Jonah Revisited

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the Book of Jonah this week. At first, it doesn't seem like much; only four short chapters. To add to the book's mystique, we traditionally classify Jonah among the prophets, though Jonah really isn't much of a prophet. There's none of the long poetry and lengthy condemnations that typify prophecy. In fact, the only prophecy he utters—if we can call it that—is, "Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." Moreover, Jonah doesn't go out and do his reluctant task until told to do so a second time. Woo-hoo!

So what's up with this mysterious book then? The key to it all is the city of Nineveh itself. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the most vicious, violent bloodthirsty empire of its day. The people of Israel hated them with good reason: they had a well-earned reputation for sadistic barbarism and cruelty. Small wonder then, that Jonah had his reservations; in his eyes, these people were entirely beyond redemption and undeserving of any compassion at all. God wanted Jonah to preach to them?

Well yes, God wanted Jonah to preach to them. After he does as instructed, Jonah is further frustrated by God because Nineveh actually repents. This isn't in Jonah's playbook; it's not the way things are supposed to be at all. The way things are supposed to be is that God will smite those evil Ninevites down and destroy them for their wickedness. And, as the book winds to its close, Jonah is further chastised by God for having more concern for his lack of comfort under a tree than for the people to whom he's just preached.

There's a lesson for all ages in that. In Sunday School, I was taught that Jonah's disobedience landed him in the belly of the whale, that his prayer got him free and his obedience was what won the day. As I've gotten older, I see it differently.

The Ninevites, who aren't even bound by Jewish law are offered God's compassion but there's more. Jonah, who we presume is a strict follower of the Law, is using his righteousness as a fence to keep others out. In other words, he is using his righteousness to validate his deep-seated prejudices. The real moral of the story is that God is compassionate and patient enough to save anyone who repents, but here we have to understand the term "repent." 

Taken from the Greek, the term simply implies "take a different look," or, "turn around." Yes, it can mean "turn from unrighteousness," but it can just as easily mean "change your attitude," or, "open your mind."  It all depends on context, but the point is that "repent" signifies change and so, indicates change for all the characters in the story; the Ninevites, Jonah and yes, even God!

Some may have trouble with the idea of a God who changes, but consider that, according to the strictest interpretation of the Law, the Ninevites did deserve to perish. But in this instance, God has compassion for God's creation, regardless of what deity they follow. Looks as though God did change God's mind and offered the same opportunity to his reluctant prophet as well as to the Ninevites. 

What this says to me is that there is no such thing as a person outside of God's, mercy, love and compassion ... no matter what prejudices I may have, no matter what "clobber verses" I might care to inflict on others to justify my prejudices.  Isn't God totally awesome!?