Why did Jonah not want to go to Nineveh?
Jonah resisted because he believed the God of Abraham was dealing only with the Jew, so he did not recognize that a sovereign God can make exceptions. Nineveh’s people were enemies, and he did not want to see Nineveh saved, even though God said He did.
Les explains that Jonah was operating under the impression that the God of Abraham was only dealing with the Jew, and he failed to recognize that a sovereign God can make exceptions. When God told Jonah to go minister to Nineveh, Jonah objected that they were enemies and said he did not want to see Nineveh saved. God, however, said He did, and He forced the issue until Jonah got to Nineveh. Les connects this to another exception, the Syrian general Naaman, who had leprosy, showing that even when God’s dealing is Jew only, there can be a couple of exceptions.
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.