Sometimes God calls us to a place of ministry not only for the recipients but also for the minister. Other prophets were active during Jonah’s general period, including Amos and Hosea, along with servants of God whose names we do not know. Yet God specifically chose Jonah—the prophet who held the most hatred toward the Assyrians—to minister to Nineveh.

God is the greatest opportunist—and I mean that in the best possible way. He can match us with an assignment that serves others while also working something out within us. Sometimes He uses ministry to show us His love and care in a wounded area. At other times, He uses it to reveal our bias, pride, conceit, or self-righteousness. Scripture does not directly explain why God chose Jonah, but I believe He knew Jonah needed to grow in extending God’s grace to other people.

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I ran to Tarshish, because I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness, and [when sinners turn to You] You revoke the [sentence of] disaster [against them]. Therefore now, O Lord, just take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’” Jonah 4:1–3 AMP

Jonah’s Attitude

Jonah had a notoriously bad attitude toward the Ninevites, and he had understandable reasons for feeling that way. In the first post in this Jonah series, “When Vengeance Looks Like Justice”, I recount—with an appropriate trigger warning—the Assyrians’ deplorable treatment of the people they conquered. After learning about their brutality, many of us can understand Jonah’s desire for justice, even if we cannot excuse his disobedience and hatred.

When God calls us to make a difference, He wants us to serve from His pure heart rather than from our prejudice. Jonah’s bitterness was so strong that he ran from God’s call. As we read his story, we see God ministering not only to Nineveh but also to His angry and reluctant prophet. I believe God deliberately chose Jonah because Jonah needed to confront his prejudice and attitude toward the Ninevites.

“Therefore now, O Lord, just take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. Then the Lord said, ‘Do you have a good reason to be angry?’” Jonah 4:3–4 AMP

A Piece of Work

Jonah was a piece of work when it came to the Ninevites, but I have also had some “piece of work” attitudes toward the Assyrians in my own life. Jonah preached God’s warning, and the Ninevites repented, but he continued holding tightly to his anger and bitterness. God accomplished His purpose in Nineveh despite Jonah’s foul attitude, but He did not abandon Jonah to that attitude. He continued dealing with him patiently and mercifully.

God’s mercy toward Jonah did not always look gentle or comfortable, but every step gave him another opportunity to turn around:

• A life-threatening storm: When Jonah ran, God did not give up on him and assign the mission to someone else. He sent a storm that confronted Jonah with the consequences of his disobedience and gave him an opportunity to stop running. “But the Lord hurled a great wind toward the sea, and there was a violent tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.” Jonah 1:4 AMP
• A hard decision: Jonah had to decide whether he would continue allowing everyone aboard the ship to suffer because of his choices. He told the sailors to throw him into the sea, taking responsibility for the danger his disobedience had caused. After the sea became calm, the sailors feared and worshiped the Lord. Jonah 1:11–16 AMP
• A miraculous rescue: In Jonah’s wildest dreams, he probably never imagined that a great fish would swallow him and save him from drowning. It became an unforgettable form of underwater transportation, but Scripture says only that the fish deposited Jonah onto dry land—not that it carried him directly to Nineveh. God then gave Jonah the assignment a second time. Jonah 2:10–3:2 AMP
• Grace for an enemy: Nineveh believed God’s warning and repented, so God withheld the disaster He had announced. Few things expose our hearts faster than watching God show mercy to someone who hurt us. His grace reminds us that He is sovereign and gives us an opportunity to repent of our own unforgiveness. Jonah 3:5–10 AMP
• A good question: Jonah became so angry that he told God he would be better off dead. If I had been God, I might have given Jonah “the what-for,” as we say in the South. Instead, God responded with a simple, gracious, soul-searching question aimed directly at Jonah’s heart: “Do you have a good reason to be angry?” Jonah 4:3–4 AMP
• An object lesson: God provided a plant to shade Jonah and then allowed it to wither. When Jonah became angry about losing the plant, God compared Jonah’s concern for something temporary with His compassion for the people of Nineveh. The lesson revealed how much Jonah cared about his own comfort and how little he cared about the lives of others. Jonah 4:6–11 AMP

God did not send Jonah to Nineveh only because Nineveh needed a prophet. I believe He sent Jonah because Jonah needed Nineveh. The mission gave God an opportunity to expose Jonah’s prejudice, confront his unforgiveness, and invite him to share the compassionate heart of God.

Sometimes the people God calls us to serve become part of the ministry He is doing within us.