Jonah: Wayward Prophet

The Book of Jonah is unique among the prophetic books in that the usual pattern of the prophet's confrontation with sinful people and he accompanying call to return to fidelity to Yahweh is not followed. Instead, we learn through Jonah's life and experiences that he is a wayward prophet with a rotten attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Yahweh has to show him that He has a right to extend compassion to those he chooses. Thus the inbred tendency of the Jews toward religious exclusiveness is condemned by Yahweh, thus paving the way for the later proclamation of the Gospel to all the nations after Christ's death and resurrection.