7 October 2013 - quit your whaling

7 October 2013 - quit your whaling

“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me.”

Jonah has to say to the people of Nineveh, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown."  Naturally, he is reluctant to say it.  He doesn't want to tell them they are wicked.  He doesn't want to tell them their whole world is at risk.  This is a hard message even if for someone who wants them to repent which Jonah clearly does not.   At least he remembers, even amidst his resistance, that he worships "the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."  Because he remembers this, he is willing to give God the credit for the storm threatening the ship.  Yet in spite realizing that the LORD is in control in some sense he still won't cooperate to save Nineveh.

Sometimes the LORD asks us to enter into difficult situations.  Sometimes he asks us to speak words which are hard.  Yes, we have to remember his power and majesty.  But to succeed we will need to set aside our need to be in control.  Our need to be in control can be paralyzing and prevent us from even entering situations into which God calls us.  But sometimes he won't take no for an answer.

But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.

In three days Jonah "dies" to his willful pride.  He realizes that his life is completely beyond his control regardless of what he does or where he goes.

For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows 
passed over me.

Yet this is not to be the end for him.  His prayer reaches the LORD.  When the fish spews him forth upon the shore he still isn't happy about the message he is to preach.  But he is ready to preach it.

Jonah ends up acting as a neighbor to the Ninevites in spite of himself and how he feels.  The LORD wants to break down these barriers of alienation so that we may stop asking, "who is my neighbor?" He doesn't want us to run to Tarshish.  He doesn't want us to pass by "on the opposite side."  Instead, he wants us to have hearts like his.

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.

His mercy knows no bounds.  It comes to us while we are still sinners and enemies of God (cf. Rom. 5:8).  It is this very mercy that makes us fellow citizens with the saints instead of strangers from different and hostile nations (cf. Eph. 2:19).  For all are one in Christ (cf. Gal 3:28).  We must therefore "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (cf. Eph. 4:3).  And really, going to Ninvah straight away rather than by whale is easier for us as well.  But we can be reassured that the LORD won't leave us in the hardness of our hearts.  If he is doing a difficult work in us let us keep the desire that Jonah expresses from within the whale.

yet would I again look upon your holy temple.”

He has problems loving his neighbor.  But in this difficult circumstance he still seems to be clinging to God.  He still seems to be loving God as we are enjoined:

with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,

If we just cling to the LORD- if we just desire to look upon his holy temple, even in hard times- he will be able to give us hearts of flesh no matter how hard they are.