Next, partly hidden from view, we see Jonah, the unwilling prophet, who
tried to run away when the Lord told him to take his message of warning
to Nineveh. The people in this city were known to be very wicked, and
Jonah feared they might kill him, so he took a boat and started away in
another direction. We all know of the fearful storm that arose and how
the sailors prayed to their gods and urged Jonah to pray to his. But
Jonah could not pray to God when he was disobeying Him. Then the sailors
drew lots, as was the custom, to find out who had sinned and brought the
fearful storm upon them. The lot fell to Jonah, who told them how he had
run away from Nineveh. He urged the sailors to throw him overboard,
saying the sea would then be still. The men did not want to do this,
but, fearful lest all should be lost, they finally threw him overboard.
At once the wind died down and the sea was still. We know how the whale
was sent to swallow Jonah and to carry him safely to the shore, where he
was left, now very willing to deliver his message to Nineveh.
He was to tell these wicked people that in forty days their city would
be overthrown. He went about the streets dressed in a rough camel’s-hair
cloak, very much like Elijah, and called out his prophecy in a loud
voice. No wonder the people were frightened, and when he told them how
he had not wanted to bring the message and had been forced to, they were
more frightened than ever. All the people, and the king too, wept and
prayed God for forgiveness, neither eating nor drinking. Then God heard
their prayers and forgave them, and their city was not destroyed.
But Jonah felt very much hurt because his message had not proved true.
He thought only of himself, and felt that he had been cheated. He went
away by himself and built a small place of shelter just outside the
walls of the city. Here he sat and waited, still hoping Nineveh would be
destroyed. Suddenly a tree sprang up, its dense leaves protecting him
from the hot sun. Jonah was greatly pleased and refreshed, but the tree
as suddenly withered, and he was left grieving for it. God then spoke to
him and asked him how he could grieve for the tree, yet harden his heart
against the people of Nineveh, who had repented.
Jeremiah’s greatest grief was that the people would not heed his
warnings, while Jonah felt aggrieved because his prophecy was not
fulfilled.
In the picture we see Jonah reading a scroll bearing the one word
“Jehovah.”