Jonah.....what can we say?

If your understanding of this Old Testament story (actually the story is the entire book of Jonah) begins and ends with a whale, then you've got the drama but missed the point.

Jonah was called by God to be a prophet.  To Ninevah.  His arch enemies. 
Jonah didn't like the call; didn't want to preach repentance to Ninevah.  So he took a ship in the opposite direction. (to Tarsus)

That didn't work out so well and ended up with him first in the belly of a whale and then vomited (literal translation) onto the beach.  This brings us to chapter 3 (our lesson for Sunday) and the story begins again.

God calls Jonah.  Sends him to Ninevah to preach repentance.  Jonah is no happier now than he was in the beginning but perhaps sees the uselessness of resisting.

Now you are ready for Important Point #1 from the story of Jonah.  Resist all you want, God will stay the course.  Our plans are not God's plans and in the end, God will proceed as God sees fit.

What I love about the story of Jonah is my ability to hear my own voice coming from Jonah's mouth.  Really?  You want me to work hard to bring the people of Ninevah to repentance and life in you, O God?  Substitute any person or peoples that  have caused you pain, are historically repulsive to you/your family/your tribe/your nation and then you will get a glimpse at what Jonah was thinking.  And I do the same thing.....instead of following God's direction, I buy a ticket for a ship sailing in exactly the opposite direction.

I am not alone in this; it is the nature of sin.  Sin is our desire to go our own direction, in our own time, for our own purposes without reference to God's desire and love and will.  There are many who will take that ship to Tarsus and never ever look back; never turn their ears to listen again for God's voice; never agree to do the Lord's work.  They will sail off into the sunset, turning their backs to God and God's plan for the world.

We know these people.  On a bad day, we are these people.  In time they have sailed so far away from God they can no longer hear God's voice.

Some people, even when they have caught a ride to Tarsus, never truly turn off their ability to hear God.  Jonah was one of these.  His relationship with God continued - notice in chapter 2 how he is busy praying to God and offering up his worship.  When he is thrown up onto the beach and God calls again, it is time for Jonah to re-consider his position and God's command to go to Ninevah.

The argument between Jonah and God is not over.  Jonah has not turned into some perfectly obedient servant of God.  There are still lessons to learn before this story is over in a few chapters.  Lessons about Jonah (the reluctant prophet? the common believer?) and lessons about God.  But that is a tale for another day.

Listen to the Lord while he may be found.  Turn your heart towards his voice, his calling, his plan. 
Blessings