The Prophet Jonah
On the occasion of the Fast of Jonah, I would like to speak to you once again about the Prophet Jonah. I have spoken to you many times about the Book of Jonah and have published a book about it. But today, I will focus on a new point — on God’s method of saving the soul, as revealed in the Book of the Prophet Jonah.
When the Lord’s compassion stirred toward Nineveh, and when the time came for mercy upon it, when the appointed moment of its salvation arrived — according to God’s wisdom and the readiness of people’s hearts — “the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying: ‘Arise, go to Nineveh…’”
We do not know when God will speak for our salvation, but we know that He certainly will — at the time He deems right and beneficial.
Nineveh, the wicked city steeped in sin, from its king sitting on the throne to its poorest shepherds — this evil city moved God’s heart with compassion. He said to Jonah, “Go to Nineveh…” There were 120,000 people who did not know their right hand from their left, but I know each one of them. Despite their evil and ignorance, I have engraved them on the palms of My hands, and not one of them falls without the permission of your Father.
+ The Calling…
God called Jonah to serve. He was the One who appointed him to this ministry — its time, its details, and the message he was to proclaim.
The matter of divine calling in service is important, for the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.”
It is He who appoints His chosen ones and servants: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined… and whom He predestined, these He also called” (Romans 8:29–30).
God is the One who called Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, and the rest of the prophets — and He also called Jonah in a clear way.
Those who thrust themselves into ministry are exposed to failure. But those whom God calls, He equips with the strength necessary for their success.
God’s word speaks through their mouths, and His word acts powerfully and does not return void. It becomes living and fruitful because it is God’s word. Thus, the servant must be certain of God’s calling.
God called Jonah and commanded him to go to Nineveh and proclaim its destruction, saying to him: “Proclaim against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
+ Salvation or Destruction?!
Outwardly, the phrase speaks of destruction; inwardly, it carries love and salvation. “Proclaim destruction” — which I do not desire for them — “for I desire that all be saved!” So what is the meaning of this proclamation, and where is salvation?
Proclaim destruction, that the people may fear, awaken from their negligence, and repent — and thus I will save them. So the proclamation of destruction becomes a means of salvation!
I do not intend their ruin, but their awakening. And as a knower of souls, I know that the only way to awaken this people is through such a message.
Therefore, there was no cruelty or harshness in declaring their doom — only love. And so, the Lord did not say to Jonah, “Go to Nineveh, the wicked city,” but rather, “Go to the great city.”
I know that it will become great — great in repentance and contrition.
Go to Nineveh, for I have many people in this city — more than the seven thousand who did not bow to Baal — a people ready to repent at the first proclamation, clothed in sackcloth and ashes.
Go, Jonah, for the fields are white for harvest. I am sending you to reap what you did not labor for. There are 120,000 souls ripe for gathering to fill My barns with wheat.
Jonah knew that if he proclaimed destruction, Nineveh would repent and not perish — and thus his word would seem to fail. This burdened him, and he fled. His problem was self-centeredness — he cared more for his reputation than for salvation.
God wanted to save him from this self-centeredness, to make him care for the service, not for his own honor. It did not matter whether his word stood or fell — what mattered was the salvation of the people. He must serve the cause of salvation, as Paul said: “Through glory and dishonor, through good report and evil report.” Let our word fall, let our honor fade — only let the people be saved. Let us lose our comfort and endure hardship — but let souls be saved.
Why are you upset, Jonah, by this method? You yourself will not be saved unless you are proclaimed against with destruction — like Nineveh!
Your self-centeredness, love of honor, pride, stubbornness — you will not be freed from them unless you are proclaimed against, unless you face distress, even to the brink of death, that you may live.
So God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. Three days he spent in fear, learning obedience and fulfilling God’s will, even if unwillingly.
Jonah needed a strong blow to awaken him — just like Nineveh. Before that, even as the sailors prayed, he slept heavily, careless of his flight from God! Some might think that the swallowing of Jonah by the fish was a harsh act by God, inconsistent with His mercy.
