Anyone who spent
any amount of time anywhere near a Sunday School has heard the story of Jonah. For
whatever reason it’s seems to be
a very popular story to share with children. I suspect
anything to do with animals saving the day is attractive to kids. I’m sure you
know it well. Jonah gets told by God to go to Nineveh and “preach against it”
(1:2), he runs away, ends up on a boat in a storm going in the opposite
direction, he gets thrown in the ocean which seems to appease God, he’s
swallowed by a “huge fish” (1:17) in which he spends three days and three
nights. From inside the fish he realises the errors of his ways, prays to God
and determines to obey instead, so the fish vomits him up onto dry land. Jonah
goes to Nineveh and proclaims the message God gives to him; “Forty more days
and Ninevah will be overthrown” (3:4). Immediately a remarkable thing happens –
“The Ninevites believed God” (3:5). The king calls a fast and demands the
people and animals be covered in sackcloth to demonstrate their repentance and decrees
that everyone should
“call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their
violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his
fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (3:8-9)