Jonah 3: 1-5 10    January 22, 2012

 I love the story of Jonah, because it has so much to say about God and our world and discipleship in such a short tale.  We remember the plot. God called Jonah to evangelize an entire city. Jonah tried to run and God literally caught him with a fish that spit him out on the very shore where the job was. So, reluctantly Jonah did what he was called to do, and his message accomplished what God sent it for.  But Jonah was furious, God attempted to comfort him, and then the story stopped like a “to be continued” show on tv.

Counter Cultural

This morning we’re going to look at just a few things that this story has to say. Certainly there was Jonah’s reluctance   But I love Jonah because he's a real, down to earth, card carrying human being, with the same feelings and failings that all of us experience sometimes - especially when we are confronted with a situation that puts us, and our faith in the spotlight.  There are times when it is tough to stand up for what’s right. There are times when it’s embarrassing to say what we believe.  It’s because the way of God, and the gospel, contradicts so many of our culture’s values. 

The Lord’s way of life is about equitable distribution, and compassion. It’s about reconciliation instead of retaliation, and peacemaking instead of violence.  It’s about justice for all and never only for the privileged and powerful. God’s teachings literally overturn so many of our social, economic, political and religious values that they are essentially revolutionary – and often not well received.

In this story Nineveh was a typical cosmopolitan city with the elites oppressing the poor, and hedonism run rampant.  So, God sent Jonah to warn them to repent of their sins.  In the Hebrew language his message consisted of only 5 words; "40 days more, Nineveh (will be future tense) overthrown.  Now I’ll bet a lot of you would like sermons to be just that  short and sweet – but isn’t that going a little too far?

Now with Jonah marching up and down the streets shouting that message, we’d expect that most of the people in Nineveh would have looked at Jonah like he was a religious fanatic; sort of like the bearded figures we see in cartoons - wearing a long white robe, and carrying a sign that says "the end of the world is near". But somehow the people of Nineveh didn't see him that way, and their reaction was nothing short of a miracle!  Everyone, and I mean everyone, turned to God, and rehabilitated their behavior.   And their city was spared.

This is a challenge to us as God’s people today. Like Jonah, you and I are called to exhibit an alternative to our world. But we need to clarify a point here. When we tell people to repent this is not primarily about sin – although by grace, overcoming that is part of it. Primarily our job is to let people know that God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us,  and that there is a better way to live – with God at the center of our lives.

Just the facts

In light of this amazing revival, what happened next is unexpected to say the least. . Jonah - the one who’s supposed to be the faithful one, was furious that his message worked. He was angry that the entire city escaped the consequences of their sins, and his heart was desperately bitter. 

I believe that this particular part of the story also has something to say to us .

One insight is found in God’s question to Jonah.  “Do you do well to be angry?”  In other words, Do you think your anger is justified and healthy?

This points to a pretty good life lesson because most of us have experienced situations like this. The lesson is, that our feelings are not the same as the facts. God knows, that our emotions feel so powerful sometimes,  that we can’t distinguish what’s real anymore. Sometimes what we feel makes it so that we can’t see what’s actually happening. So with Jonah.  His anger was so strong that he couldn’t understand that God’s love is , and has always been,  given to save the world.

So when our feelings are running strong - this story invites us to step back and examine ourselves , and the situation, and to figure out what’s behind our feelings. This story invites us to figure out what’s really going on - on the other side of the wall our feelings have built.   It’s about getting to the bigger picture.  It’s about doing a reality check.  Most of all, it’s about making sure that we aren’t getting in the way of what God is doing.

There’s something else happening in this story.

Expanding Circles.

When we think about it, this story sounds a lot like stories Jesus used to tell, about lost sheep, and prodigal sons. Jonah’s story is like those stories because of the way the religious folks of Jesus’ day didn’t like how wide Christ was opening the doors to his kingdom.  The problem Jonah had,  is like the problem the Pharisees had, which was, that  God could care so much for people they considered to be ”wicked” .   

The story of Jonah reveals a disease that exists sometimes, even in the Church; and that is how judgmental we can be.  Jonah thought God was being too soft on those sinners.  In fact he spoke of God's loving attributes  almost as if they were curses.  He spit the words out,  "I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful... I knew that your love endures forever and You forgive transgressions”. 

 The story of Jonah cautions us against an insider/outsider mentality. This story reminds us that we tend to draw lines where God draws circles -  to bring people into the kingdom.

The church of Christ needs to ask itself, "Is there anyone that we don't want God's grace to reach?  This story reminds us that God cares about all people in this world. It reminds us that Jesus came to call not the righteous but sinners like you and me and those who are not like you and me.  This story reminds us that the church of Jesus is called to exhibit God’s love in such a visible way that others can see it  - and so clearly that they are drawn to its ’light.

Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you,” and sometimes we hear that as another law to keep - and that we know we can’t fulfill.  Because we feel that way sometimes we don’t even try.