“The story of being swallowed by a ‘whale’ has undoubtedly fascinated generations of children. Recounted by narrators eager to capture youthful imaginations it provides all the elements necessary for a truly gripping story. Unfortunately, however, childhood memories can colour all too easily our perception of the book – the original narrative says practically nothing about the great fish! Yet the book need lose none of its appeal for us. We find here a most intriguing confrontation between Yahweh, the God of heaven and earth, and Jonah, his rebellious prophet. The central message of the book remains especially relevant. Salvation comes from the Lord. It is not the exclusive possession of any one group, nor does it guarantee their continued existence at the expense of others” (adapted from T. Desmond Alexander’s preface to his Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Jonah, , IVP 1988).

Will Jonah learn that we live under the shade of God’s grace? At a time (2014) when turmoil surrounds the present-city of Mosul, we return to another point in history when, again, the fate of the people on the plains of Nineveh are in the balance.