Jonah 4, The Prophet Who Wanted Destruction

The context of Jonah 4 finds Jonah waiting for the destruction of Nineveh—despite the genuine repentance of the king and the city’s occupants.

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”” — Jonah 4:1-4 ESV

Jonah shows us the prime reason why he ran to Tarshish after God called him to go and preach to Nineveh. Tarshish was in the exact opposite direction of Nineveh, meaning he went completely out of his way to get there. This was direct rebellion against God’s command. While some have guessed that Jonah was simply afraid, or that he had some other virtuous reason for fleeing to Tarshish, the biblical text clarifies his true motivation.

Jonah ran away from the call because he knew that God is patient and long-suffering—and that knowledge meant there was a distinct possibility God would forgive the Ninevites.

The Enemy We Want to See Fail

Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrians, a nation that had posed a constant threat to the Israelites throughout the years. Nineveh was a bully of sorts. And really, who wants a bully to repent after all the damage they have inflicted on others?

Jonah wanted to see the Ninevites destroyed. This was the perfect opportunity for their mortal enemy to finally get what they deserved. If we are honest, many of us enjoy watching those who hurt us experience their own miserable times. If God was going to provide judgment against the Ninevites, Jonah wanted front-row seats to watch them suffer at the hand of God.

Yet, Jonah knew the truth: God is patient, long-suffering, and always open to repentance.

Mercy for Me, Judgment for Thee

As Christians, we should desire repentance more than destruction. Jonah, however, would rather not preach and potentially see destruction, than preach and see redemption.

Our hearts naturally default to sinful motivations. It is often the case that humans would rather see an opportunity for their enemy to be destroyed than to see them have a genuine change of heart.

May we desire to see the world around us redeemed by the Lord, rather than just watching it go up in flames. Someone prayed for our own conversion experience; may we faithfully pray for others as well. Ultimately, we should desire mercy both for ourselves and for others—rather than demanding mercy for us, and judgment for them.