Man Overboard?

Man Over Board

Jonah is a story most people know quite well. So what’s it about? Fact or fiction, the text tells us about a prophet commissioned to speak to the great city of Nineveh. On the way we hear tell of some sailors and a great big fish. Not everyone agrees about the details, but Jonah is a true story, a miraculous story as we shall see.

The first person we meet is Jonah a prophet. His job, so to speak, is to speak. To speak about God. Who God is and how living according to God's way brings life. And he's given the task of preaching, which in this case anyway he rejects. Did he have good reason? Maybe. The Assyrians were known from cruelty using mutilation and crucifixion to put fear in others. They were dreaded enemies of the Hebrew people. They were so bad they didn't deserve to have a prophet come to preach! After all they may repent. Or so Jonah thought.

That's one view. Another is that this was his first preaching opportunity. And he had no desire to be a prophet in the first place. That happens often, by the way. Some think God calling is like the Priemer calling up to give a nice ambassadorship or something. Not usually the case with God. When God calls, maturity is called for. Regardless of all that, Jonah runs.  Ever done that, run from God? Trouble is he, no one gets far. God is everywhere all at the same time, but that doesn’t stop Jonah from trying.

He finds a ship and leaves town. Maybe he thinks, God lives only in Israel, okay then I'll go as far away as possible - Spain! It's like thinking if only I could get a ride on one of those new consumer flights to the moon. I can out run my problems there. Ridiculous, right? Whatever Jonah's issues are, whatever our issues are we always take them with us. Always. No place, no church and in many ways no spouse or family is any better than the next. For the most part people are happy or unhappy based on what they bring into a situation. Another prophet once said bloom where you are planted. That is, make the best of it where you are and see what God can do in and through you.

Jonah didn't get that. He's asleep to the reality of grace. He doesn't even speak until pressed. He doesn’t really act at all. Ever wonder why he doesn't just speak his piece and jump overboard? He's stuck.

People get stuck all the time. What to do, what to say, what to think? Jonah is so stuck he doesn't even know how to ask for help. Isolated by his own choices, Jonah is stuck.

Ever been there? Sometimes I get stuck and feeling sorry for myself. I withdraw and take everything personally. Maybe you know the song. Nobody loves me everybody hates me, I'm going to go eat worms. Because after all that's what I am.

On a good day, Norma sees this starting and tells me to smarten up. Usually in clear and precise terms. Biblically we call that speaking the truth in love. That's a great blessing of community. Of course to receive any blessing we have to be willing to be involved in community.

Having said all that however, Jonah’s disobedience or fear is not the main point of the story.

So, is it about the sailors? They are religious, and by story’s end, they are God respecting if not God fearing. Interesting, isn’t it, the captain has to tell one who worships the Lord, the God of heaven to pray. It is a sad commentary when those who are committed to the truth of God’s word have to be prodded by a lost world into spiritual activity. Interesting also that these so called worldly men recognize there are spiritual forces that need to be respected. To run away from a god was foolish; but to run from “the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land” was suicidal.

Atheism is dying out, by the way. The old view of many gods is returning. Today, many people will appeal to the same thing the sailors did. They believe in karma, read horoscopes and have a Buddha statue lying around someplace along with a bible. Religious good luck charms. People are spiritual these days, but how many want an encounter with the Living God? So for many the choice is to try running from God or  acknowledging many Gods – sort of to cover their bases – or to keep God away by not stepping out of line too far.

As people say, sure we're all a little naughty and we all sin a bit, just don’t do anything big so God will notice. That’s what motivates the sailors to ask: what is it you have done?! The sailors recognize that God is in control of the storm. They want to know what Jonah did to make god so mad. They were frightened to the depths of their beings.

Of course they have it wrong. God isn't mad; nowhere does it say God is angry; God is simply getting Jonah's attention. And theirs: interesting again, they pray and are heard, spared for the part they play in the divine drama.

But the story really isn't about the sailors or their captain either.

The point as best I can discern is summed up in two simple words God provided.

God provided for Jonah.

First in giving him a calling, Maybe Jonah didn’t recognize it for what it was, tried to avoid it; he ran from it. But that didn’t make Jonah right, wise or content. There is a strong message here that God knows what’s best and living into a calling is what’s best. Running from it will bring a storm of some sort.

Today we celebrated in the choosing and ordination of new elders and deacons. I expect that none of these men believe they have it all figured out and that’s good. When God calls we seldom if ever do. It’s living into the calling that people mature and develop their gifts. Avoiding it or refusing to consider God’s invitation that’s when the storm comes. The storm of our own making. Running from God’s call to volunteer, befriend a neighbour, to enter a certain field or profession – whatever it is that God puts in the way – that’s when life gets messy. That’s when the wind picks up and things threaten to break up. Why? Because that’s when the person is running against the wind and not with it.

In the end Jonah is resigned to his calling – can’t escape God after all. And in just going along with it he loses joy. What has God called you to be, to do? Embrace it run with it, find joy. You will because it is there.

Second, God provided discipline when Jonah needed it. The sailors were never in danger, neither was Jonah. The storm was always in God's control. He was on the boat with them just like Jesus was with his disciples when another storm picked up. You can get all the details from Matthew 8. The comparison is amazing. Jonah sleeps, Jesus sleeps; the sailors and disciples are terrified; Jonah wakes up – busted! You can’t outrun God. Jesus wakes up – busted; I am with you always. End result: God is with you and stills the storm. Lesson learned.

No doubt Jonah’s experience is unpleasant and humbling, but God’s purposes are for his good. When the storm rages; do not despair God will not only take notice, God is in it, present, guiding, disciplining, loving. When the storm is raging do what the sailors did: pray!

And third, God provided a way back. Jonah did not mess things up so badly that the road back was gone forever. No bridges were burned. No sin unforgivable after all except the one to resist God from the beginning to end. That’s not going on here. Jonah worshipped God; Jonah sinned; God redeems sinners and gives them another chance. And another and another. Jonah's story isn't over yet and neither is ours.

Maybe try that on with your own name inserted. William worships God; William sins; in grace God redeems William.

Let me say it once and clearly. There is no way to get God to love you more than he already does. There is no way to make God love you less.

Sure consequences for sin happen and they should. Sure repentance and confession are daily practices to keep the grace flowing. Sure forgiveness and being forgiving are daily reminders of the reality that people fail each other; fail to live up to the Glory of God. But God’s forgiveness and willingness to lift people up again and again is not conditional from God's end. Sometimes people make it conditional based on judging themselves or others in ways God doesn’t.

God’s desire for the average disciple of Jesus is to grow in the grace and knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ. By whatever means possible. And whatever means usually involves being with difficult people some who believe and some who do not. Of course those are just the type most try to avoid. Volunteering at the Champion Centre, Rising Son Clubhouse or visiting Tom Cnossen in Hobema may be just the place God is call his people to.

God provided. God provides.

What do you need? A fresh start? A reminder of grace? Grace to be forgiving? Maybe, what God’s people need to remember the world beyond these walls. God lives there too, let’s listen for how God would have us run with joy into the adventure of faith with him.

Ask, says Jesus and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Stop running, get unstuck, embrace the one who provides and see what he can do.