The Writings of Jonah

The book of Jonah is a short story, but full of so much goodness. If we were to compare it to a vegetable, it may be an onion, because as you peel away one layer of the story, it reveals even more. 

It’s a simple story: God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, a rebellious city, and to tell the people there to repent and choose God. Jonah did not like that idea, so instead of sailing towards Nineveh, he got on a boat and went the opposite way. A storm hits, Jonah is thrown overboard and swallowed by a big fish.  Three days later he gets spit up on land and goes to Nineveh. The people of Nineveh repent and revival happens.  You’d think Jonah would be rejoicing but he pouts. He complains.  Jonah is a Jew.  The people of Nineveh are not Jews.  Jonah is angry at God for forgiving these non-Jews even after the evil they did. 

The story seems simple enough, but there is so much to it.  The story reveals how far God will go to reach people. This story isn’t just about God going to great lengths to reach the people of Nineveh.  It also shows God going to great lengths to reach Jonah and set him on the path to which God has called him.  Jonah ran, and God chased after him.  We don’t get to see God actually running behind Jonah, calling out his name, but we see God sending things to get Jonah’s attention and even protect him. When Jonah went in the opposite direction that God had asked him to go, God sent a storm to redirect him. When Jonah was tossed overboard the ship to his death, God sent a great fish to swallow him up and preserve and protect him while he was in the depths of the sea. God will go to great lengths to reach His people.

It is also encouraging to see that God doesn’t use perfect people. Just because Jonah ran away at first didn’t mean that he didn’t get to be used by God. God always gives people another chance.  The fact that Jonah ran doesn’t mean he was a bad person. He was a man who was having a hard time understanding the sovereignty of God. When we say God is sovereign, it means that He is the ultimate ruler with limitless power and unconditional love.  Humans are very limited and conditional, so it makes sense why Jonah just couldn’t understand how God would love people who didn’t love Him, respect Him, or even think of Him. 

Along with a story that happened thousands of years ago that has unusual parts to the story, there is another deeper layer to this story.  God wants His people to know His plan.  He gives them hints of His plan throughout the Old Testament.  The story of Jonah is another sign of God’s plan.  The story of Jonah tells the people of the story of Jesus. 

Consider the story:  Someone sent to save a rebellious people.  Spending 3 nights, seemingly left to die in the belly of a great fish.  Having people who didn’t know God or follow God, repent and turn to Him.  Jesus came to save not just a rebellious city, but a rebellious world. He was left to die and swallowed up in a tomb for three days, then rose on the third day. That was the true redemption and victory!  Before Jesus, God sent Jonah to be His messenger, and today, He sends us!  The story of Jonah points to Jesus so clearly that even Jesus, when He was on earth, talked about this story. The story of Jonah is like going on a treasure hunt; there’s more to it than you may think!