Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of July 11, 2021

WEEKLY READING: JONAH 1-4; PSALM 34-36

PASSAGES REFERENCED: JONAH 4; LUKE 15:28-32; JOHN 21:20-22

From Sunday school flannelgraphs to Veggie Tales, the story of Jonah is one many of us are fairly familiar with. But just focusing on the big fish is missing the point of the story. When I read the story now, I am pushed beyond the fantastic nature of it. What I get out of it now isn’t a lesson on obeying God, rather a reminder of God’s mercy and grace and a lot of conviction on my judgmental ways. 

We’re pretty familiar with the first three chapters: God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim a warning from God, Jonah goes the opposite direction, God sends a storm and a big fish, God gives Jonah a second chance, Jonah goes to Nineveh and shares God’s message, and the people of the city listen and repent.

Picking up the story in chapter four: But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:1-4)

In the next few verses, there’s some Jonah sitting, plant growing, plant dying, sun shining, and some more Jonah complaining and wishing he was dead. (4:5-10) And then the book ends with God asking Jonah, “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (4:11)

Hopefully, you’re starting to see how this story is a reminder of God’s mercy and grace and can convict us of our judgmental ways. To put it plainly, the story of Jonah reminds me of what a jerk I am sometimes. I judge others, I think I know best, and I feel like I know who deserves a second chance. A lot like our pal Jonah, right? He didn’t want to go to Nineveh and share God’s message because he didn’t like the idea of God extending grace to people he didn’t think deserved it. Right there in verse two, Jonah basically says, ‘I knew you would show them mercy, and I didn’t think they deserved it. So I ran in the opposite direction. And then, when I finally did what you asked, I did it with a bad attitude. And now I’m so upset about everything that I think I’d just rather die.’

Now, I’d apricate if Jonah calmed down a couple of notches, wouldn’t you? He’s being a bit dramatic. But if we push the ‘I’m so upset, I wish I were dead’ attitude aside for a minute, I think we can see ourselves in Jonah and hopefully be open to hearing God’s warning to us in his story. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria – Israel’s enemy. So you can see why Jonah might struggle with the concept of God extending them grace. Our first reaction to God extending mercy to our enemies might not be the best either. But we should remember that we did nothing to earn God’s grace. And we should thank God for the beautiful gift of His mercy and love towards us.

This lesson from Jonah reminds me of two different teachings of Jesus, one parable and one interaction with a disciple. First, the ending of the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15: “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:28-32)

And then the final chunk of Jesus’ interaction with Peter in John 21: Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them… When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:20-22)

So what should we do with what we’ve learned from our reading of Jonah and these words of Jesus? You should take some time this week to ask the Lord exactly what He wants to teach you. But I know for me, there are a few things that come to mind:

• We don’t get to decide who should receive God’s mercy, love, and grace.
• We don’t deserve the gifts of God, but we’ve still received them. We should be thankful and want those blessings for others as well.
• God loves our enemies. Are we ok with that? And what will it take for us to love our enemies as well?
• And, ultimately, maybe we need to mind our own business and worry about our own relationship with God rather than how He works in the lives of our friends and enemies alike.

So, are we going to be like Jonah, the older brother, and Peter? Or are we going rejoice when God extends mercy, grace, and love to others, regardless of our opinion of them? Are we going to respond in anger, disappointment, or maybe even nosiness? Or are we going to celebrate in thanksgiving – for God working in their lives as we remember how He’s blessed us as well? The choice is ours. I just hope we don’t pull a Jonah. – Sarah Neel

• Check out The Bible Project’s overview video of the book of Jonah. It is an excellent source for background information and context that walks through the book’s sections and themes. It can be really helpful for those who appreciate some visuals while learning.

• Do you have questions about this week’s Bible reading? We’d love to help! Rather than relying on the first thing, you find on the internet, email us at biblequestions@warsaw.cc. We are more than happy to answer that nagging question you have, provide you with some clarity, or point you in the right direction for further study.