Jonah in North Korea

2013-03-10

I recently reread the book of Jonah (in the Bible). Jonah eventually explains that he originally refused to deliver his message to Nineveh because, if he did, there was a chance that the Ninevites would listen, change their ways, and thus escape the wrath of God. I think the best modern parallel is probably to North Korea, although the Assyrians were a lot nastier.

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Pyongyang, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, "Yet forty days, and North Korea shall be overthrown."

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Historically, the Assyrian empire was a pretty horribly place afterwards too, perhaps best described by their belief that everyone you killed when conquering a nation was one person who couldn't rebel later. You can sort of see why Jonah might have wanted to get rid of them.

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