The book of Jonah presents a unique narrative among the minor prophets, focusing on Jonah's ministry to Nineveh rather than extended prophetic messages. Unlike Nahum, which dedicates three chapters to prophesying Nineveh's fall, Jonah's prophecy to the city is a single line: Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! This brevity starkly contrasts with the detailed predictions in other prophetic works concerning the same city. Jonah's reluctance to deliver God's warning to Nineveh stems from his deep-seated nationalistic and xenophobic attitudes. He did not want to preach a message of repentance to the Assyrians, desiring their destruction rather than their salvation. His flight from God's command reflects a profound misunderstanding of God's character and a refusal to accept that God might extend mercy to Israel's enemies. Jonah's mindset was not spiritual but fiercely patriotic, doubting God's faithfulness to Israel by offering the Assyrians a chance to avoid judgment. Despite Jonah's resistance, the people of Nineveh responded to his message with remarkable repentance, a mass turning to God that stands as a miracle. Hundreds of thousands humbled themselves through fasting and presumably prayer, actions Jonah himself avoided until forced by dire circumstances. These Gentiles, whom Jonah despised and saw as spiritually worthless, proved more responsive to God than Jonah, a prophet of Israel, highlighting the shameful state of Israelite resistance to God's will. Jonah's reaction to Nineveh's repentance reveals the depth of his discord with God. He viewed God's compassionate sparing of Nineveh as a great evil, accusing God of wickedness for showing mercy to Gentiles. His rage and insane thinking placed him at odds with God's intrinsic nature of compassion and forgiveness, unable to fathom why God would save Israel's enemies. God's response to Jonah's anger over Nineveh's salvation is mild, questioning whether Jonah's fury is justified. Through various means, God demonstrates His sovereignty over all people, including the Assyrians, affirming that He acts according to His character for whomever He wills. God's test and rebuke aim to arouse concern in Jonah for those in need of His help, though Jonah shows compassion only for personal benefits, lacking empathy for the vast population of Nineveh and their livestock.

The story of Jonah illustrates a man who, though nominally obedient, struggles to fully surrender to God's rule, particularly in relation to Nineveh. When God commands Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, he complies on the second instruction, delivering God's message to them. However, when Nineveh repents in response to God's Word through Jonah, he becomes angry, unable to accept circumstances that differ from his expectations. His obedience is evident in following orders, but his lack of surrender to God's will is clear as he despairs over outcomes not aligning with his desires.

Among the Minor Prophets, the story of Nineveh emerges as a significant theme, reflecting God's judgment and mercy. Jonah narrates the account of God's judgment on Assyria, where the people of Nineveh, unlike the Edomites, repent in response to the warning. However, Nahum's opening poetry later confirms that, despite this earlier repentance, Nineveh will soon fall to Babylon, underscoring the inevitability of divine wrath when repentance is not sustained.