On Wanting More

Jonah 1. Where God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah says, “Tarshish? Go to Tarshish? Sure.” No, not exactly, but whatever.

What strikes me most about this chapter is this: Even though the sailors and other passengers knew that Jonah was the cause of their calamity, they still tried to get him (and each other) safely to shore. Only when they could not did they agree to put him out of the ship – and not before praying that God would absolve them of his blood.

Hm.

And of course I love how at the beginning of the storm each was praying “to his own god” – whereas after they saw the sea “cease from her raging” they feared God, sacrificed to him (what, by the way, did they sacrifice? what did they have left?), and “made vows” (KJV). I guess I like the idea that God used even Jonah’s rebellion and idiocy (maybe too harsh a term? nah.) to cause others to believe in him.

This is also Jonah’s reaction while in the stomach of the sea creature – to fear and call upon the Lord, and offer sacrifices and fulfilled vows (ch. 2). I actually quite like his prayer; it’s very beautiful and hopeful, very … confident-sounding. I guess I usually think of Jonah as kind of \weak and impotent, a little dumb, you know? I mean, yes, he makes some really dumb decisions (but then, show me someone who hasn’t, at some point) and puts other people at risk because of them, but …

But I’ve done stupid things, too. I’ve disobeyed God, too. Do I also, when I’m faced with the consequences of my own mistakes, call upon the Lord with such faith and reverence? Am I confident enough in his unfailing grace to say, “out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice” – praising God for his deliverance (2:2)? I think so. But then, I’ve never been swallowed by a fish.