Jonah Series: Overtime

This past Sunday at Genesis Church, we worked through our last portion of text in the book of Jonah. In chapter 4, Jonah is seen struggling to come to terms with the fact that God showed mercy to Nineveh—to a people that were the enemies of Jonah and all of Israel.

Jonah shows himself to lack any amount of compassion, and therefore, value for human life, while at the same time becoming so emotionally tied to a plant that provided him shade that he rejoiced in the plant but was so disturbed when it died the next day. The ridiculous and self-centered behavior of Jonah is on full display when he becomes angry over the life of a plant that is cut short, yet seeks to have the lives of all the inhabitants of Nineveh cut short.

In this final passage of Jonah 4, we see that God values people because they are people, made in his image, regardless of their behavior. And if people are valuable to God, then we must adopt God’s value system and treat them according to their created value, not their behavioral value. This does not mean that people are not accountable for their sin, that they escape the consequences of their sin, or that God does not care about right living. What we do see from God is that the sin and bondage of others should move us to be quick to show compassion and mercy in our response to them.

But Jonah misses all of these truths unfolding around him until God addresses this issue in the prophet’s heart directly.

In his message to Jonah, God states,

“‘…You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?’” (Jonah 4:10-11)

We talked all about how this text highlights that God values all people. But the Lord includes “and also much cattle” into his statement. In fact, the reference to cattle are the last words of the whole book!

So why does God mention cattle? At the end of this series, we should be familiar enough with the text to realize that no detail is included without a specific reason. So let’s look at why I believe this reference to cattle is included and the message the author intends for us to walk away with.

First of all, we must acknowledge that God loves all of his creation. And the redemptive work of Jesus in his death and resurrection that launched God’s “new creation” includes all of creation (Romans 8:19-23). So does God care for humanity? Of course! But does he also care about the environment, forests, clean water and air, fish, birds, and animals? Absolutely!

But there is more going on in the text than just an affirmation of God’s love for all his creation.

Animals are used by God throughout the Bible in various ways: as messengers (Balaam’s donkey), symbols (Holy Spirit as a dove), or as a means to communicate the truth of God’s heart, mind, and message to humanity in some way (the sacrificial system, food laws, etc.).

In the book of Jonah, animals are scattered throughout the text as part of God’s plan to test Jonah—to experience what is in Jonah’s heart and to have Jonah experience God’s heart. For example,

• Jonah’s Name (1:1) — Jonah’s name means “dove,” which often symbolizes peace & new beginnings in the Bible, communicating part of how we are to understand the message to Nineveh—that God desires peace and a “new beginning” for Nineveh. God desires mercy.

• Large Fish (1:17-2:10) — God showed mercy to Jonah to demonstrate his merciful nature towards the undeserving.

• Worm (4:7) — The worm ate the plant that was providing Jonah shade and comfort to expose the depths of Jonah’s self-centered heart, lack of compassion, and ludicrous value system.

We should expect that the reference to “cattle” contains a similar message.

Throughout the book, Jonah—the “dove”—is unmerciful and takes a stance of superiority towards the Assyrians as a righteous man of God, when in reality, the pagan sailors and the people of Nineveh show a more righteous response to God through their repentance than Jonah. And chapter 3 tells us that the king of Nineveh ordered that the people cover their cattle in sackcloth and join in the city’s fasting and repentance.

This scene shows that even the cattle offer a more repentant response to God than Jonah has throughout the story!

Now, you may be thinking, “EJ…beasts can’t offer repentance. They don’t have free will!”

You’re absolutely right! And that’s exactly the contradiction that is meant to clue us in on God’s message to Jonah…

Jonah is the true beast of the story—incapable thus far of showing repentance.

The Assyrians may have been a brutal enemy, delighting in their ability to make others suffer…

But Jonah is the real beast.

Jonah was swallowed by a large sea creature of some sort—a terrifying prospect that left Jonah feeling like he was on the brink of death…

But Jonah is the real beast.

The pagan sailors may have been in bondage to the many terrible gods and despicable pagan worship practices known throughout the land of Canaan…

But Jonah is the real beast.

Jonah shows himself to be arrogant, uncompassionate, and hard-hearted. He takes a self-righteous stance throughout the story and shows that he is slow to repent and return to God. Jonah wants God to be who Jonah thinks God should be—and to act accordingly! Despite all of the mercy shown to Jonah throughout the story, Jonah longs for judgment to fall on his enemies.

But all is not hopeless. And God has shown us throughout the story that he was willing to go to great lengths to reach Jonah. And not just because God chose to be merciful to Jonah but because God is merciful—it’s an essential part of his nature! 

Jonah ends with this cliffhanger that leaves us wondering how Jonah responds to God: did Jonah repent? Did Jonah change how he values people? Did Jonah finally let God into his heart to do a deep work of healing and transformation?

Those are all great questions. But let’s remember a major key in how we should read this book: Jonah is human. Jonah is us. And how we see God interact with Jonah in all of his weaknesses and failures should encourage us that God will do the same with us.

God is patient and long-suffering. He meets us in our darkest, deepest moments of failure and defeat in life. He is willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to get through to us, to grip our hearts, and to save us from sin and from ourselves—even as far as going to his death on a cross to redeem us!

We are all like Jonah. But that doesn’t mean hope is lost. If we can let go of our desire for God to be who we want him to be—a version that meets all of our “fleshy” needs—and allow him to be who he actually is, we will see a God of incredible love. A God who has never left our side. A God who chases after those who run from him. A God who is willing to go to great lengths just to reach one person.

A God of mercy.

And, if you let him, he will heal your heart and completely transform your life.