Sorry,I've had too much homework to write.
Here is an essay for you to enjoy:
The story of Jonah seems always to be the fun “Sunday School” lesson about some amazing fish and some silly prophet who was disobedient and also some place called Nineveh that needs to have a change of heart. What they neglected to tell me in those primary years is that Jonah was a silly ridiculous prophet, so that when I finally read the story for myself as young teenager I could not figure out what all the complaining at the end of the book was all about. I thought for sure when Jonah was spit up and Nineveh repented that the story ended happily ever after. Well, it turns out at least temporarily it ended happily ever after for Nineveh, but for Jonah, he was just a flat out complainer. So, what on earth can we learn or not learn from Jonah?
First we learn that it is best to be obedient the first time God asks us to. This is the part of the story that is taught incredibly well in most “Sunday School” classrooms. Jonah is told by Yahweh to go to Nineveh; instead he goes the opposite way via ship to Tarshish. It is while he is napping on this trip that the ship is caught up in a powerful storm. The crew tries praying to their gods, they throw cargo overboard, but they finally have to throw in Jonah, for that is what he said to do and that is how the lots fell. The crew made sure to send up a prayer of death prevention so that they do not get blamed for Jonah’s death, they make sure Yahweh is aware that they do not want to do this. When they finally throw Jonah overboard the storm subsides and the crew offers sacrifices to Yahweh (1:16). If the crew had tossed Jonah overboard in the first place the storm would have stopped sooner. If Jonah was not “running” away from God, there would not have been a storm. Also, Jonah could have gotten to Nineveh by more pleasant means, instead of inside the belly of a fish, that is, if he was not running from God. It is as simply as be obedient.
Second we learn that just because we give a prayer of thanksgiving it does not mean that we have had a permanent change of heart or attitude. Read Jonah 2 and see the beautiful praise Jonah gives Yahweh for the salvation of his own life. Toward the end of his prayer Jonah tells Yahweh in contrast to “Those who cling to worthless idols” that, “I with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you” (Jonah 2:8a,9a). But, when it comes to the salvation of an entire nation, even the cows, Jonah is disgusted with Yahweh. After this prayer is said Jonah goes to Nineveh, proclaims their impending doom, they repent, and he leaves to sulk. Jonah is actually upset that Yahweh would treat Nineveh with the kindness that, in Jonah’s mind, is only Israel’s. He knew it would happen because Yahweh is gracious and compassionate (4:2). Jonah tells Yahweh about those characteristics as though they are bad. The point is, although Jonah seems to have a change of heart in the stomach of a fish, Jonah 2:9; he has a terrible attitude and wants to die when Yahweh does what He set out to do (4:3). How often is it that we, as Christians, are glad to serve God when He has given us life, but when He seems not to be doing things our way, when He is blessing our enemy we just want to die, or at least we throw a fit. It is not right, it can be seen as plain as day that Jonah is abusing Yahweh, something we must not do.
Third, we learn that God works despite those He attempts to work through. On the ship bound for Tarshish, the crew appears to have a revival service as they offer Yahweh vows and sacrifices (1:16). This turn of character can in no way be credited to Jonah, he was being disobedient and while the storm was happening he was dozing. Despite this, the sailors could see that God rules over the sea, for when they tossed Jonah overboard, the storm calmed. This must have been proof enough for them that Yahweh is the true God. Then in Nineveh the people not only get to hear a warning; they repent of their sins. All of this in spite of the fact that Jonah had no intention of going to Nineveh.
Here we see the amazing love and grace God has for all people. Not just Israel but their terrible enemy as well. It would be like if God were to send a Christian out to warn the armies of the Taliban that they are facing hell, which is not ridiculous. This must have been similar to Jonah being asked to go warn the people of Nineveh of their possible sad ending for Nineveh was an enemy nation of Israel. God loved those people enough to get Jonah there against his best efforts to stay away, and then He listens to Nineveh’s plea for mercy, and on top of all that He gives that mercy to them. God has a slightly different view on justice than we might. It is only fair that Nineveh gets a warning, but Jonah must not have thought so. For the most part Jonah would be a poor biblical character to take after.
The funny thing is, if I take a moment and reflect on my own Christian journey it seems that I am often on a ship in the middle of a storm heading to Tarshish, and although I breath a relief prayer of thanksgiving in the whale, I turn around and throw a great big tantrum for Yahweh, thankfully He endures beyond what I could ever imagine. All that to say, when anyone, me included, reads Jonah they can see how messed up he is. So, why is it that I cannot see that I, myself, am behaving like the ridiculous prophet, Jonah? My journey has to change course, and my attitude must stay that course, not turn around and throw a tantrum.
Labels: Jonah, silly
