight
of the modern world, and work by faith ... Are ministers overpaid or underpaid ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter ix the social test.htm

The Comforter
... to pass, that in all times God's ministers have been ... I have heard of a city missionary
who kept a ... not yourselves; let conscience have its perfect work; and if ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the comforter.htm

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