In our Bible study tonight, we looked at the book of Jonah, an unusual prophetic book which is referenced by Jesus to the extent that Jonah’s experience in the great fish (NOT a whale!) is likened to His death and resurrection (see Matt 12:38-41). We all know about Jonah’s rebellion against God (choosing to go to Tarshish instead of Nineveh, and ending up being thrown overboard when a storm arose which threatened the lives of all on board the ship), but the fact that he slept through the storm reminds us of Jesus (Mark 4:35-41) and is a reminder also that however much he may have disobeyed God, he was a man of great faith. In Jonah 2, we see how he comes to the end of himself and calls out to God in repentance, and how God gave him a second chance. (Jonah 3:1)
Second chances… the mercy of God to both Jonah and the Ninevites… the fact that there is nowhere we can run to where God cannot find us are all themes found in this book. Some have doubted the veracity of the book (how could a man remain alive after three days and three nights in a fish?!), but we have to admit that God is able to work in ways that are beyond our understanding. Perhaps what is even more incredible is the response of the Ninevites (who actually listened to God’s message through Jonah and repented, quite unlike the typical Israelite response to prophetic messages) and Jonah’s subsequent anger and frustration at God. He would rather Nineveh have perished than experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, a timely reminder to us all that grace and compassion are undeserved and must never become something we feel are exclusively ours.
Jonah reminds us of God’s forgiveness, love, mercy, faithfulness and tenacity. It’s pointless trying to run from Him; it’s pointless trying to live self-centred lives. Only as we obey God and do His will (however odd that may seem to us) can we find fulfilment.
