Ellen Chat Conversation

Jonah’s distress over the sparing of Nineveh was rooted in a preoccupation with his personal reputation and status as a prophet. Although he had faithfully delivered the warning that the city would be overthrown in forty days, he failed to find joy in the success of his mission when the inhabitants actually repented (PK 271.1). Instead of celebrating the amazing grace of God that led the king and the people to humble themselves in sackcloth and ashes, Jonah became exceedingly angry because the predicted destruction did not occur (SS 147.4). The primary reason for Jonah's frustration was his fear of being labeled a false prophet. He allowed his mind to dwell on how others would perceive him if his specific prediction of ruin was not fulfilled, even though the condition for that ruin—continued wickedness—had been removed through repentance (PK 271.1).

He felt that his professional standing and reputation were being injured by God’s decision to show mercy (2SAT 279.4). This reaction revealed a significant lack of spiritual perspective, as Jonah placed the value of his own credit above the salvation of thousands of souls. He admitted to the Lord that his initial flight to Tarshish was prompted by his knowledge of God’s character; he knew that God was gracious, merciful, and slow to anger, and he anticipated that God would choose to spare the city if the people turned from their sins (PK 271.1). Despite being a man held in high estimation, his jealousy for his own name caused him to lose sight of the infinite value of the lives in that wretched city (YI September 23, 1897, par. 5).

You might also want to explore:What did Ellen White teach about the lessons we can learn from the gourd and the east wind in Jonah's story?How does the repentance of Nineveh compare to the response of the people in Christ's day?What practical counsel did she give regarding the danger of valuing reputation over the salvation of souls?