For some reason, I’ve always related to Jonah. Maybe because he’s one of the most overdramatic characters in the Bible, perhaps because of that VeggieTales movie, but I have a theory that everybody relates to Jonah at some point in their lives. We are all exceptionally talented at running away from things (sometimes unconsciously) and sometimes it takes major events to refocus us. (For me, this was breaking my foot. I didn’t want to move to Pittsburgh and was planning to stay in Nashville, no matter how destitute I might be or compromises I would have to make. I’m stubborn; I thought my plan would be sustainable enough solely on that personality trait alone. But then I broke my right foot and now voila, I’m here in a state where there is literally snow on the ground during the end of March. What.)
Needless to say, I’ve been thinking and reading a lot of Jonah lately (this will most likely NOT be the last post I write about him.) For being a book with only four chapters, it’s packed with so many motifs, themes, and little nuggets of wisdom–basically it’s like the Great Gatsby of the Bible (oh gosh, what an interesting parallel analysis that would be.) I’m currently going through Priscilla Shirer’s study on Jonah, “Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted,” and been learning even MORE about Jonah. I’m preparing myself to be basically an expert on him.
This morning I realized I’ve been misinterpreting the entire tone of the story.
The Book of Jonah is not just about a guy running away from the Presence of God and the calling on his life. Despite being the title character, Jonah is just a minor player in the story. The real purpose and meaning to glean from the four chapters of Jonah is one illustration after the next of all God does to rescue and save the lost, like in the parable of the shepherd’s one lost sheep in Luke 15.
Yes, Jonah is a book that can be used to understand calling & God’s purposes for us, but sometimes even though the story is titled “Jonah” or “Kelsy,” we’re just actually tiny parts in the big story. Kind of like in a vignette sitcom like “Modern Family”: There might be three different little scenes going on, but at the end with the voiceover, you learn that they all have the same theme.
I think you can interpret the book of Jonah in two ways:
1) Jonah-centric: Jonah ran away, Jonah was swallowed by a fish, Jonah got to his senses and preached, (the people were saved), Jonah was mad.
This guy was used and changed by God. His life was divinely interrupted and proves as a character study of how stubbornness, fear, and pride mix together. I think Jonah and I would’ve definitely be friends. We tend to be a little hyperbolic and lacking understanding of grace. I wonder what happened to him–I always kind of assumed he died of heat stroke & stubbornness, but I don’t think God was done with Jonah.
2) Grace-centric: God uses remarkable events to save the lost–a raging storm, a big old fish, possible city destruction, an overdramatic prophet.
Which is amazing. So all the “Jonah moments” we might be facing are not just about us, but used for others! God is so merciful. Jonah 3 tells us that basically as soon as Jonah finally makes it to Nineveh to tell them to repent, EVERYONE (even the animals–which, can you imagine like a camel in mourning garments?) went into mourning & repented. And then God saved them! And the sailors Jonah was riding with during the storm not only repented and started worshipping the Lord, but vowed to serve Him. What Jonah saw as terrible luck, others around him saw as finding redemption and salvation!
My high school Bible teacher would literally brag about how there’s more mentions of God’s wrath & judgement in the Bible than His love and grace. (He’s now a pastor, yikes.) If I could talk to him now, I would ask him to read Jonah again. God is abounding in love and mercy for not just Israel, but their enemies. And God is so compassionate to us too, the ones He uses to show others Himself. Jonah was pretty ticked that God didn’t just smite everyone in Nineveh there & then. The last verse of the chapter 4, God gently teaches Jonah the depths of his mercy: “But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
If you’re in a Jonah season of life, maybe try to step outside of yourself for a moment and ask God to give you a greater understanding of what He is up to. I’m sure no matter what, it’s something big.
(Gosh, there is so much that could be written about the book of Jonah. Maybe more next time. Also I can’t stop thinking about a literary comparison of Jonah and The Great Gatsby now.)
