Nineveh or Tarshish?: When God’s Command Clashes with Your Hate.
- Thad DeBuhr
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Day 2 = Jonah 1:1-3
Imagine you are the top prosecuting attorney in your city. You have built a successful career prosecuting a powerful, ruthless crime syndicate that has been plaguing your community for years. You’ve seen firsthand the damage they inflict—they are responsible for the worst things that have happened to your neighbors. You hate them with every fiber of your being, and you genuinely believe the world would be safer if they were completely destroyed.
One morning, you receive a direct, unexpected order from the highest authority: "Go to their headquarters. Tell them to turn themselves in, and if they do, their lives will be spared. Offer them mercy."
What do you do? Do you celebrate the chance for justice through redemption, or do you grab your passport and buy a one-way ticket to the farthest remote island you can find?
This tension—the command to extend grace to those we believe deserve judgment—is the heart of Jonah's story in the very first verses of the book.
Before you dig into the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene: The Command and the Crisis
The Book of Jonah begins with a simple, direct command: "The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’"
This command set up the immediate crisis for Jonah. Nineveh was not just any city; it was the sprawling capital of the Assyrian Empire.
Assyria: This nation was the most feared, ruthless, and brutal world power of the time. They were infamous for their cruelty, often documented in graphic detail on their own monuments. For the people of Israel, Assyria was a looming, existential threat—the "Boogeyman" that everyone prayed would be destroyed.
CENTER IMAGE SHOWS: Assyrian alabaster relief from Sennacherib's Nineveh palace shows Hebrew slaves quarrying under Assyrian soldiers. Soldiers oversee with shields and archers. Neo-Assyrian art from Sennacherib’s reign (705-681 BC), connected to Judah defeat. Housed at London's British Museum.
IMAGE TO RIGHT: Shows Hebrew slaves being empaled on poles by Assyrian soldiers
The Mission: God was not sending Jonah to deliver a message of destruction (though that was his sermon); God was sending him to deliver a warning, which opened the door to repentance and, therefore, mercy. Jonah knew God’s character, and he knew a warning meant a chance for salvation. This is precisely why he fled. His rebellion was rooted in the knowledge that God is kind and compassionate, and Jonah did not want that kindness extended to his enemies.
Details About Geography: The Escape Route
Jonah's response to God's command was not hesitation; it was decisive, expensive, and dramatic.
The Destination (Nineveh): Located to the northeast, near modern-day Mosul in Iraq. This required a land journey of about 500 miles. This was the place of confrontation and judgment.
The Escape (Tarshish): Located to the far west, possibly in modern-day Spain. This was the known limit of the western world—a journey of roughly 2,500 miles across the Mediterranean Sea.
By buying passage on a ship headed to Tarshish, Jonah was attempting to flee not just a geographical location, but the very presence and jurisdiction of God. He was running as far away as possible, signaling his committed, nationalistic refusal to obey a mission rooted in universal compassion.
What a Modern Reader Might Miss: Jonah's Fame
A modern reader might see Jonah as just some random prophet, but his history is crucial:
Jonah was a Patriot: Jonah had previously delivered a prophecy that brought King Jeroboam II great success, resulting in the expansion of Israel’s borders and a period of national prosperity (2 Kings 14:25). This made Jonah a celebrated national hero.
The Political Statement: When God commanded him to help Nineveh (the enemy who threatened to undo all that prosperity), Jonah’s refusal became a political statement. His disobedience was a defense of his nation's pride and safety. He was willing to risk everything to ensure his people's enemies were condemned, not saved.
God’s Knowledge: When God tells Jonah to "preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me," it shows that God is fully aware of Nineveh's terrible crimes. God is not ignoring their wickedness; He is simply prioritizing mercy over immediate justice, a concept Jonah cannot accept.
Applying It Today
Main Idea: We resist God's assignments when they challenge our loyalties, comfort, or prejudices. The lesson of Jonah 1:1-3 is that you cannot run from a God whose compassion is bigger than your own comfort zone.
🛑 How to Apply It Wrongly:
Focusing on the Mechanics: Misapplying this passage by thinking the only lesson is about avoiding literal physical running. ("I’m not on a boat, so I’m fine.")
Waiting for a Sign: Assuming God will chase us with a storm or a fish to make us obey. This overlooks the internal, silent ways we resist God’s will every day.
Minimizing the Disobedience: Treating Jonah’s action as simple procrastination instead of what it was: a willful, angry rebellion against God's nature.
✅ How to Apply It Correctly:
Identify Your Tarshish: Acknowledge the activities, busyness, or habits (mental or physical) you use to deliberately distract yourself from a clear command or truth you know you should address.
Define Your Resistance: Recognize that resistance is often rooted in pride or prejudice, not fear. We often resist God's call to serve people because we think they don't deserve grace, or because we think we have a better plan (which usually involves destruction for our enemies).
Understand the Cost: Jonah paid a high price for his disobedience (the boat fare, the near-death experience). Understand that running from God's mission, even today, costs us peace, purpose, and spiritual power.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage.
The Command: Has God ever asked you to do something that immediately clashed with your comfort, politics, or personal preferences? What was your immediate, internal "Tarshish" (escape route) response?
The Cost of Running: Jonah paid money and risked his life to run away. What are the "costs" you willingly pay today (in time, effort, or stress) to avoid addressing a clear moral or relational assignment in your life?
Worthy of Mercy: Jonah didn't want Nineveh to be saved. If you are completely honest, is there a person or group in your life that you currently find yourself wishing God would not save?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these discussion starters are sure to help break the ice and get people talking about the core concept of resistance and mercy.
The Disliked Neighbor: Think of a neighbor, colleague, or extended family member whose lifestyle, values, or political views actively annoy you. How would God call you to "serve" or "show kindness" to that specific person today, and what specific part of God's command makes you want to get on a boat to Tarshish?
The Opposite Direction: Jonah ran to the westernmost point of the known world. Share a story of a time in your life when you realized you were actively and deliberately moving in the opposite direction from what you knew was right. What was the lie that made the escape route seem better than obedience?
The Successful Jonah: Jonah’s successful past as a national prophet made him a proud man. How can your own successes (in career, family, or relationships) sometimes lead you to be judgmental or exclusive toward others who are struggling or who are outside your "in-group?"
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