November 10, 1999
LIFE & WORK:
God's patience outlasts
his children's foolishness
___Jonah 1:17-2:10
___By Brett Younger
___Lake Shore Baptist Church, Waco
___Though mentioned in only three verses, the big fish gets all the attention. For many, the main question raised by the book of Jonah is: "Is this a parable or Ripley's biggest fish story?" The meaning of this unusual story will not, however, be found by studying marine biology. The primary issue raised by the author is not whether we believe this is a sea monster or an illustration.
___The far more important question is: "Will God's patience outlast the coldness of our hearts?" This story is not about the size of a fish's gullet, but the size of God's grace.
___God called Jonah to do something good in Nineveh, but Jonah bought a ticket toanywhere else. What will God do in response to Jonah's disobedience? Will God give Jonah another chance?
___After sailors deposit Jonah in the ocean, God sends a great fish to swallow the reluctant prophet. Jonah and the fish spend three dismal days together.
___This story was rich in poetic imagery for people who had been through the exile in Babylon. Jeremiah prophesied that Israel, who Babylon "like a serpent has swallowed" (Jeremiah 51:34), would be delivered: "I will ... make him spew out what he has swallowed" (Jeremiah 51:44).
___A dim light goes on in Jonah's head. He begins to see that he cannot get away from the patience of God.
___The poem in verses 2-9 may be a psalm sung at the temple. The hymn begins with distress and ends with deliverance. God has cast him "into the very heart of the seas" (v. 3), but the prayer closes with a promise of loyalty: "I, with a song of thanksgiving, will make sacrifice to you" because "salvation comes from the Lord" (v. 9).
___The fish throws Jonah up on the dry land--presumably the land from which he fled. The comedian Dick Gregory said, "Jonah owed his life to a gut reaction."
___Jonah has another chance.
___Jonah failed God miserably, but God's patience outlasts our foolishness. We share Jonah's tendency to stay away from places where our words and deeds are most needed. We choose not to share what we have with hungry people, not to give our time to the lonely, not to stand up against the racism, sexism and materialism of our friends. God responds by giving us more chances.
___God is the father waiting for the prodigal to come home and start again. God keeps inviting us to know and share God's love, because God's mercy is greater than our disobedience.
___When I played hide and seek growing up, the person who was "it" could shout, "Alley, alley, outs are in free"--or at least that's how I remember it. Anyone who was still hiding could return to home base without fear of getting caught. God is forever calling: "Alley, alley, outs are in free. It's time to start over."
___God will give us another chance to care for others, listen, obey and know God's grace.
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