Lessons from Jonah

The book of Jonah in the Old Testament is very short. It has only four chapters, but it has a valuable lesson. God appointed Jonah to be the prophet of doom for the city of Nineveh. He went around the city announcing that in 40 days, God will destroy the city. The people got scared, repented, changed their evil ways. Because of this, God changed his mind and decided not to destroy the city.

Jonah became both sad and angry, thinking that he would come out a liar. He developed a big ego. This is not supposed to happen to any of God’s prophets. The destruction of Nineveh became personal to him.

God reprimanded Jonah, noting that if he was even sorry for the plant that grew one day and died the next, how much more for the more than 120,000 innocent children and many animals in Nineveh? These are the exact words in the Bible:

“The Lord said to him, ‘This plant grew up in one night and disappeared the next; you didn’t do anything for it and you didn’t make it grow--yet you feel sorry for it! How much more then should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than 120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals!’” ( Jonah 4:10-11)

God cares not only for people but also animals. We need also to remember the passage about Sodom and Gomorrah. God would not destroy the said cities for the sake of 10 innocent people. But there was none of them found in the said cities.

When you meet a prophet of doom touting his message, disregard it. Because God cares for the sinners who mend their ways. Besides, there are many innocent children born in the world every second.

God has no intention of killing all people at once. Everyone has his own time to die.

I wish preachers from organized religions would preach something important and positive and not just something to scare people so many would fill their collection pouches.--Chito E. Germino of Paknaan, Mandaue City