Devotion - Tuesday, November 9

When we speak of the Book of Jonah, we most often think of the great fish. But the fish, and Jonah's three days and three nights inside the belly of the fish, is only a backdrop to the full story.

Jonah is in the sea, where the fish can swallow him, because he had attempted to flee God's command. God had spoken to Jonah, instructing him to go to Nineveh, in order to call the city to repentance.

There were reasons why Jonah did not want to do this. First, the city was not a Jewish city. It was Gentile. These were not followers of Yahweh, why would they listen to words of God's warning? Second, as we learn near the stories end, Jonah is reluctant to go because of what he knows about God. We will come back to this point.

In case your knowledge of Jonah is limited to the fishy story, allow me to remind you that Jonah eventually goes to Nineveh, preaches the Word of God, and the whole city (including the King) repents. They heed the Word of God.

Jonah is ticked off. He had gone outside the city, sat on a hillside and waited to see God's destruction of Nineveh. When it doesn't come, he cries out, "See how they look upon me as a fool!" Jonah's words of warning were not followed by God's punishment.

"I knew this would happen," Jonah adds. "I knew. That is why I fled and did not want to do this task." Then Jonah speaks the words which are many times more important than the story of the great fish. Jonah says he knew that God would not destroy Nineveh because he knows that God is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love." He knows this; he just chooses to make something else the centerpiece of his preaching.

How like Jonah we are. We speak God's words of warning; knowing, but seldom beginning with the affirmation of what lies in the center of God's heart. God's righteousness is framed, supported, built upon God's being gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

Re-read the story of Jonah. Fantasize about the great fish. But hear and remember that it is God's forgiveness which serves as the point of the story.