Every time I read these verses I am drawn to Jesus' story of the prodigal son. For the first 3 chapters Jonah is more like the prodigal son, but here he becomes the older brother. He is apalled by the Father's graciousness and mercy. He's mad at God because God is too nice.
In a few verses we will be upset at the lack of resolution to the story, but even that reminds me of Jesus parable! I have to wonder if Jesus didn't have Jonah in mind when He told that story 750 years later.
Jonah has become a type of Israel (and now I would say the Church). His character has played the part of a people who have been blessed and then become satisfied (read: fat and happy) and therefore quit listening to God. Jonah, like Israel, realizes he can pay his own fare, yet it is a downward passage he is buying. Finally, God sends a fish - not necessarily as judgment, but as salvation. So Jonah obeys but is indignant that God's grace would be seen outside the boundaries Jonah decided God would work in.
This reminds me of the modern day American church. We are fat and happy. We have reached a point where we can pay our own fare, but it is a journey downward. Not to get to weird, but I wonder if the current economic crisis won't become the big fish that at first seems like judgment, but in reality is our deliverance - from ourselves. I just hope we can repent and complete the circle without becoming bitter like Jonah.
In today's verses, Jonah admits that he ran to Tarshish so that God would destroy Nineveh (v. 2). Would I really run toward easy street knowing that others would suffer because of my self-centeredness? I hope I wouldn't do that...but I know I do it in small ways every day. I'm not careful with my money. I'm not mindful of my words. I'm interested in easy, not holy.
God forgive me.
Under the Mercy,
Jason
Jason
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