We’ve lost Jonah! Has anyone seen him?
Such was the plea from Seaton Road as we checked our Godly Play resources for a presentation.
Oh well, we’ll have to improvise. So, with a small wooden boat from a holiday in Norway, a plastic whale (with big mouth) from the children’s haul of animals, a shoe box for Nineveh plus clothes pegs in margarine tubs for the people (population of Nineveh 120,000 the Bible tells us) – we went ahead with our Time 4 You session at Felixstowe Methodist Church for the story of Jonah.
The Assyrian Empire 800BC was a cruel, brutal regime with a mighty military force overpowering other nations, stealing their treasures & capturing civilian to become slaves. This force was a threat to the neighbouring Israelites.
God asks Jonah to go to Nineveh, condemn their wickedness, tell them to repent of their wrong-doings or he’ll destroy them.
Jonah didn’t want to go. This was a mission impossible. It was too dangerous. It’s like asking him to stand on the steps of the Reichstag in Hitler’s time & condemn the Nazis. It’s like going to the Hamas HQ to tell them they are wicked men & must stop their sinful acts ….or else.
So he didn’t go. He opted to head in the opposite direction, as far away as possible, to Spain by ship.
God had other plans. A raging storm & then a big fish get him back to dry land where’s he’s called again to go to Nineveh.
This time he goes. He tells the people they must repent or God will destroy them. They listen & respond by fasting & putting on sackcloth in repentance. “Oh God, turn from your anger to save us.” Jonah must have been a brilliant, articulate, persuasive preacher. God does not destroy them.
Jonah then sulks and is angry with God. “I knew this would happen. My journey is wasted!” He wants the end of this cruel empire in order to protect his people.
But God points out that He cares for ALL people, even if they ae our enemies & “even if they are foreigners”.
So what do we make of these 4 chapters in the Bible?
- Prophets can have failings like we ordinary human beings – They can get scared, lose courage, lose their relationship with God.
- People have the ability to change from bad to good.
- God loves everyone, not just the chosen ones.
Did you know there was a pilgrimage in the Middle East to the tomb of Jonah (a saint, feast day of 21st September) visited by Jews, Christians & Muslims? It shows the unity of this prophet. BUT sadly, it was destroyed 24th July 2014 by ISIS. The wickedness continues in this part of the world.
Oh, and if you should find our Jonah, we’d love to hear from you!