Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject: Why did Jonah go to Ninevah?
In reading again the book of Jonah, I have come to consider something that I had not thought about before and wondered if you might give me some clues as to why this happened.
Jonah was to go to Nineveh, yet Ninevah was not in Israel, the people of Nineveh were not Israelites, whereas Jonah was a Jew and and Israelite.
Jesus said to the Cannanite woman is it right to take the childrens bread and throw it to dogs? (Mt 15:26) Which seems to me to reinforce that He went to the Israelites, not the Gentiles like those from Ninevah.
So why could it have been that Ninevah was chosen of all the pagan nations to be reached by Yahweh through Jonah?
A. It was the head nation of that part of the world. Just as God had Daniel in Babylon in later times, who spoke directly to king Nebachadnezzar, so here Jonah was sent to Assyria.
B. The message to the gentiles was not a new occurance. The prophets spoke of it too in the Old Testament. Jesus message to the Jews in his day was to reinforce the covenant with them, as their reception of His ministry was their goal as a people. In this of course they failed, but not because he left them without opportunity. His going to the people of Israel did not rule out other prophets to go to other nations.
It should also be noted that this syrophonecian incident was part of a large trip up into the areas of Tyre and Sidon. In other words, Jesus, while mainly speaking to the Jews during His personal ministry, even then was in the middle of a mostly non-Jewish area, and ministered to them too. He also ventured among the Samaritans, etc.
C. God judges all nations on the basis of their understanding of His will. If you look at Amos for instance we see that in chapters 1-2 the neighbors of Israel are judged. Then Israel itself is judged. But if you examine the basis in each judgment they are different. For Israel the basis is violation of the covenant and God's commandments. They held a garment in pledge, defrauded the poor, etc. For places like Ammon it was for more severe crimes, such as ripping open pregnant women, etc. Assyria was judged because of some of the most obscene crimes, and God was sending a prophet to warn them of their impending doom.
D. I think the book itself describes the most important reason:
Quote:
JNH 4:10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
It is the same theme expressed by Peter,
Quote:
2PE 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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