God does as He pleases and doesn’t have to please us.

Background

It is unclear who wrote Jonah nor the exact date of when it was written. Jonah’s setting occurs during King Jeroboam II’s reign (793–753 B.C.). Jonah is a historical figure who prophesied accurately during the days of King Jeroboam that Israel’s border (The Northern Kingdom) would expand (2 Kings 14:25). Assyria was the waning—dominant force in these days and had to give its attention to the Urartu in the North and Babylonia in the south. Their distraction allowed Israel the opportunity to expand. However, Assyria was still a formidable enemy, cruel to all who opposed them. They were a real threat to Israel and would eventually destroy Israel and lead them into captivity in 722 B.C. Jonah’s audience would likely be the people coming back from exile. This reality is a biting irony—A people destroyed by their enemies God spared.

Jonah 1:1–4

—The book is written like we are in the middle of the story. “Now the word of the LORD…”

—It is a typical prophetic calling, except that Jonah is called to prophesy against Nineveh, not his people.

Nineveh is located east of Israel along the Tigris River. It was a substantial city that would eventually become the capital of Assyria in 704 B.C.

—We expect Jonah to get up and immediately do as the LORD commands, but we find him doing the exact opposite. He goes to Joppa, the westernmost seaport in Israel. He takes a boat to Tarshish, the westernmost place on Israel’s map (2 Chronicles 9:21), which is at least a three-year round-trip venture. Jonah essentially chooses exile over obedience.

—The author emphasizes that Jonah is descending in disobedience.
—The author mentions Tarshish three times in one verse (v. 3).
—Away from the presence of the LORD means that Jonah is running away from the prophetic calling and responsibility.
—Jonah doesn’t obey the LORD, but the wind and sea do.