Jonah 3:1-4:11
There is a very basic truth about the relationship between God and humanity contained in the closing verses of today’s reading from Jonah. “Then the Lord said, ‘You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?’" (Jonah 4:10-11).
Jonah was in a foul mood, partly because God had spared Nineveh, but also because a bush that God had caused to grow over him had soon withered away. God’s response was decisive. Jonah had done nothing to cause the bush to grow and yet mourned it’s demise. At the same time, though, Jonah was irked because God chose not to destroy a great city containing tens of thousands of people. Indeed, not only was God concerned for the people of Nineveh, God even considered the animals as precious.
To me this passage helps to highlight the inherent self-centeredness with which we struggle. We have a lot of trouble seeing past our own comfort, our own perspectives, our own perceived needs. We so often see the world as us v. them, me v. you, and as a result we refuse to consider that the God who created us is the same God who created everyone else. To demean others, to hope for their destruction—either literally or figuratively—is to ignore God’s will for redemption. When we bemoan the injustice of our lives even in the midst of plenty we belittle God’s providence. When we begrudge God’s desire that all people have life and have it abundantly, we devalue that life.
Jonah was sorry that God spared Nineveh. How sorry are we when those with whom we differ experience grace? And is that really how God wants us to feel?
Prayer: Lord, help us to move beyond our selfishness and to open our hearts and lives to others so that together all people may experience your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Redemption As a Fish Tale
Jonah 1:17-2:10
“Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). I don’t recall ever preaching from this particular verse from the book of Jonah, but someday I think I may have to. Why? Because I find it to be so reassuring. This one verse, as quirky as it is, tells us a great deal about God and about faith.
For one thing this verse shows God to be Sovereign over all of nature, including large fish. All God has to do is to speak and the fish obeys. Here the Jonah account resonates with the story of creation as found in Genesis (i.e. Genesis 1:3). In each case God utters a word which causes events to unfold, whether large or small, universal or particular, having to do with all humanity or with a single individual. In short, God’s reign is both transcendent and eminent. God is Sovereign.
For another thing this verse makes clear the redemptive nature of God’s work. In having the fish spew Jonah ashore God demonstrates a desire to give the reluctant prophet another chance. (In truth, God has been giving Jonah additional chances all along, from the boat dock to the hold of the ship, from the ship to the water, from the water to the fish, and now from the fish to the shore.) And we should remember that the purpose of Jonah’s mission to Nineveh was to call the Ninevites to repent so that they, too, might find redemption. God’s treatment of Jonah is illustrative of God’s regard for humanity in general. God is redemptive.
Yes, Jonah 2:10 is an odd little verse, yet it carries with it a lot of insight into the nature of God.
Prayer: Lord we glorify you for you alone are sovereign over all creation and in you alone do we find redemption. May your name be forever blessed. Amen.
“Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). I don’t recall ever preaching from this particular verse from the book of Jonah, but someday I think I may have to. Why? Because I find it to be so reassuring. This one verse, as quirky as it is, tells us a great deal about God and about faith.
For one thing this verse shows God to be Sovereign over all of nature, including large fish. All God has to do is to speak and the fish obeys. Here the Jonah account resonates with the story of creation as found in Genesis (i.e. Genesis 1:3). In each case God utters a word which causes events to unfold, whether large or small, universal or particular, having to do with all humanity or with a single individual. In short, God’s reign is both transcendent and eminent. God is Sovereign.
For another thing this verse makes clear the redemptive nature of God’s work. In having the fish spew Jonah ashore God demonstrates a desire to give the reluctant prophet another chance. (In truth, God has been giving Jonah additional chances all along, from the boat dock to the hold of the ship, from the ship to the water, from the water to the fish, and now from the fish to the shore.) And we should remember that the purpose of Jonah’s mission to Nineveh was to call the Ninevites to repent so that they, too, might find redemption. God’s treatment of Jonah is illustrative of God’s regard for humanity in general. God is redemptive.
Yes, Jonah 2:10 is an odd little verse, yet it carries with it a lot of insight into the nature of God.
Prayer: Lord we glorify you for you alone are sovereign over all creation and in you alone do we find redemption. May your name be forever blessed. Amen.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Last Words
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Revelation 11:14-19
Luke 11:27-36
The connection between our readings from Luke and Johan is obvious. In Luke Jesus compares and contrasts his ministry to that of the prophet and points to the impact Jonah had on Nineveh as opposed to the response Jesus receives from his own people. But I find a very compelling point of reference between the reading in Jonah and that in Revelation, because in each case God’s word is final.
In fact, the final verses of Jonah come to an abrupt end with God making an emphatic point and leaving the prophet no opportunity to reply (Jonah 4:10-11). That’s the way it is, Jonah, says God, and that’s that. The finality of God’s word in our reading from Revelation is less implied than that in Jonah. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever,” we read (Revelation 11:15). Not only has God put an end to the discussion, God has brought the kingdom to consummation. There are still plenty of visions for John to relate to us, but already we know how the story will end. God will reign “forever and ever” over the “kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah.” From now on this is how it will be. And that’s that.
There is a joke about how American Civil War movies always end the same way. The North wins every time. Of course that’s history, a look back. Revelation is a look ahead, but the effect is the same. No matter how many times we read the Bible it always ends the same way, even if that end is sometime in the future. As with John of Patmos, there are still plenty of visions for us to see, a lot of situations for us to experience, ample opportunities for us to choose between the kingdoms of the world or the kingdom of God. But already we know how the story will end. When creation reaches its “final verse” God will make the last emphatic point and that will be that. It will all be over except for the joy and the peace of God’s endless reign.
