Now the word of the Lord came unto 
Jonah, the son of A-mit’-tai, saying, “Arise, go to Nin-‘e-veh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tar’-shish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Jop-‘pa; and he found a ship going to Tar’-shish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tar’-shish from the presence of the Lord.
Commentary:
We know the story of Jonah and the fish, but what is God telling us? God told Jonah to do something, and he did not. What is God telling you to do? Are you listening? Jonah did not like the Assyrians and did not want them to receive God’s mercy. Are their people in your life you – for whatever reason – dislike, and you will not pray for them? If so, you are not doing what God tells you to do. Because of Jonah’s disobedience, God has shown us how he took non-believing sailors and made them believers. Jonah was in the fish for three days, Christ was in the grave for three days, and when they both came up they preached the Word. God wants us to be concerned for all his children, the ones that are saved and especially the lost ones.