Did Jonah Truly Repent?

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Since Monday I’ve been speaking on the of “Outrageous Grace” from the book of Jonah at Pinebrook Bible Conference. After I finished my final message tonight, it occurred to me that I left one important detail hanging in the air.

Did Jonah ever repent?

We know that when God told him to go to Nineveh (in modern-day Iraq), he boarded a boat headed for Tarshish (probably somewhere in Spain). That means when God said, “Go east,” he went west, trying to get as far away as he could.

Then comes the wind, the storm, the casting of lots, Jonah in the sea, Jonah swallowed by the great fish, Jonah praying inside the great fish, and Jonah vomited up on the shore. Then God calls him a second time to go to Nineveh. This time he goes, preaches a message of coming doom, the whole city repents, and God relents of the punishment he threatened.

Now if we just stop there, it certainly appears that Jonah repented. The Hebrew word means “to turn.” Jonah turned from his running and did what the Lord said. He went to Nineveh and delivered God’s message. So, yes, he repented.

Then comes chapter four with the pouting prophet angry at God because he didn’t destroy the city. To the very end, his attitude is self-centered and really stinky. That’s why the book ends with a question. 

So did Jonah repent? Yes and no. God never said, “Go to Nineveh and preach, and by the way, I want you to have a good attitude about it.” He just said, “Go and preach,” which is what Jonah did. But he never really liked the Ninevites, and he was really ticked at God for showing compassion on them. 

Here’s the scary thing. It’s perfectly possible to obey God with a rotten attitude. And God may even bless our obedience just like he blessed Jonah’s obedience. As Paul pointed out in Philippians 1:15-18, some people preach the gospel out of bad motives, but Paul rejoiced that the gospel was preached even out of selfish ambition.

It’s surprisingly easy to do the right things for the wrong reasons and still be blessed by God. But as Jonah found out, God will not be satisfied with mere outward obedience. He’ll send a storm, a fish, a vine, a worm and a wind if that’s what it takes for our hearts to line up with his. 

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July 22, 2010, 10:09 PM djacobs says:
	Was repentence a pre-requisite for God to use Jonah? (or Samson for that matter). Sometimes it does appear that God can use mere outward obedience as illustrated by Jonah. The book ends with Jonah disgusted, but God’s purpose accomplished. This is a different message than one I was taught that God can only use people wholly devoted to Him. While the view is lofty and something to aspire to - how can anyone in this life accomplish it? The good news God still gets the job done. We are part of His plan along the way (similar God gives the increase although others plant and water).
July 23, 2010, 1:18 PM SteveCook says:
	Just last night I read the book of Jonah to my 5 year old son. And for the first time, I noticed the same thing, Jonah obeyed, but then he was upset at God. And Jonah only sang praises to God when Jonah’s life was saved by the big fish. Jonah obeyed begrudgeonly, but he still obeyed, and a whole city was saved. I remember a verse that states, “who is obeying, the one who says he won’t do something asked of him, but then does it, or the person who says they will do the thing asked of them but then doesn’t follow through.” Lesson here: God prefers the act of obeying, over empty words of obedience.
July 27, 2010, 7:33 AM am3mt says:
	One must have a change of mind (about ones sin and what God said about it). A change of attudue (same as above). Which bring about a change of action for true repentence to take place. Only God Know! And do too.