Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God
This is the most amazing statement in the Book of Jonah and nobody ever speaks out against it. Think about it — the entire city of Nineveh repented and believed in God! But this sentence never seems to make an impression on people like Jonah being swallowed by the whale. The swallowing of a small man by a big fish is only a matter of size: the man has to be small enough and the fish has to be big enough and the job is complete.
But for that man, Jonah, to walk into a city like Syracuse, NY, and preach repentence and belief in God is some achievement! Even if Jonah went into a small town like Pulaski and everyone repented and turned toward God would be wonderful! And it could happen, through the power of God.
But why do not people question that? Instead they focus on the whale. We need to focus on what God did through Jonah and what can happen when we are obedient to God.