The book of Jonah is very short. There are only 4 chapters. As a story, it can be interpreted in many different levels. Some see Jonah as a narrow-minded self-righteous Hebrew prophet whom God had taught a lesson to show His great mercy for all peoples. Some are eager to see Jonah as a prototype of Jesus for his willingness to sacrifice himself to save all the passengers on the ship, for his staying in the belly of the big fish for 3 days and 3 nights etc.
The first interpretation is reached only as we approach the end of the story in chapter 4. At the beginning of the story, we are not told why Jonah did not want to respond to the call of God.
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:1-3).
Only when we reach chapter 4 shall we know that Jonah was not happy to see evil people being forgiven. But who can find fault with a Hebrew who has been brought up in an ethical environment in which the wicked are punished and the righteous rewarded?
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:1-3).
Only when we reach chapter 4 shall we know that Jonah was not happy to see evil people being forgiven. But who can find fault with a Hebrew who has been brought up in an ethical environment in which the wicked are punished and the righteous rewarded?
Chapter 1 paints a nearly perfect believer of God. You cannot find fault with Jonah except for his disobedience to God's call.
Jonah's action was difficult to comprehend. Where could he escape to stay away from the God of heaven, the Maker of the sea and the land? He himself implicitly admitted so when asked by the passengers of the ship. Yet, he tried to run away from the presence of the Lord!
And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." (Jonah 1:9)
His actions in the ship were admirable. When everybody was in panic, he stayed calm and peaceful. He even went down to the inner part of the ship and was fast asleep (Jonah 1:5). When the passengers cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm, Jonah did not evade responsibility. He did not hesitate to sacrifice himself to save the other innocent passengers. These two actions showed that Jonah was a righteous and fervent believer in the Lord. His behaviour was exemplary except for his disobedience to God's call.
Jonah's action was difficult to comprehend. Where could he escape to stay away from the God of heaven, the Maker of the sea and the land? He himself implicitly admitted so when asked by the passengers of the ship. Yet, he tried to run away from the presence of the Lord!
And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." (Jonah 1:9)
His actions in the ship were admirable. When everybody was in panic, he stayed calm and peaceful. He even went down to the inner part of the ship and was fast asleep (Jonah 1:5). When the passengers cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm, Jonah did not evade responsibility. He did not hesitate to sacrifice himself to save the other innocent passengers. These two actions showed that Jonah was a righteous and fervent believer in the Lord. His behaviour was exemplary except for his disobedience to God's call.
This question of freedom bothers me. In the story of Jonah, we see a God who controls everything. Jonah was forced to do good. When Jonah fled, God stirred up a storm and sent a fish to carry him to his destination. I am sympathetic about the resentment of Jonah. True, God wants to teach Jonah a lesson and when you teach, you do not allow your student to run away, do you? Yet, what merits are there if the goodness is done under duress? Jonah was true to himself, his character when he fled. He should have known that there was nowhere to hide from God. Therefore, his fleeing was probably a gesture. He did not panic. Nor had he a guilty conscience. He was peaceful enough to go to sleep.
But Jonah had been lucky because in most cases when we disobey God, many innocent people would be harmed. Jonah's was an ideal case to teach a moral lesson --- God is merciful to all sinners, including Jonah.
These days, I always ask myself this question. While choosing God is not a free choice but not choosing God is, is there any free choice, that is not choosing God, with good outcomes? Am I too philosophical? In real life situation, does such a choice exist? Will somebody answer me?
But Jonah had been lucky because in most cases when we disobey God, many innocent people would be harmed. Jonah's was an ideal case to teach a moral lesson --- God is merciful to all sinners, including Jonah.
These days, I always ask myself this question. While choosing God is not a free choice but not choosing God is, is there any free choice, that is not choosing God, with good outcomes? Am I too philosophical? In real life situation, does such a choice exist? Will somebody answer me?
Dear Lord, I have probably stayed too long with my brain. My spirituality is still very shallow. I need to dive deeper into my heart. Help me. Lord. Amen.
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