I know what you’re thinking right about now, “Deanna, didn’t you mean to say Jonah and the Big Fish?”
Nope, you read it right the first time. There are a lot of folks, myself included, that grew up with the story of Jonah and the big fish. It’s a wonderful story in the Old Testament that every Sunday school teacher and student on the planet could probably recite by heart.
Jonah had been disobedient to God’s call on his life. God told him to go one direction and Jonah went the exact opposite. Since there are always consequences to any kind of disobedience, God had a big fish come along and swallow him whole. There he sat, surrounded by stinky old fish, for three days and nights. Basically, I’ve always thought of it as God giving Jonah a time out so he could think about his actions.
Did you know that Jonah being in the belly of the fish was only the first half of the story? The book of Jonah is short, there are only 4 chapters, and it’s nestled between the books of the minor prophets toward the end of the Old Testament. But this little book has always felt like a modern day life lesson to me. I have learned lessons about obedience, humility (it had to be pretty disgusting to be swallowed and then vomited up by that fish!), evangelism, pride, stubbornness and the incredible love and provision of God.
Since so many already know the first part of the story, I’m going to jump ahead to the last part. Jonah has finally been obedient to God and has shared about God’s grace and Nineveh’s need to repent. Every single person in the city, from the king to the poorest beggar all acknowledge their sin and turn to God. God relents and does not destroy the city like He threatened through Jonah’s preaching. What an amazing missionary success story! Can you imagine going into a foreign country, preaching the good news of God’s love and sacrifice and having the entire nation come to a saving knowledge of God? Amazing!
I personally would be in awe of the miracle of not only surviving three days in the smelly belly of a fish but the incredible transformation of an entire city! But not Jonah. Jonah was angry. He was probably embarrassed that his message of destruction wasn’t going to come true. He was upset that he had to leave the comfort of his own home just to come to a people that God was going to save anyway. Basically, he had a big old temper tantrum.
So Jonah went to a hill on the east side of the city and sat and sulked. The Bible says he made a shelter to sit under, so it must have been hot. The shelter didn’t provide much relief for his foul mood. During the night, God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. It was quite cool and lovely under the branches of that big plant and the Bible tells us that Jonah was grateful.
But God wasn’t finished with His lesson for Jonah. In the morning, He sent a worm to eat through the plant. The plant that had provided the much appreciated shade now withered in the heat of day. Next, God sent a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. Between the dying, shadeless plant and the hot, blowing wind, Jonah’s mood quickly returned to the sour, complaining, childlike crabbiness that got him into this mess in the first place!
God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” My Bible says Jonah retorted, “Yes, even angry enough to die!” Retorted?!? Really?!? That’s a pretty strong word for a simple question from God. But how many times have I been so wrapped up in feeling sorry for myself that I took my anger and frustration out on Him? I think that’s the same thing as retorting to God!
But the lesson that I love the most from this little story can be found in the final two verses:
God said, “What’s this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?”
– Jonah 4:10-11, The Message
What caused such distress for Jonah was nothing compared to the distress of God destroying an entire city of over 120,000 people! Jonah was concerned with the small potatoes and God was concerned about the big ones! Every time I read this story I’m reminded that I am a small cog in God’s great wheel. I can be put to work to help His plan of bringing the world to know and love Him. Or I can be sullen in my own pity party that there isn’t a parade in my honor every time I do something right. If I’m not careful, the parade of God’s glory can march right past me as I sit under a big plant, sulking.
I want God to use me however He sees fit. Sometimes it may be in a big, obvious way. I’ve been able to sing in front of thousands of people and see them give their hearts to the Lord. And sometimes God uses me in small, not so obvious ways, like opening the door for a stranger or providing a shoulder for someone to cry on. In fact, I have a sense that God finds us most useful in the simple, day to day living we do. And we may never know, until we get to heaven, what impact we have and how God is using us.
But I don’t have to worry about that. Just like the plant that came and went at God’s command, I choose to be obedient and a willing partner in God’s great plan for mankind!
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
– Psalms 119:1-5