But God’s mercy is full of wisdom — it is spiritual compassion aiming at the salvation of the soul, not mere pity or indulgence.
The Lord taught us to carry the cross on the path of salvation and that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.” He guided us to the narrow gate and the difficult road because He loves us and wants us saved.
If people are saved through love and blessings — good. If they are saved through pain and the cross — also good. The point is: salvation.
A person may not awaken to his salvation except through a stern word, an illness, a trial, or a certain incident. God’s love does not mind any of this — as long as the soul is saved. Pain is useful and never contradicts the love of God.
We do not doubt God’s love if it leads us through pain; rather, we must surrender to His will and trust it.
Thus we say: “The bitterness the Lord chooses for me is better than the honey I choose for myself.” All God’s works are good. I may not see that good now, but I believe in its existence.
You, Lord, are love itself, the fountain of compassion — and Your compassion does not change, whether You put Jonah in the belly of the fish or bring him out of it.
Afflictions benefited Jonah just as they benefited the people of Nineveh.
The proclamation of destruction led Nineveh to prayer, fasting, repentance, humility, and then forgiveness.
The swallowing by the fish benefited Jonah — he prayed in its belly, reconciled with God, and came out obedient.
Even the waves that nearly overturned the ship benefited the sailors spiritually: they each prayed to their god, made vows, accepted the Lord, believed in Him, offered sacrifices, and were saved.
Many say to the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, “It is good for us to be here.” But the Lord answers: “You are mistaken,” and lovingly leads them to Gethsemane.
There, in Gethsemane, He calls them to watch with Him — to suffer with Him that they may be glorified with Him.
The life of suffering is beneficial — it teaches humility, prayer, and softens the hardened heart. In suffering, we see the face of God.
God said to Jonah: “Go to Nineveh and proclaim against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” Yet I am not hopeless about them.
I see their repentance and salvation despite the evil that has risen before Me. I have not despaired of them, nor has My heart turned away from them.
Likewise, God did not despair of Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the Church and dragged men and women to prison. Despite his outward cruelty, God saw in Saul the chosen vessel who would bear His message to the nations, labor more than all the apostles, ascend to the third heaven, and see things unutterable.
In sinful Nineveh, I will give you, Jonah, a valuable lesson — a spiritual experience in transforming souls that you will not find in any pastoral school!
Come with Me, train in practical ministry, and you will see how people are humbled by affliction. Then you will realize the blessing of pain, understand the wisdom of your mission, and obey without questioning.
The angels in heaven obey quickly and without argument — whether the mission is mercy or judgment:
an angel lifting the sword over Jerusalem, another guarding the way to the Tree of Life, another striking down the firstborn, another shutting the lions’ mouths — all obey, with trust and without complaint or discussion.
Let Your will be done, O Lord — a will full of love and wisdom. It is not for us to understand it but to carry it out and accept it with peace and trust.
If You prepared a fish to swallow Jonah — it was out of great love, to teach him obedience and prepare him for service.
If You commanded the sun to strike him so that he withered and longed for death — that too was love, for through it he conversed with You, understood, and was convinced.
O Lord, we are not more compassionate than You, nor do we know souls better than You.
You created souls and know their nature — You know how to save them.
You draw John by leaning on Your chest, Mary by sitting at Your feet, the sinful woman by saying, “Go in peace; neither do I condemn you.”
You save Jonah by a fish and a hot east wind, the sailors by the stormy waves, and the people of Nineveh by proclaiming destruction.
We do not question Your judgments but marvel at the wonders of Your wisdom.
You loved David even when Absalom rose against him, and when Shimei son of Gera cursed him. You wanted the tears in his eyes to flow and the psalm in his heart to be sung.
You love while holding the whip just as when You embrace children. You love when You give, and You love when You take away.
With You, there is no change nor shadow of turning. Blessed are You in all Your works. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord forever.”
How beautiful are the lessons we learn from the story of Jonah! It is good that the Church has placed it as a prelude and preparation for the Great Lent.
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Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine, Year 7, Issue 8, 20 February 1976
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