It has already been remarked that Jonah's book is prophetic in character although it contains no such predictive utterances such as are found in Isaiah and Ezekiel. The Christ who was to come is clearly foreshadowed in Jonah's three days sojourn in the belly of the fish: and the history of Israel may be clearly perceived in the disobedience of the prophet and its results for himself and others.
It was a great honor for Jonah to be divinely selected to carry a message from God to Nineveh, the imposing capital of the greatest earthly power in his day. Jonah should have endeavored to enter into Jehovah's thoughts and feelings in the matter, so that he might faithfully represent Him to the dark heathen. In this the prophet most miserably failed. In like manner, the nation of Israel was divinely chosen and separated to be God's channel of blessing to all the people of the earth. “Ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah, and My servant whom I have chosen” (Isa. 43:10). The most cursory reader of the Old Testament cannot fail to see that Israel occupies the central place therein. About four centuries after the flood when all the newly-formed nations had gone into idolatry God called Abram and blessed him; but this was with a view to universal blessing. “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). This word was confirmed and expanded after the offering up of Isaac: “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 22:17-18).
It was never intended that this highly favored stock should be exclusive. Their very sanctuary was to be “a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isa. 56:7). It does not appear that Israel was meant to be a missionary people, earnestly propagating what they knew of the one true God, but they were certainly meant to be a model people. Possessing laws that were perfect, having been received direct from Heaven, all their ways should have been well-pleasing to God, and a rebuke to the nations around them. But, alas, they were untrue to their privileged position of separation to God (which alone could have made them a blessing to the world); they copied the evil ways of their neighbors; and so brought down upon themselves the stern censure: “the name of God is blasphemed among the nations through you” (Rom. 2:24). It will be a great day for the world when Zechariah 8:23 becomes true, “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
As surely as the unfaithfulness of Jonah brought a storm upon the pagan mariners, so the unfaithfulness of Israel has brought sore trouble upon the nations in general as well as their own guilty heads. When Jehovah could no longer bear with the iniquity of the chosen people, He employed Nebuchadnezzar to chastise both them and all the nations around them. The whole system of nations, of which Israel was the divinely established center, was broken up. Abrahaln's seed thus became a curse in the earth, not a blessing.
Jehovah's patience with both Jonah and his nation is arresting. How graciously did He plead with the perverse prophet! And how graciously did He bear with the hypocrisy of the Jewish remnant from the days of Ezra to the coming of the Lord Jesus! Evel then, in full view of their hatred, He pleaded that the unfruitful fig-tree be granted one year more (Luke 13:6-9). But the further testimony of the Holy Spirit after our Lord's return to heaven was all in vain, and once more the people were cast out of their land and flung amongst the nations. The casting forth of Jonah typifies this. The chosen people are now most unlovable and unloved of all, and the whole earth has been plunged into confusion and disaster by the terrible transgressions in which Israel has led the way.
But the outflow of God's grace is not checked by the sin of man; thus, while Israel continues obdurate, the Holy Spirit is working amongst the Gentiles, gathering out from amongst them millions for heavenly blessing. All these will stand in relationship with Christ as His body and bride forever. Israel's fall has become the riches of the world and their loss the riches of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:12). While hundreds of thousands of people in Nineveh were rejoicing in the mercy of God, Jonah was displeased and angry. Similarly, when a number of Gentile believers in Antioch were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, the Jews “were filled with envy, and spake against the things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming” (Acts 13:44-52).
A great and wonderful change is coming. Israel's blindness is not total; when the fullness of the Gentiles is gathered in “all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:25-26). This means the believing remnant, “for they are not all Israel which are of Israel” (Romans 9:7). Obstinate rebels will be purged out (Ezek. 20:38). The restored nation will stand before the world as though risen from the dead. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones shows this (ch. 37). Daniel 12:2 (a passage frequently misunderstood) teaches the same thing. The physical dead are not in view; the nation as such is meant. After centuries of degradation in the dust they will come upon the political stage once more. The believing remnant will enjoy eternal life (in earthly conditions) and the rebels will be consigned to shame and everlasting contempt. Jonah's reappearance after being “three days in the heart of the seas” is typical of this. The following Scriptures should also be read in this connection: Romans 11:15; Hosea 6:2. Being then in the enjoyment of mercy themselves, the people, unlike Jonah, will gladly dispense blessing to others. Psalm 67 gives us their joyous language in that great day. Note the words “all the nations;” “all the ends of the earth;” “all rejoicing and singing for joy.” “O sing unto Jehovah a new song: sing unto Jehovah, all the ends of the earth” (Psa. 96:1). Alas, Jonah was not in singing humor as he contemplated the goodness of God to the Ninevites!
The whole earth will be fully blessed at the appearance of the Lord Jesus; and Israel, completely purged of the Jonah spirit, will rejoice in it. God will be known, not merely as Creator, but as the faithful covenant-keeping Jehovah. “I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am Jehovah” (Ezek. 38:23). This blessed result was reached in the case of Jonah's shipmates. They turned from their own empty deities, and they “offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows” (Jonah 1:16).
When Israel, after ages of antagonism to God and His blessed ways, perceives how marvelously He has wrought, they will say with the Apostle, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33). In deplorable imitation of Joseph's brethren they have intended evil in all that they have done to Christ and to His saints; but God in His perfect wisdom has turned it to good (Gen. 41:20). He will be victorious at last ever all the workings of the enemy; and every purpose of His grace will reach glorious fulfillment.
Alas, that the book of Jonah should close with the prophet murmuring outside while within the city there was gladness and peace. In this he was not a type of his nation. In the coming age of universal blessing Israel will be the center and heart of it all. With the long-rejected Christ honored in their midst, the people will be happy themselves, and will be delighted to see everyone happy around them even to the uttermost parts of the earth.
May the God of all grace grant to us all true largeness of heart. Thus shall we understand and approve His ways and find pleasure and profit therein for our souls.