reflections on the story of jonah:

last week I took some students out to camp, and the speaker spoke on the story of jonah. it reminded me again of how fascinating the story is. I found myself getting lost in my own thoughts, questions, and ideas about the story. it also left me with a few giggles because of how pouty jonah is, along with how sarcastic God is with jonah's attitude.

I wrote some similar thoughts years ago here.

I also made a fun diorama for my plant here. 

first- a recap of the story. jonah is a prophet. it is his job to give people God's message. God told jonah to preach against the great assyrian city of Ninevah- and in the first twist of the story, jonah refuses. he apparently hated the ninevites. there is historical speculation for why he hates them, but the bible doesn't spell it out. so- in an act of defiance, Jonah goes in the opposite direction of ninevah- far, far away to tarshsish. while he was sailing, there was a violent storm, and the sailors began to cry out to their gods searching for direction and help. their gods didn't answer. jonah knew what the problem was- he and his rebellion were the problem. so he tells the sailors to toss him into the ocean and they do- and the sea becomes calm. what happens next is straight of out my nightmares. he begins to sink to the bottom of the sea, and as he is sinking, he is swallowed by a "great fish." three days later, the fish vomits jonah onto dry ground and he eventually delivers his message to ninevah.

now for some questions, ideas and commentary:

our speaker did a great job of talking about running from God- and how we can't run from God and how He pursues us with loyal love. I agree with that, and love that about God; however, I don't think that is what is happening in this story. I think that God had a job for Jonah, and He was going to accomplish that job whether Jonah had a good attitude or not.

God was not chasing Jonah out of love for Jonah, but out of love for the Ninevites.

God loves the people we hate.

God loves despicable people.

God's love is bigger- much, much bigger than ours. it isn't based on merit, or deeds; its based on who HE is and what HE is like.

the speaker said that the hebrews didn't have a word for whale, so the fish might have been a whale. that may be true; but the hebrews had words for lots of ocean animals, and this animal was purposefully called a fish. let's just say it was a fish.

here are some questions about this fish: what kind of fish is big enough to swallow a grown man? what kind of fish has a body that can keep a man alive for 3 days without digesting him? this fish had air inside of him- enough for a man to breathe for 3 days without drowning. I think it was some kind of prehistoric/ mutant fish. it was one of a kind. in order for this fish to be big enough, it must have been very, very old- maybe 50 years old? if it was a whale it could have been much younger. either way, I believe that God made this fish specifically for preserving and transporting jonah- and that God created the fish years and years before jonah landed in the water. but the moment he fell in, the fish was ready for him- God had prepared it for that role years and years before it happened. and God brought the fish right to where jonah was.

while jonah was in the fish, he prayed and repented. the fish was more obedient to God than jonah was! the fish showed up to the exact right spot, at the exact right time, and then it vomited jonah onto a beach- right where God wanted it to.

our speaker talked about how the fish saved jonah from death and how Christ saves us who believe in Him. and again, that is true, but I dont think that is what is happening in the story. I think the fish is doing more to retrieve jonah than to rescue him. again- God sent the fish more out of love for the ninevites than out of love for jonah. I think that the fish served as a living submarine- transporting jonah from one place to another, and under water.

jonah thought he had out-smarted God. there was no way that God could bring him all the way from tarshish to ninevah before His wrath would be poured out on the city. but in reality, God was able to do something that had never been done before: he transported a man across the sea, under the water- like a modern day submarine. things that we think are impossible are nothing to God. I think that keeping jonah inside of a fish for three days was just part of God's disinterest in jonah's comfort.

jonah did go to the city. he gave a short, uninspired message and then left town. and then the entire city repented. we often think that God only uses us in the areas that we are passionate about. or in the areas that we are talented in. jonah had zero passion for ninevah, and he used zero skill in preaching to them; yet God used him mightily. we often say it- but this story illustrates it- its God's message- we just deliver it. God can use any skill level to reach people. He even uses bad attitudes to reach people. He works in spite of our weaknesses; in site of our attitudes, in spite of our lack of preparation; in spite of our prejudice and foolishness. 

after his message, jonah waited to see if God would destroy the city, but He did not; because the people had repented. and this made jonah furious.

he essentially says to God, "I knew You would do this! You are so loving, and so forgiving that it makes me angry!" Jonah didn't want to preach to ninevah, because he hated them, and he knew that if they just had the chance to hear God's message, that God would change their hearts and show mercy on them. 

He seemed to know God better than anyone- yet his knowledge didn't make him any more obedient or loving.

I love this conversation between God and Jonah on jonah 4:

Jonah shouts at God:  “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

(I feel like God must be up in heaven saying this to me on a daily basis. "are you sure you have a right to be upset with me/ this situation?")

"Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.  But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.  When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

(I think this is hilarious. who talks to God like this? and God is so gentle and gracious with him. in other parts of the bible, God thunders and those who rebel against Him- but here He is listening to jonah pout about a plant. He listenes to jonah talk about wanting to die, even though God has gone to great lengths to keep jonah alive.)

"But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

God says to jonah- "you're concerned about your plant- but I'm concerned about people.
get some perspective, kid."

that's a message that we all need to hear.

at the camp, the speaker asked the question, "what is YOUR ninevah? who are the people that you don't want to see given grace? what are the tasks you DON'T want to do? where are the places you DON'T want to go?" and his point was- the people that you hate are the people that God loves. and He may end up choosing YOU to be His ambassador to them.

in this day and age- wouldn't it be incredible if our modern day prophets went to love those they have claimed to hate?

if God calls, make sure you answer- otherwise you may end up seeing the inside of a fish.

God is love.
rev-rob