Idolobha laseNineve e-Asiriya, lalinabantu abenza izinto ezimbi. UJehova watshela umprofethi wakhe uJona ukuba aye eNineve ukuze axwayise abantu ukuba bashitshe izindlela zabo. Kodwa uJona wabalekela kwenye indawo. Wagibela emkhunjini oya eTharishishi.

Lapho umkhumbi uphakathi olwandle, kwaba nesiphepho esinamandla futhi amatilosi esaba kakhulu. Athandaza konkulunkulu bawo futhi abuza: ‘Kungani lokhu kwenzeka?’ Ekugcineni, uJona wathi: ‘Kungenxa yami. Ngibalekele lokho uJehova athe ngikwenze. Ngiphoseni olwandle futhi isiphepho sizophela.’ Amatilosi ayengafuni ukumphosa olwandle kodwa uJona wawancenga. Lapho esemphonsile olwandle, isiphepho saphela.

UJona wayezitshela ukuthi uzofa. Njengoba eshona phansi ekujuleni kolwandle, wathandaza kuJehova. UJehova wabe esethumela inhlanzi enkulu. Yamgwinya kodwa yangambulala. Phakathi esiswini senhlanzi, uJona wathandaza: ‘Ngiyathembisa, ngizohlale ngikulalela.’ UJehova wamgcina ephephile uJona esiswini senhlanzi izinsuku ezintathu futhi wenza ukuba inhlanzi imkhiphele emhlabathini owomile.

Njengoba uJehova amsindisa uJona, ingabe lokho kwakusho ukuthi ngeke kusadingeka aye eNineve? Cha. UJehova waphinde watshela uJona ukuba aye khona. Kulokhu, uJona walalela. Wahamba  wafike wathi kulabo bantu ababi: ‘Ezinsukwini ezingu-40, iNineve lizobhujiswa.’ Ngemva kwalokho kwenzeka into engalindelekile—abaseNineve balalela futhi bashitsha izindlela zabo. Inkosi yaseNineve yatshela abantu: ‘Thandazani kuNkulunkulu futhi niphenduke. Mhlawumbe uzosiyeka angasibulali.’ Lapho uJehova ebona ukuthi abantu bayaphenduka, akabange esalibhubhisa iNineve.

UJona wayecasuke kakhulu ngokuthi idolobha alibhujiswanga. Cabanga nje: UJehova wayembekezelele futhi wambonisa umusa kodwa yena wayengenawo umusa kubantu baseNineve. Kunalokho, wahlala ngaphandle kwedolobha emthunzini wesihlahla soselwa, ebiphile. Isihlala sabuna, uJona wacasuka nakakhulu. Ngakho uJehova wathi kuye: ‘Unendaba kakhulu ngalesi sihlahla kunabantu baseNineve. Mina ngibabonise umusa futhi basinda.’ Sasiyini isifundo? Abantu baseNineve babebaluleke ukudlula noma yisiphi isihlahla.