And now, for the rest of the story

It's comical how quickly I forget Biblical stories. Parables, at least, have a 'moral-of-the-story' thread through them. But remember those Sunday School stories with the felt cut-outs and story board?

Tangent: As a child, I hated apples because I was convinced, from Adam and Eve of course, that apples were evil and could not understand why everyone still ate them.

Just for fun I reread the story of Jonah a few weeks ago. Jonah disobeys G-d's command for him to go to Nineveh. Got that. Runs and hides. Ends up on ship in storm. Ok, kind of remember the storm. Into belly of whale. Yep, definitely remember that part. Repents, praises G-d, and boom- out of whale. Jonah obeys G-d and goes to Nineveh. End of story.

And now, for the rest of the story, forgotten by Sunday School teachers and kids everywhere.

Jonah arrives in Nineveh and proclaims its' imminent doom. Nineveh temporarily repents and G-d temporarily shows compassion. I find this intriguing on two levels. The Lord's punishment seems ethically conditioned, though the prophecy given through Jonah is absolute: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

However, He knew Nineveh would not maintain their faith, and when the city did return to wickedness, it was completely destroyed. So, why bother? Is this just to display His temporary compassion? He later tells Jonah: "Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" His compassion for people He has already chosen to destroy is profound. (See this, too.)

It is in Jonah's response to G-d that I find the most enduring element of the story. Jonah is 'greatly displeased' and becomes angry with the Lord's compassion on Nineveh. In Jonah's mind, Nineveh was a deplorable city, sinful and perhaps unworthy of any saving intervention. G-d's actions did not appeal to Jonah's sense of justice. Even though he admittedly recognizes the compassion of G-d's character (4:2), he's disgusted that justice has not been served, and would rather die than see Nineveh redeemed.

My first reaction to Jonah: What a moron! Didn't you just get swallowed by a whale? Why on earth are you questioning G-d? Stubborn mule.

My second reaction to Jonah: Hum. I'm about that stubborn, too.

My third reaction to Jonah: Well, he seems to be a pretty normal bloke. He wants to obey G-d. He even tells G-d when he's mad at Him. Might be a little foolish to ask to die, but at least he is seeking G-d. And, G-d still uses him.

Jonah easily could end in Sunday School. But, when we see the rest of the story, we are reminded that for reasons I do not fully understand, He uses stubborn, regular, and even sinful people to display His glory and achieve His purposes. His saving Grace continuing to sanctify, making all the more evident His complete justification and redemption of those chosen to be called sons and daughters of G-d.