Today in class we discussed some minor Northern Prophets (after a Midterm which I'm none to proud of, but I'll get the grade I need, not want) and we talked about Jonah. Most people know about the story of Jonah and the Whale (or have at least heard about it), but it turns out that the story isn't about a whale at all. Moby Dick was a about a whale, but the story of Jonah is no more about a whale than Pinocchio was about a whale. Yea there was a "Great fish" in it (i.e. whale), but he plays a supporting role.
Today in class, I came to a conclusion about Jonah: He's a self-centered, melodramatic a-hole. Yet he was a prophet? I was thinking to myself "Really God? You chose THIS guy?" Here's what Jonah does:
1) Flees after God tells him to go to Ninevah (the capital of the Assyrian Empire) because he wants to see Ninevah destroyed. He knows that if he goes and tells them what God wants to tell them, God would spare them, because "[God is] a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." (Jonah 4:2 NIV)
2)Refuses to pray for the people on the ship as they are caught in a tumultuous storm, even though he is asked to. Rather he tries to go to sleep! They know he is the cause of their troubles (because he told them he was fleeing from God). Ironically, Jonah admits correctly that God is the "Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land", yet still tries to escape God on the water. He tells them to cast him overboard and the storm will stop, but the sailors did not want to kill an innocent man of God! They show more fear of the Lord than Jonah does! They pray to the Lord God, of whom Jonah has told them His name, and throw Jonah overboard and the sea stops. They marvel at God's power, offered to Him a sacrifice and made vows to Him that day. They were converted, no thanks to Jonah! This is only a microcosm of what is to happen in Ninevah.
3) Jonah is dumped overboard, and being like most Jewish men at the time, couldn't swim and sank like a rock. That's where the whale comes in to save Jonah. Jonah realizes God has saved him and prays (finally), however it is the most 1st person prayer I've seen in the Bible. Lots of I's, me's, and my's. A little self centered again,but the theology behind the prayer is solid. It cross references a lot of scripture. Jonah really knows what he's talking about.
4)After being spit out by the whale, Jonah finally goes to Ninevah. He says eight words to them "Forty more days and Ninevah will be overturned!" and then goes up to the nearest hilltop outside the city to watch what will happen to it. Had it been invented, I get the feeling he would've had a tub of popcorn and some candy to watch God destroy the city. However the people of Ninevah repent! saying "Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." Again, an entire city repents, with really no thanks to Jonah, and God has compassion on them and did not send destruction.
Jonah is furious. He wanted to see them gone, more than likely because they were a threat to Israel's borders. They were his enemies. He wanted to see Divine Justice! It is interesting to note that Jonah 4: 5-11 occur out of chronological order and are placed there for literary effect. While Jonah was waiting to see what would happen to Ninevah, popcorn in hand, God raised up a vine to give him shade (It is a blazing hot day, temperatures probably in the 100s). Jonah is very happy about the vine. Actually, this is the first and only time you'll see him happy in this story. They day after God sends a worm to chew up the vine so that it withers, and Jonah is angry again, saying "It would be better for me to die than to live" (Jonah 4:8 NIV) A little dramatic, right?
Dr. Kaminski says that this is probably the hardest book in the OT, because God is not happy with Jonah despite his obedience to Him! The reason why is that Jonah has more compassion about this vine perishing, which he did not plant or labor to grow, than the entire city of Ninevah perishing. To quote YHWH, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Ninevah has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people in it who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" I think it's kind of funny that God includes the cattle. I think he's saying "Look, if you don't care about the people, at least care about the cows!" as livestock and land were the measure of someone's wealth.
Interesting how Jonah didn't really do anything, but God still carried out His plans. Jonah's ineffectiveness only highlights God's effectiveness. Jonah's lack of compassion heightens God's compassion. Jonah cares more about things that effect his level of comfort than God's people, and so do I. Honestly, if my car broke down, and at the same time I learned that my neighbor was sick, my car problem would make me more upset every time.
You know I may have been a little extreme in calling Jonah an a-hole, but really it goes to show you God doesn't pick favorites. It's the non-Hebrews in the book of Jonah that demonstrate faith. Ill say it, that God doesn't like Christians any better than Non-Christians. Obedience doesn't seem to be the whole picture. Makes you think doesn't it?
Then why choose Christ? It's about whether or not you want a relationship with God, most compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In looking at the story of Israel, God uses some of the most unlikely people to carry out his plans. Abraham worshiped other gods when God called him. The wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel) were all barren, yet had many children anyway. Jacob was a deceiver, lying to get his brother's inheritance. Moses had a speech impediment and was a murderer. King David slept with another man's wife and had him killed to cover it up and marry her. Solomon had many foreign wives and worshiped their gods. Their offenses according to Law would mean death, yet God did not kill them!
The Old Testament is full of perfectly normal people trying to follow a perfectly Holy God... These are their stories! I totally see myself in them, and that's what makes me so excited to read about people I can relate to. That's what makes the Bible "real" to me... because it's down to Earth (sort of like Jesus.. literally came down to earth!) Come on, were you really not expecting any puns in this one? Get real :)
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