The Punisher
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; . . .” Jonah 1:2
Cry Out Against It – Jonah knew the heart of God. That’s why he ran in the opposite direction. Jonah knew the power of God’s word. That’s why he refused to preach the message. But if you thought that the story of Jonah was about Nineveh, you have missed the point. The story of Jonah is about the conflict between punishment and atonement. Jonah rejects God’s command because Jonah believes that only punishment can cleanse sin and he’s afraid that God will relent and forgive. The forgiveness of God challenges all conceptions of justice for it subverts the law. Those who sin should die. That’s the punishment for rebellion against God. So how can a God of justice also be a God of hesed? The conflict in the story of Jonah is the reconciliation of law and grace.
From Jonah’s perspective, divine mercy shoots holes in the uniformity of divine justice. A judge who can be swayed by compassion is not the kind of judge who upholds the law. Such a judge is fickle, discriminatory and unreliable. Would you want a judge like that to preside over your law suit against a single mother who stole merchandise from your store? Wouldn’t you be afraid that the judge would look on her condition and pronounce her justified in her actions in spite of the law? He might even tell you to give her more. Would that be just?
When Jonah considers that God too often relents, he wants nothing to do with the possibility that God might forgive Nineveh. It’s not that he hates the people of Nineveh. They aren’t the issue here. Jonah wants a God who stands for righteousness. Jonah wants a God who can be counted on to do the right thing – and that thing is to uphold the law. Most Christian theologians would argue that the book of Jonah surrounds the idea that the Jews didn’t want the message of salvation to come to the Gentiles. But this can’t be found in the text. The story of Jonah is about Jonah, not about Nineveh. It’s Jonah’s misconception about punishment and atonement that needs correcting. God just uses Nineveh to demonstrate the lesson.
The Hebrew text is ookra aleha (cry against it). The combination of the verb qara’ and the preposition ’al indicates a proclamation of impending destruction (for example, see 1 Kings 13:1). Jonah is not commanded to simply preach God’s message to Nineveh. The Hebrew phrase clearly means that Jonah is to proclaim judgment over Nineveh. This makes Jonah’s response all the more curious. Everything about God’s message speaks of punishment for sin, but Jonah doesn’t trust God. Jonah declares that he knows God’s heart better than God’s own declaration. Jonah believes God’s hesed will override His wrath because Jonah knows the God of love. And love is an attack on justice. If Jonah thought that God’s judgment would stand, he would catch the fastest plane to Nineveh and insist on prime-time coverage. Clearly, Jonah doesn’t believe justice will prevail. But it might if no one tells them of impending doom.
How God deals with Jonah’s rigid justice is a lesson in compassion. Jonah’s real problem is not justice. It is his failure to identify with fellow human beings. He is more concerned with the sanctity of the law than he is with the life of the sinner. Perhaps he’s a great deal more like us than we wish to imagine. Rule-bound behavior, especially from those who preach a gospel of grace, often separates the common fellowship of men. We are all in the same boat and until we come to really understand that other person by walking in his shoes, we will have the tendency to view his infractions as ones in need of punishment rather than grace extended from our own brokenness.
Topical Index: law, grace, punishment, atonement, Jonah 1:2, qara’ ‘al, cry out against it
Dear Skip,
My question is : Does YHWH forgive the sinners unconditionally ? I don’t think so.
In my knowledge, forgiveness demands repentance, in other word: No forgiveness without repentance. The Nineveh had showed repentance……so they deserved to receive forgiveness.
Shalom,Yael Christina
The biblical record is pretty clear. Repentance (the verb “to turn back” – shuv) is at the heart of all forgiveness. Of course, that only leads to discussions of “how much,” avoiding the implications that God’s standards are quite a bit higher than our turning back to Him. Thus, grace is needed even in repentance. In the story, the people of Nineveh repent, therefore God is gracious to them. But Jonah is worried that God’s grace, even if the result of repentance, diminishes God’s justice. Thus, the theme of Jonah.
