UJehova Wambekezelela UJona

Abantu basedolobheni okuthiwa yiNiniva elalise-Asiriya babelesihluku njalo besenza izinto ezimbi. UJehova watshela uJona ukuthi aye eNiniva ayebatshela ukuthi batshintshe indlela abaphila ngayo. Kodwa uJona wabaleka wagada isikepe esiya eThashishi.

Isikepe sesiphakathi elwandle, kwaba lomoya omkhulu futhi abantu ababesesikepeni baqalisa ukwesaba. Bakhuleka kubonkulunkulu babo bebuza besithi: ‘Kwenzakalani?’ UJona wacina esithi kubo: ‘Yimi engilecala. Ngiyabaleka ngoba kangifuni ukwenza lokho uJehova athe ngikwenze. Ngiphoselani elwandle ukuze umoya lo ume.’ Abantu ababesesikepeni babengafuni kodwa yena wayelokhu ebatshela ukuthi bamphosele. Bathi sebemphoselile, umoya wama.

UJona wayecabanga ukuthi uzakufa. Wathi elokhu etshona emanzini, wakhuleka kuJehova. UJehova wasethuma inhlanzi enkulu yafika yamginya uJona kodwa kayimbulalanga. Esesiswini senhlanzi wakhuleka wathi: ‘Ngiyathembisa ukuthi ngizahlala ngikulalela.’ UJehova wamvikela okwamalanga amathathu esesiswini senhlanzi futhi wenza ukuthi inhlanzi imkhafulele enhlabathini.

Njengoba uJehova wayesemsindisile uJona, kwasekusitsho ukuthi angasahambi eNiniva yini? Hatshi. UJehova wamtshela ukuthi aye eNiniva. UJona wahamba eNiniva wafika watshela abantu labo wathi: ‘INiniva izabhujiswa ngemva kwamalanga angu-40.’ Abantu baseNiniva balalela bayekela ukwenza okubi. Inkosi yaseNiniva yatshela abantu yathi: ‘Khonzani uNkulunkulu futhi litshiye okubi. Engxenye angasizwela angasibhubhisi.’ UJehova wathi ebona ukuthi abantu basebetshintshile, wahle wayekela ukubabhubhisa.

UJona kwamzondisa kakhulu ukuthi abantu beNiniva kabasabhujiswanga. Ake ucabange: UJehova wayembekezelele uJona futhi wamzwela, kodwa uJona wayengafuni ukuzwela abantu baseNiniva. Wahamba wayahlala phandle kwedolobho emthunzini wesihlahla ezondile. Isihlahla leso satsha, uJona wazonda kakhulu. Yikho uJehova wathi: ‘Ulendaba lesihlahla lesi kodwa kawulandaba labantu beNiniva. Ngibatshengise isihawu ngayekela ukubabhubhisa.’ UJehova wayemfundisani uJona? Wayemfundisa ukuthi abantu beNiniva babeqakatheke ukwedlula isihlahla.