Jonah - an observation

by Jeff Duncan

I’ve been reading the book of Jonah again.  Whenever I read it I feel the need to write something about it.  However, when I do, I get about ½ way in and then get stumped on how to word it, and never finish.

Well – here goes attempt #37.  Since you’re reading this, you know that I finished.  However, the quality remains in question.

The book of Jonah, as you may or may not know, is the story of . . . well - Jonah, a Hebrew prophet who is told by God to go to the city of Nineveh (in present day Iraq) and warn the Ninevites of the coming destruction as punishment for their wicked ways.

Since the Ninevites are the sworn enemies of the Israelites, Jonah refuses and sets sail for Tarshish, which lies in the opposite direction.  In an attempt to get Jonah’s attention, God sends a storm that threatens to destroy the ship.  The sailors eventually throw Jonah over the side, where he is swallowed up and spends three days in the belly of a large fish.

Jonah finally relents, repents, and vows to go to Nineveh.  The fish vomits Jonah onto dry land (yes, the Bible actually says “vomit” - cool! – except for the New Living Translation which simply says “spit” – bummer).

After a shower (okay, the Bible doesn’t say that, but after 3 days inside a fish’s belly, and being covered in fish vomit, there’s a good chance you would want a shower), Jonah goes to Nineveh and warns the people of the coming destruction, and then finds a place east of the city to watch the show as fire falls from the sky.  One problem . . . the Ninevites take Jonah seriously.  They repent of their evil ways and God spares them from destruction.

Upon realizing that there will be no firestorm, Jonah is outraged!  He is so angry that he actually says to God, “take away my life!”  Can you imagine arguing with God because you thought He should’ve wiped out 120,000 people, but He showed compassion on them instead?  Gutsy . . .

If you heard this story in Sunday School, as I did, the emphasis of the story was always on the forgiveness of God, and that we can also be spared destruction if we repent from our evil ways and obey His commands. 

Don’t get me wrong, being saved from destruction if a great thing – but I believe there is another lesson, which is never mentioned, to be learned from the story of Jonah.

When God spared the Ninevites, Jonah was livid!  Even though he said, “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. (Jonah 4:2)” – implying that he knew God would spare the people of Nineveh, I think Jonah was secretly hoping that the Ninevites would simply ignore him and then God would wipe out his hated enemies, while Jonah enjoyed the show from a court-side seat.

Do we sometimes do this?  Of course, this can be applied to our faith/spiritual life, as we see someone struggle with their demons.  We know that there is a way out, but we say nothing – allowing them to sink further and further into despair.  But – this also applies to our personal and professional lives. 

Do we ever conveniently “forget” to give someone a vital piece of information in hopes of seeing them fail?  This is especially easy if it’s someone we don’t particularly care for.  Perhaps this is someone you would just as soon see fired or transferred.  Maybe you’re in competition with them for the boss’s favor.

Or maybe, we give the information once, fully knowing they don’t get it, and then tell ourselves, “bah, he/she’s too stupid to get it anyway.  Why bother wasting my time to set them straight?”

That is just plain wrong – and it’s MEAN too!  In bringing this up – am I scolding you?  Perhaps.  Am I scolding me?  Absolutely.  I know that I am guilty of dismissing someone as being too stupid, or simply not being worth my effort.  Looking back, how sad that I . . . that we, would take such a terrible attitude and course of action. 

Everyone, even if we disagree with them, or just plain don’t like them, is worthy of our time, respect and effort.  On a religious note, each one (even the surly ones) is a creation of God, thus making them valuable – whether we’d like to think so or not (yeah, that’s a tough one to remember sometimes, isn’t it?).

I think this is the underlying lesson in the book of Jonah.  Rather than sitting on the sidelines, watching someone self destruct – get in there!  Rather than delighting in their failure, show a little compassion and give your full effort to help them succeed, and – while you’re at it - help them believe that they can do it.  You might just see a miracle, right before your eyes.

There, that’s all I got.  It’s not perfect, but I finally finished it.  Thanks for reading.