“Smite them O LORD” vs. LORD, have mercy on me “the sinner.” Isaiah was busy pointing His “finger of accusation” and pronouncing all kinds of “woe unto this” and “woe unto that” until he “saw the LORD”- high and lifted up, and then He also had a “change of heart”.
Jonah experienced this “change of heart” also toward those “wicked ol’ sinners” in Ninevah. No way did He want to go (aka-obey the voice of YHWH) to the people. He disobeyed (rebelled) and “went his own way”- running away (lol!) from G-d. A quick question for all of us:- where (on this green planet) are we going to go that is “away from G-d?” lol!… (quick answer.. nowhere!)
Emmanuel was “with him” everywhere he went. Even in the smelly belly of the “great fish”. (Yuk!) Jonah spent the night on a foam-blubber mattress!
This is a very graphic story of “repentance”. Not a very popular word and usually associated with some old skinny, bony dude dressed in black pointing his crooked finger at us. -Not so at all.
G-d came to the rescue of Jonah. Not very pretty- but oh so “memorable!” lol! Yeah.. he didn’t forget that one for awhile!- lol!
There also is a “p.s.” at the end of the book concerning Jonah and the vine of comfort. Are we listening yet? Yes, brother Skip.. “shema” is a two-part word. Listen and obey. I believe Jonah “remembered” this word when wrapped in fish entrails- deep below the surface of the sea. What a sight he must have been when “vomited up on the beach!” Praise G-d for His “hesed” toward us! Hallelujah for the cross! This cross of our Christ was the place of full punishment (the wrath of G-d “poured out” in full) and the place of “full pardon”. Our sin-debt “paid in full”. Jesus paid it all- all to Him I owe.. sin had left a crimson stain- He washed it- white as snow.
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” Provision has been made- the Lamb has been slain. Full atonement- can it be? Hallelujah- what a Savior!
Well said, Brother Carl :-).
Shalom.
Shalom,
Skip … I think the general theme of this commentary is correct and the issue indeed centers upon the idea of “justice”. But I am not so sure that all of the story as it relates to Jonah may be on the table …. let me explain.
My intent is not to inject discussion that is not supportable, however we should keep in mind the general historical scenario that is playing out at this time.
The LORD has rebuked Jeroboam (after setting him us a King) because of Idolatry … “for the LORD will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and He will root up Israel out of this good land, which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River; because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD.”
The prophets would have known of this pending judgment …. to me it seems quite plausible in this time frame that a logical deduction for Jonah and his contemporaries would be that “Assyria” is the “bringer of woe” to Israel … the force from the other side of the River! Yes? … No?
Nineveh … the Neo-Assryian Empire was in full swing during this era!
Now … just some thoughts … perhaps Jonah was bent on changing the plans of the Lord … perhaps Jonah was not strictly looking at matters in terms of righteous judgments but also thought that he could stay the judgment placed on Israel by letting their logical enemies be destroyed.
It may not be a stretch that The Lord’s command to Jonah was an indication that Israel itself was not going to be spared its judgment. Moreover it very well could have indicated that “the time” was approaching. So … perhaps the comment that Jonah knew G_D would be merciful … and that he had a problem with this MERCY in general, might be too harsh of a presumption. Perhaps Jonah sensed that mercy was coming to Nineveh … in order to carry out the judgment on Israel.
Ultimately it does not change what Skip comments upon … the issue for Jonah is still an issue of justice … it just seems to me that when the broader picture is put before us … perhaps Jonah’s intentions are driven by more than a straight forward matter of “the law”! Perhaps Jonah’s problem is less about The Lord’s mercy and more about mercy for Nineveh!
Just some thoughts! 🙂
Thanks for the historical scenery. I am not sure that Jonah plays an historical role but it certainly sets the stage for an even wider application of the “judgment-mercy” theme.