Prayer: Almighty God, may our prayers of praise and adoration rise before you as we await the final coming of your kingdom. Guide our feet that we may walk in the paths of righteousness until that day dawns with the light of your glory. Amen.
Revelation 11:14-19
Luke 11:27-36
The connection between our readings from Luke and Johan is obvious. In Luke Jesus compares and contrasts his ministry to that of the prophet and points to the impact Jonah had on Nineveh as opposed to the response Jesus receives from his own people. But I find a very compelling point of reference between the reading in Jonah and that in Revelation, because in each case God’s word is final.
In fact, the final verses of Jonah come to an abrupt end with God making an emphatic point and leaving the prophet no opportunity to reply (Jonah 4:10-11). That’s the way it is, Jonah, says God, and that’s that. The finality of God’s word in our reading from Revelation is less implied than that in Jonah. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever,” we read (Revelation 11:15). Not only has God put an end to the discussion, God has brought the kingdom to consummation. There are still plenty of visions for John to relate to us, but already we know how the story will end. God will reign “forever and ever” over the “kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah.” From now on this is how it will be. And that’s that.
There is a joke about how American Civil War movies always end the same way. The North wins every time. Of course that’s history, a look back. Revelation is a look ahead, but the effect is the same. No matter how many times we read the Bible it always ends the same way, even if that end is sometime in the future. As with John of Patmos, there are still plenty of visions for us to see, a lot of situations for us to experience, ample opportunities for us to choose between the kingdoms of the world or the kingdom of God. But already we know how the story will end. When creation reaches its “final verse” God will make the last emphatic point and that will be that. It will all be over except for the joy and the peace of God’s endless reign.
Prayer: Almighty God, may our prayers of praise and adoration rise before you as we await the final coming of your kingdom. Guide our feet that we may walk in the paths of righteousness until that day dawns with the light of your glory. Amen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
God: Up Close and Personal
Jonah 1:17-2:10
Luke 11:14-26
“Then God spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). The image of God speaking to a fish is wonderful, primarily because it is presented so matter-of-factly (Jonah 2:10). Of course the Creator of the universe, of the earth with all of its living creatures, has the time and inclination to speak to one particular fish, who obediently spits Jonah out onto the shore. Clearly, God is involved in the story right down to one fish and one reluctant prophet. (Incidentally, while the human prophet has tried his best to run from God, the fish seems all too happy to cooperate.) Another image of an up-close God comes from the gospel of Luke. There Jesus refutes those who claim his healing power comes from the devil. No, if that were true, Jesus tells them, evil would be divided against itself. “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons,” he continues, “then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Luke 2:21).
Whether whispering in the ear of a fish or reaching out to the ill and infirm with a healing touch, God is busy. But far more important than that, God is nearby, within earshot, within reach. God works, then, not just in grand, universal principles, but also within the day to day details, getting close enough to you and me to make a real difference in our lives. Each story, by the way, carries forward images from the creation accounts of Genesis. There God speaks the earth and universe into being. “And God said…” is the familiar refrain (for example Genesis 1:6, 9, 14, and 20). “…(T)hen the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground…” (2:7) we read later, which seems to indicate that God’s hands became muddy in the creation process as well. God’s voice and God’s hands have been with us from the very beginning. God has always been “in the mix”, a fact which continues today.
Obviously we do not always recognize God’s work, and sometimes we may even doubt that God remains with us. But scripture is clear on the point, so clear that when we refer to Jesus Christ as Emmanuel (God with us) it is essentially redundant.
Prayer: Lord, you have been our shelter and our help from the very beginning. Help us to trust in your continued presence and to open our hearts to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Luke 11:14-26
“Then God spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). The image of God speaking to a fish is wonderful, primarily because it is presented so matter-of-factly (Jonah 2:10). Of course the Creator of the universe, of the earth with all of its living creatures, has the time and inclination to speak to one particular fish, who obediently spits Jonah out onto the shore. Clearly, God is involved in the story right down to one fish and one reluctant prophet. (Incidentally, while the human prophet has tried his best to run from God, the fish seems all too happy to cooperate.) Another image of an up-close God comes from the gospel of Luke. There Jesus refutes those who claim his healing power comes from the devil. No, if that were true, Jesus tells them, evil would be divided against itself. “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons,” he continues, “then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Luke 2:21).
Whether whispering in the ear of a fish or reaching out to the ill and infirm with a healing touch, God is busy. But far more important than that, God is nearby, within earshot, within reach. God works, then, not just in grand, universal principles, but also within the day to day details, getting close enough to you and me to make a real difference in our lives. Each story, by the way, carries forward images from the creation accounts of Genesis. There God speaks the earth and universe into being. “And God said…” is the familiar refrain (for example Genesis 1:6, 9, 14, and 20). “…(T)hen the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground…” (2:7) we read later, which seems to indicate that God’s hands became muddy in the creation process as well. God’s voice and God’s hands have been with us from the very beginning. God has always been “in the mix”, a fact which continues today.
Obviously we do not always recognize God’s work, and sometimes we may even doubt that God remains with us. But scripture is clear on the point, so clear that when we refer to Jesus Christ as Emmanuel (God with us) it is essentially redundant.
Prayer: Lord, you have been our shelter and our help from the very beginning. Help us to trust in your continued presence and to open our hearts to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)