e-vo for week of September 14

Dearest e-votees-

This coming Sunday’s appointed Old Testament text is from Jonah. Jonah is pouting that God was gracious and generous to the people of Nineveh. I wonder where we might find ourselves in this account.

Peace,
Karl

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10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee 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. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." 10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Jonah 3:10-4:11, NRSV

Jonah, the ever reluctant prophet, is upset because he has proclaimed that the people of Nineveh will be overthrown in 40 days. The people (and the animals) repent with sackcloth and ashes. God sees their repentance and decides to spare the city. Perhaps Jonah is angry, as he says, because he realized God would spare the city anyway and is frustrated he made the trip and the proclamation for nothing. Perhaps Jonah is angry because what he said would happen will not come to pass—severe consequences can come to prophets who speak of things that don’t come true (see Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Perhaps Jonah is angry because he didn’t like what he saw as he made his way through Nineveh pronouncing judgment and now God is letting them off the hook. For these and other reasons Jonah is upset—to the point of saying he prefers death to life—and sets up a place to see what will happen to the town of Nineveh.

God provides a miraculous vine that grew to offer comfort to Jonah. Jonah was pleased. God sent a worm to wither the vine to seemingly offer discomfort to Jonah. Jonah is displeased. God sends a scorching wind. Jonah is further displeased. Jonah reiterates that he prefers death to life. God challenges Jonah’s anger. For a third time in these verses Jonah articulates his preference for death.

Where do you find yourself in this story today? Are you pressed into service unwillingly? Are you doing what was required of you but a completely different result than what was anticipated has emerged? Are you mad enough or sad enough or hurting enough to be able to say that you prefer death to life? Are you one who has been called out in a sin but willing to repent and seek God’s grace and forgiveness?

The take away from these verses is that God is concerned for us and for all (even the animals). God’s compassion trumps God’s judgment. No matter where we find ourselves in this story—God’s grace finds us and calls us out.


God, help us to hear your callings in our lives this day and abide in them. Help us be ones who rejoice when your mercy triumphs. Help us receive your gracious gifts. Help us seek your good for others. Help us choose life for us and for all. Thank you that you care so deeply for all—including us. Amen.