Jonah did what many of us are also guilty of doing. First the question: When G-d speaks what is our right response? (do you need time to think?.. I didn’t think so) You’re right! We should obey! G-d speaks, we hear, we obey.. “shema!”. And let’s go ahead and throw in the cherry on top of the cake- the “consequence” of our choosing to obey? (another kewpie doll!) – it is (of course) blessing.
So. G-d spoke to Jonah and said “do this.” What was Jonah’s (wrong!) response? (A) He rebelled. (B) He (like a dummy) ran. (Sin/disobedience short-circuits the brain!). But (Praise G-d)- G-d pursued Jonah! and blessed Jonah (after Jonah’s heart-felt and universal prayer- “forgive me,LORD, for I have sinned”. Jonah rebelled (just like us), he ran, (just like us) he “repented” (just like us) and G-d “restored, renewed and revived” ol’ Jonah- (just like us!)
So- what’s the difference? what happened “in the belly of the beast?” Something big was inside the fish and something big happened inside a man. A change occurred!
The Jonah who came out of the fish was not the same Jonah going in! Those three Hebrew men going into the furnace were not the same three that came out! Nope..they was different! “If any man (any time, any place, anywhere- including inside a fish!) be “in Christ” he is a new creation! lol!! We all should pray for this same “encounter with G-d!”- I believe it would delight Him to make it happen! A simple prayer (from a simple man): LORD, you did it for Jonah, you did it for Daniel, you did it for Noah, would you do this for me? Amen. He would be delighted to provide that- “change”- that’s what He does best!
Jonah’s heart-cry turned from “my will be done” to “thy will be done.” But first- there had to be a heart-change. lol! -YHWH made that happen, didn’t He? I love to say it and see it.. “G-d did that!”
“How God deals with Jonah’s rigid justice is a lesson in compassion.”
Hi Skip,
In this story, Jonah seems to have not only one but two rebirths; the first by water:
You cast me into the abyss, the heart of the sea,
and the flood surrounded me.
All your waves, your billlows, washed over me.
Jonah 2:4
And the second by fire:
God arranged that there should be a scorching east wind;
the sun beat down so hard on Jonah’s head that he was overcome
and begged for death
Jonah 4:8
But, to the end, Jonah seems to be a model of the stubborn, rebellious, disobedient relationship to God:
I have every right to be angry, to the point of death.
Jonah 4:8
Yahweh, on the other hand, is full of peace, love, and compassion:
Am I not to feel sorry for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are 120 thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from there left.
Jonah 4:8
Apparently, the Ninevehians weren’t too bright 🙂
On Jonah
Jonah 1:4 But Yahweh unleashed a violent wind upon the sea and there was such a great storm at sea that the ship threatened to break up.
Jonah 1:5 The sailors took fright and each of them called upon his own god…
Jonah 1:5 Jonah however had gone below and lain down in the hold and fallen fast asleep.
Jonah 1:6 The boatswain came upon him and said, What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call your God!
Jonah 1:6 I am a Hebrew, and I worship Yahweh, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and land.
Jonah 1:6 Take me and throw me into the sea, then it will grow calm for you.
On Jesus
Mark 4:37 Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it almost swamped.
Mark 4:39 But Jesus was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep.
Mark 4:39 They woke him and said to him: “Master, do you not care? We are going down!”
Mark 4:40 Then Jesus said to them: Why are you so frightened? How is that you have no faith?
Hi,
For your reading pleasure, I copied the parallel passages above from Jonah and Mark. I never noticed this parallelism before, although I have read both passages many times.
Seems to me that Mark wants to show us how Jesus, like Jonah, that other old Hebrew prophet, has absolute faith/trust in Yahweh God and no fear.
Good work, Michael. Tony Robinson would be proud of you (he specializes in teaching the study of thematic connections between stories in scripture – video on my web site if you’re interested). Now add Paul into the mix and see how that parallels, and then look at the parallels between the messages of Jonah, Jesus and Paul. Should make for an interesting study…
Thanks Rodney, I will do that!