Elizabeth Wood
Dear friends,
Every year I set out to read one “classic” book that I haven’t tackled, yet.
This year’s choice is Moby Dick, which has sat on my shelf a long time. All I really knew was that it’s long (672 pages!) and it’s about an epic battle with a whale.
I am about halfway through, and all this whale talk has started me thinking about Jonah.
The Old Testament book of Jonah is (mercifully!) short and all I could remember from the simple story told in Sunday School was that Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale. But there’s so much more.
Jonah is a prophet whom God commands to go to Nineveh, a city notorious for its wickedness, where he is to warn the sinful people of their impending annihilation. Jonah disobeys God and tries to escape by boarding a ship. But soon a violent storm arises, endangering everyone on board.
The sailors cast lots to determine the cause of the calamity. The lot falls on Jonah, so he is thrown into the sea where he is swallowed by a “great fish,” and where he remains for three days and nights.
While in the belly of the fish, Jonah prays, expressing his gratitude for God’s mercy, and promises to fulfill his vows once he is delivered. The fish spits Jonah out onto dry land, and Jonah is given a second chance to fulfill God’s command.
This time, the people of Nineveh repent, and God spares the city from destruction. But Jonah is actually displeased by God’s mercy—he wants to see the Ninevites punished, and sits outside the city, awaiting its destruction.
God causes a plant to grow and provide shade, which Jonah appreciates. But the next day, God destroys it. When Jonah expresses anger over the plant’s destruction, God asks Jonah how he can justify being angry over a simple plant but be angry that God would spare a whole city.
So, it’s not just about a man and a whale. It’s a testament to God’s divine mercy and compassion, and how it compares with our human desire for judgement and retribution. The story shows us that even the most sinful people can repent. No one, however wicked, is beyond the reach of God’s grace. It reminds us that God will always give us a second chance.
Now back to Moby.
—Elizabeth
