Stroll through Scripture for November 10, 2024

Based on Jonah 1:1-17; 3:1-10; 4:1-11

Jonah is a part of the prophetic books of Scripture.  And the reality is that the book is a parable designed to teach a lesson.  The author uses hyperbole and over the top language to make their point.  And what is that point?  That God’s love and mercy knows no bounds.  

Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria, an enemy of Israel.  In fact, the Assyrians would end up conquering the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, thus ending the kingdom.  The whole notion that someone from Israel would go to a sworn enemy’s capitol, tell them to repent, and watch them receive forgiveness is over the top, but again, that’s the point.  God is a God who does things that make no sense.  God isn’t fair, and we should be grateful for that not only because it benefits us directly, but everyone.  

We’re told that Jonah is the son of Amittai.  The name Amittai is Hebrew for “truthful.”  Jonah’s whole mission from God is to tell the truth to the Assyrian capitol and leadership and people.  That’s what prophets do – they proclaim God’s truth.  

Jonah doesn’t like what God is calling on him to do because he knows that if he goes to this arch-enemy and tells them to repent and they do it, then God will offer forgiveness to them. Jonah doesn’t want that.  Jonah doesn’t want his enemy to receive grace.  Jonah doesn’t want there to be well-being for his enemy.  Jonah could easily fit into the political context of 21^st century America with that kind of attitude.  

Jonah decides he is going to run away from God and the mission that God has for him.  He gets on a boat headed to Tarshish, which would be in the area around modern day Spain – as far away from Nineveh as one could possibly go.  And while the world isn’t big enough for Jonah to escape God, God is big enough to find Jonah and “correct” his travels.  

We hear about Jonah being swallowed in the large fish.  There are many thoughts on what this is about.  Jesus is recorded as talking about Jonah and the fish in Matthew 12:38-42.  He uses the story as a precursor to what will happen to himself – die and be in a tomb for three days.  And at the end of three days, be resurrected to proclaim God’s grace and forgiveness to people.  

When Jonah finally does obey God and proclaims a message of repentance, the people and leadership of Nineveh take it seriously.  God relents on the planned destruction.  And Jonah is angry at God as a result.  God reminds Jonah that nothing belongs to Jonah – that it is all God’s.  

There are so many lessons in the book of Jonah.  As I sit and write this before the 2024 election, I can’t help but think how this book’s message still applies, even in our context, which is far different than the original context.   Maybe that’s because humanity hasn’t changed all that much in thousands of years.  Humanity still struggles to see something good, actually good, happen to our enemies.  God, though, sees humanity differently, and thankfully has a different way of dealing with us – boundless grace and forgiveness, especially on those that don’t deserve it.  Which by the way, includes all of us.  

Questions for reflection:

• Why is it so hard to want something good to happen to our enemies?  How do we benefit from making our enemies suffer?  
• What message does the book of Jonah have for us today, here in America, a nation very divided?