YHWH (God) gave a direct order to Yonah (Jonah), son of Amittai. Not a whisper. Not a suggestion. A command:
“Go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it — their wickedness has come before Me!”

But here’s the thing — Nineveh was not Hebrew territory.
It was the heart of the Assyrian empire — a land of Gentiles, enemies of Israel. They were brutal, godless, and full of bloodshed. To Yonah, they were beyond saving. They didn’t deserve mercy. They deserved judgment.

And so, Yonah ran.
He didn’t just hide in his backyard — he bought a ticket to Tarshish, the opposite direction from Nineveh. He was trying to escape from the presence of YHWH.

But you can’t run from YHWH.

🌊 The Storm and the Sea
YHWH hurled a mighty wind upon the sea. The ship started to break apart. Sailors panicked, praying to their false gods, tossing cargo into the sea to survive. But Yonah? He was sleeping deep inside the ship — trying to ignore his guilt.

The captain woke him:
“What are you doing, sleeper? Call on your God!”

When they cast lots to find out who was guilty, the lot fell on Yonah (Jonah).
He confessed:
“I serve YHWH, the God of the heavens who made the sea and the land. I’m running from Him.”

Terrified, the men asked:
“What should we do?”
He said:
“Throw me into the sea, and the storm will stop.”

They didn’t want to — but the sea grew more violent. So they cried to YHWH and threw Yonah overboard. Instantly, the sea went calm. The men feared YHWH and offered sacrifices.

🐟 Swallowed by a Great Fish
YHWH appointed a great fish to swallow Yonah.
Three days. Three nights. In the belly of death.

There, Yonah prayed with a broken heart:

“Out of the depths I cried, and You heard me.
The deep surrounded me. Seaweed wrapped around my head.
But You brought up my life from the pit, YHWH my God!”

YHWH spoke to the fish — and it vomited Yonah (Jonah) onto dry land.

📣 Second Chance — The Gentiles Obey
YHWH said again:
“Go to Nineveh.”

This time, Yonah  (Jonah) obeyed.
He walked through the massive city and cried out:
“Forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!”

To Yonah’s  (Jonah) shock — they believed God.
From the king to the beggar, they fasted, wore sackcloth, and turned from evil. Even the animals were dressed in sackcloth.

And YHWH, full of mercy, saw their repentance and did not destroy them.

😠 Yonah’s  (Jonah) Anger — “I Knew You Would Forgive Them!”
Yonah  (Jonah) was furious. He said:

“This is why I ran! I knew You are gracious, merciful, slow to anger, full of loving-kindness! I KNEW You would forgive them!”

He left the city and sat under a vine that YHWH made grow. But then YHWH sent a worm to destroy the vine, and a hot wind to make Yonah  (Jonah) faint.

YHWH asked:

“Do you do well to be angry?”

Yonah (Jonah) said: “Yes! Angry enough to die!”

Then YHWH said:

“You care about a plant you didn’t plant… but you don’t care about a city full of people and animals who don’t know their right hand from their left?”

🔥 Final Truth
Yonah thought only Israel deserved mercy.
But YHWH showed that He is the God of all, even those outside the covenant — if they humble themselves and repent.