Matthew Henry Commentary Jonah 1:1-3

"Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah." — Jonah 1:1-3 (ASV)

It is sad to think how much sin is committed in great cities. Their wickedness, like that of Nineveh, is a bold and open affront to God. Jonah must go at once to Nineveh and there, on the spot, cry against its wickedness.

Jonah would not go. Probably there are few among us who would not have tried to decline such a mission. Providence seemed to give him an opportunity to escape; we may be out of the way of duty and yet meet with a favorable gale. The ready way is not always the right way.

See what the best of people are when God leaves them to themselves, and how much we need, when the word of the Lord comes to us, the Spirit of the Lord to bring every thought within us into obedience.