Title: “Learning from Jonah”
Scripture: The Story of Jonah
1/22/06 Third Sunday after Epiphany, Yr. B
Rev. Joy R. Haertig
Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah, it is not easily forgotten. The idea of a man being swallowed by a big fish that later burps the man back up again kind of sticks with you, especially if you heard it as a kid. Bible stories that have some kind of gross part to it tend to catch the attention of children.
The Book of Jonah is found in a section of the Hebrew Scriptures known as the Minor Prophets, as opposed to Major Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. When we searched for the story in Bible study this week most of us had to look it up and were not at all familiar with the books that surrounded it like Obadiah and Habakkuk. Yet we all knew the story of Jonah.
It is a silly story full of serious truth. It is not meant to be taken literally yet it is meant to be taken seriously. There is a Native American saying that goes “I don't know if it happened this way or not, but I know this story is true.”
It is different than most books of prophets that are full of prophetic oracles because Jonah the prophet becomes a receiver of God's wisdom rather than just a messenger of God's judgement. In other words, the Ninevites are not the only ones that have strayed from God, so has the prophet himself.
Because this is a beloved book of the Hebrew Scriptures, I felt it was important to read what Rabbi's do with this text, so that is where I started.
According to Rabbi Adam Morris, “some scholars believe this book was written in the 5th century BCE at a time when two significant Jewish leaders, Ezra and Nehemiah, were very, very focused on the nation of Israel and only on the nation of Israel. The book is a story about how God cares about all of creation on earth - whether it be Jews, Ninevites, or just a gourd that grows in the desert.”
I found it interesting that a story is used to challenge national religious leaders. (Much like Jesus' use of parables)
Rabbi Morris continues: “Today in the Jewish world, the Jonah story is read every year on the most holy day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On this day, Jews seek forgiveness from God and from the people we have hurt. We seek something called “teshuvah”, “to return to God.” We read this story on this holy day to remind us how important it is to seek forgiveness, to make “teshuvah” and to know that God will always accept our sincere atonement.”
Another Rabbi I studied, Rabbi David Saperstein, believes that the story of Jonah teaches at least two significant lessons. It teaches us the importance of perspective, the need to be aware of how limiting our individual perspectives, presumptions and assumptions can be. Jonah stubbornly clings to his perspective about those who are worthy of God's graciousness and mercy and those that are not. His perspective drives his actions and in turn it drives him further from God's ways.
The second lesson that Rabbi Saperstein points out in Jonah is about universal concern verses the trap of self-pity. Jonah is an extreme example of someone trapped in self-pity and pride. (Fran and I came up with a new word the other day when we misunderstood a radio commentary, we called it “ego-terrorism”, Jonah is an ego-terrorist)
Like a well acted character in a movie, the story works because Jonah really gets to me - I just want to say “get over yourself Jonah, you're working for God now!” (Mind you, there have certainly been times in my life when I have related to Jonah.)
God is often the voice in the wilderness of self pity and prejudice that calls us to wake up and see the bigger picture. I read a quote once that said something like human beings have a point of view while God has view. Jonah thought his point of view was better than God's view.
Scripture is laced with stories time and again that teach us that God's mercy, love and healing are not limited - that we are all on a level playing field. Love and mercy are not something we earn but something that just is, like a current, it is constantly there just below the surface. (While scripture teaches this, we have a hard time buying it!)
Rabbi Saperstein emphasized the lessons of perspective and universal concern; Rabbi Adam Morris emphasized its message of forgiveness and returning to God. I hear both of them talking about the importance of humility. Jonah is anything but humble.
Jonah is a story about learning humility - for individuals and nations.
Humility can be interpreted by some as weakness.
Perhaps Jonah feared he would appear weak if he were to let go of his self-righteousness and pride.
But humility is not weakness. Humility actually takes a great deal of spiritual strength. It is the realization that we are here because of God - that we receive Love and Life and Breath because God gives Love and Life and Breath, it is not a question of who deserves it and who doesn't. It just is.
A lot of people come to this understanding after they have been through a very painful and lonely time of separation from any sense of God - of Love and Hope.
Many people come to this realization when they feel that they have been given a second chance - when they have been “spit” back up from a dark place and reestablish a relationship with God.
Humility is not about weakness it is about gratitude. It is “teshuvah” - the Hebrew word for “returning to God”
In our humility we are able to experience grace.
Why do you think the Ninevites were dancing in the streets?
Because they returned to God - they were given a second chance - they reestablished their place in the world with God's help. It was not weakness, it was about joy and freedom.
Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jonah, because we have so much to learn from this man. Help us to set aside our pride, our guilt, our anger, and any other emotions that keep us locked away from true relationships with you and others near and far. Fill our hearts with your love and may we find the humility and grace we need to follow your call to serve. Amen.