What did God tell Jonah to do?

God commanded the prophet Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and "cry out against it" because its wickedness had come before Him. This divine directive is found clearly in Jonah 1:2, where the Lord instructs, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it; for their wickedness has come up before me." Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a formidable and cruel empire that posed a significant threat to Israel's northern kingdom. The command was not merely to observe, but to actively proclaim judgment, urging the Ninevites to repent from their evil ways. Jonah's initial reaction, fleeing in the opposite direction towards Tarshish, underscores the daunting nature of this task and his personal reluctance to see such an enemy nation receive God's mercy. After a miraculous intervention involving a great fish, God reiterated His command to Jonah in Jonah 3:2, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I will tell you." This second commission emphasizes God's steadfast purpose and His sovereign will over human resistance. The message Jonah was to preach was one of impending destruction within forty days, as seen in Jonah 3:4. This act demonstrates God's universal concern not only for His covenant people, Israel, but also for all humanity, extending an opportunity for repentance even to His enemies. It highlights God's attributes of both justice, in acknowledging their wickedness, and profound mercy, in providing a path to avert that judgment through repentance.

The Book of Jonah is typically dated to the 8th century BCE, a period marked by the rising dominance of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Nineveh, located on the east bank of the Tigris River, was the magnificent capital of this empire, renowned for its massive walls, grand palaces, and extensive libraries. However, the Assyrians were also infamous for their brutality, employing cruel tactics such as impalement, flaying, and mass deportations against conquered peoples, including the northern kingdom of Israel. Prophets like Amos and Hosea also preached during this era, warning Israel of impending judgment, often through the hand of Assyria. The historical context explains Jonah's reluctance: preaching repentance to Nineveh meant offering salvation to a people who were a terror to Israel and who would ultimately conquer Samaria in 722 BCE. The archaeological excavations at Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik and Nabi Yunus) have confirmed its immense size and grandeur, matching the biblical description of a 'great city' that required 'three days' journey' (Jonah 3:3) to traverse or preach through.

The divine command to Jonah reveals profound theological truths about God's universal sovereignty and His nature. It illustrates that God's concern extends beyond the confines of His chosen people, Israel, to all nations, even those considered enemies. This demonstrates God's universal love and desire for all humanity to come to repentance, not wishing "that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Jonah's story highlights the tension between prophetic duty and personal prejudice, emphasizing that God's plan of salvation is not limited by human reluctance. It also underscores the power of repentance, as Nineveh's collective turning from wickedness led to God's compassionate withholding of the promised judgment, a testament to His mercy.