Jonah

Jonah

It is thought that Jonah, the fifth of the Minor Prophets, lived during the reign of Jeroboam II, when the kingdom was divided. (Lockyer, 198) Although the Book of Jonah is quite short, just two and one-half pages, it is not short on themes. Because there are so many themes it is hard to classify or to determine its primary message. (Anchor 936 and New Interpreter's 490) These themes range from running away, praying, second chances, anger, and God's compassion and mercy, to name a few. The following will provide a brief explanation of each theme, previously mention, as it relates to the Book of Jonah.

The first theme, running away and its consequences can be found in Chapter 1:1-2:1. Jonah is called by God to go to Nineveh and preach because their wickedness has become a concern to God. Jonah's name means "dove" which in turn signifies "messenger". Ammitai is Jonah's father; Ammitai means truth, which is interpreted as the son of "truth". The interpretation here is that Jonah is a messenger of God's truth. (Hor) As a prophet and "messenger of God's truth" it is Jonah's responsibility to do as God has asked, yet Jonah chooses to run away and gains passage on a ship going to Tarshish. There are many possible answers as to why he ran away, but the reason is not revealed until chapter 4:3. However, even as Jonah flees from his responsibility the presence of God surrounds him in the form of a "violent tempest" or great wind. (New Interpreter's 494) This is God's indirect way of speaking to Jonah and causes the next set of events that begin the consequence.

Frightened by the storm the sailors start to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the load. One interpretation is that the sailors were trying to lighten the ship so that it would ride higher in the sea; another interpretation is that the sailors were trying to appease the sea by offering their cargo as sacrifices. Verse 5 states that each sailor "cried to his god," which tells the reader that the sailors were pagans; therefore, the later interpretation is more likely. (New Interpreter's 496) The sailors cast lots to see whose fault it is for this situation. Using chance to find the perpetrator insinuates that it took divine intervention to single out Jonah. (New Interpreter's 498) The sailors ask Jonah who he was and where did he come from and Jonah's answer was "I am a Hebrew." He also stated "I worship the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." The sailors believe that Jonah has brought the storm to them and asks "What have you done?" and "What shall we do with you?" (New American 1011) Feeling the weight of his guilt of running away from God, Jonah tells the sailors to throw him overboard. They comply unwillingly. Now the Lord still had a mission for Jonah and so he sent a large fish to swallow him up, which is where he stayed for three days and three nights. Certainly, the safest and simplest thing Jonah could have done would have been to go to Nineveh and preach against the city; therefore, running away is never a better answer.

The second theme, prayer, occupies the majority of Chapter 2, specifically verses 3-10, the "Psalm of Thanksgiving". This is thought to have been a later addition to the story, due to the fact that Jonah had not been saved yet. (Anchor 939) However, Jonah was most likely giving thanks for being saved from drowning. It is possible that the "Psalm" might exist to indicate the incongruity of Jonah's response; after all he's a prophet that is running away from responsibility, which is not an action you would expect from a prophet. This also might explain the comedic nature of verse 11 of the fish having to "spew" him out - the word used has also been interpreted as "vomit", which is especially strong and may mean disgust. Jonah's last words in his prayer include a promise to make a sacrifice of to God and pay his vows. It is thought that Jonah can only do this in the Temple. Therefore, Jonah is ready to return to Jerusalem and make a faithful gesture of gratitude for being saved. (Anchor 940) This leads to God calling him a second time at the beginning of Chapter 3 and the next theme "Second Chances."

The third theme, second chances, is clear in the book of Jonah and really throughout the Bible, in fact maybe it would be more accurate to suggest He is a God of almost unlimited chances. Jonah received a second chance in Chapter 2 and the people of Nineveh get their second chance in Chapter 3. As quoted by Michael Deutsch

Pastor John Ortberg wrote, "Redeeming is what God is into. He is the finder of directionally-challenged sheep, the searcher of missing coins, the embracer of foolish prodigal children. His favorite department is 'Lost and Found.' If there is one way that human beings consistently underestimate God's love, it is perhaps in His loving longing to forgive." (Deutsch)

Jonah arrives at Nineveh and he finds a large city going about their business. Jonah walks through the city pronouncing the impending destruction to the city. The Ninevites believed Jonah's vague announcement, he does not even mention God, why they are to be destroyed or by whom. Nevertheless, they begin to repent, the people first and then the king. The king's actions are humbling. The words used in the text are unusual in the sense that they are pairs of inverted phrases. The King "rose" from his throne and then "sat" in ashes; he "removed his robe" and "covered himself with sackcloth". This gives us the mental picture of a drastic change. The Ninevites believe so easily in God. At the end of Chapter 3, God recognizes the Ninevites efforts to change, forgives them, and does not destroy their city. This prepares us for Jonah's anger. (New Interpreter's 514)

The fifth theme, anger, is found in Chapter 4:1-11. Jonah was not happy with the outcome for the city of Nineveh and he became angry. Verse 2 has Jonah speaking with God and asking, "Is this not what I said when I was still in my own country? That is why I fled at first to Tarshish." (New American 1012) Providing the answer to why he ran away. "I knew that you were a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency and loathe to punish." (New American 1012) In other words, Jonah is saying,