He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Jonah 1:9
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, a world power that was annihilating the Jewish nation of Israel when God called Jonah to go and save the very people who were destroying His home. Is it any wonder He didn’t want to go?
Tarshish is thought to have been in Spain, so if you look at a map, it is clear that Jonah, already a prophet and statesman, had no intention of going anywhere near the hated place God called him to. However, his identity was solely as a Hebrew who worships the LORD. Jonah’s boat ride to Tarshish was caught in a turbulent storm and Jonah knows why. He voluntarily allows himself to be thrown overboard where he is confident God’s plan will proceed one way or another.
God wanted Assyria to repent, thus, ending their blood lust for conquest and possibly preserving Israel as a nation. Jonah wanted the citizen’s of this hated nation to suffer the full wrath of God. He had no compassion for them! God……….wanted peace among His beloved creation and salvation for ALL men. Jonah’s personal grudge and prejudice had to be put to rest.
It is difficult to have enemies when you realize how badly God wants them to know His love. And like Jonah, you may be the only way they will ever hear and learn. In addition to that thought, consider this; a world with no enemies is a pretty sweet place to live.
Love,
Gretchen