Hosea, Amos, and Jonah all served the Lord during the same period of time. Those were difficult days in Israel. Jeroboam II, a wicked ruler, sat on the throne. He lived long after the first Jeroboam, who led the northern kingdom into idolatry. However, this Jeroboam perpetuated all the sins of the first: “He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin” (2 Ki. 14:24). Nevertheless, God sent him at least three prophets. Each had a unique ministry, but each one gave Jeroboam an opportunity to hear from the Lord—whether a word of warning in the case of Hosea and Amos, or an undeserved blessing in the case of Jonah.

But then, since all three prophets were contemporaries, it is curious to ponder why God chose Jonah to preach to Nineveh. Why didn’t God send Hosea or Amos? Would they not have been more likely to obey immediately, going directly to Nineveh and avoiding all the problems Jonah had with the storm, the fish, the worm, and his own stubborn heart?

Perhaps so. But God often acts with multiple purposes. He wanted to do something with Jonah, but He also wanted to do something in Jonah. It was Jonah who needed to learn about God’s mercy, so Jonah received that call. As we serve God among others, let us remember that He is likely trying to teach us something as well.