The Old testament book of Jonah is one of the most unique books of the Bible. It dates back to about 750 B.C. This was long before Isaiah or Jeremiah or many of the other prophets.

Jonah is the only prophet in the Bible who was commanded to go to preach to foreigners. He was commanded by God to go and preach to the people of the Nineveh. But Jonah didn't want to go. He was a reluctant missionary. He didn't want to go because he was a nationalist, and the Ninevehites were ancient enemies of Israel. He didn't want to go to preach to these people because he didn't want them to be saved.

He tried to run away from God. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish and headed in the opposite direction. A storm arose and the ship almost sank. Jonah was thrown overboard. God caused the storm and He prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, In the belly of the fish, Jonah repented and prayed, and God caused it to spit him up on dry ground. He lost no time in getting to Nineveh, but still had the same bad attitude. He wandered around all day before he got up enough courage to preach. But, he didn't have his heart in it. His sermon was only eight words in length: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." (Jonah 3:4)

But, something unexpected happened. The people listened. They believed and repented. Jonah 3:5 says, "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them." In verse 10 we are told: "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not."

It is estimated that the population of Nineveh at that time was about a half million people, This has to be one of the most successful missionary efforts ever accomplished. Yet, Jonah was not happy. In fact, "… it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry." (Jonah 4:1). He was angry ? angry at himself, angry with God, angry with the people of Nineveh. He was angry at everybody. He went into the wilderness and waited under a gourd tree. He was so discouraged he wanted to die. God caused the gourd tree to dry up, and Jonah was angry about that. Jonah was more interested in that gourd tree than he was in saving lost souls.

Do you know anybody like that? Jesus has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to the lost. Are we ever reluctant to go (or send) especially to foreign lands? We have mission areas here in the United States, and we have mission points abroad in such places as Russia and Africa. Is it easier to go to some place here in the states than it is to go abroad? Oh, I'm not saying we should neglect our home land, but we should also be willing and anxious to take the gospel into all the world as Jesus commanded in the great commission. I am sorry to say that I have met people who are flat out opposed to spending one dime for foreign missions. There are some who are opposed to taking the gospel to the black race of Africa or to any other race. I would hate to stand in their shoes in the day of Judgment. Let us take warning from Jonah. Let us never reluctant to take the gospel anywhere.