Jonah

Jehovah illustrated how little sense it makes for one to complain about the lack of something that he or she didn't work to create or maintain through the biblical narrative of Jonah.

Our story begins with Jonah, son of Amittai, being called by Jehovah to travel to the city of Nineveh and warn the people there of their impending doom. The people from Nineveh were committing sins to a great magnitude and God could no longer ignore their insolence. With that, Jonah sailed for Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction of Nineveh. Of coarse this was a big no-no and a fierce storm erupted during the voyage. The sailors threw over all the excess cargo in an attempt to keep the boat floating. The situation only became worse and they decided to figure out who had sinned against his or her god. Sure enough, drawing straws revealed Jonah as the guilty one. Coincidence? I think not! Jonah explained that he was running away from God and that the storm would evaporate upon throwing him over. They threw Jonah overboard and the storm subsided. Finally Jonah made the right choice! As a bonus, the sailors worshipped and made vows to God when they realized that he was in control of the environment!

It must have seemed like the end for Jonah as the water closed in around him. But it wasn't! A giant fish swallowed Jonah. Jehovah kept Jonah safe for three days and nights inside the fish until Jonah finally prayed to God. Jonah thanked Jehovah for saving him from a watery grave, exalted him, and said that he would finally fulfill God's command. With that, the fish spit Jonah out on a shore and Jonah headed straight for Nineveh. It's not every day that a fellow traveler could tell another that he or she had just spent three days and nights alive in a giant fish after nearly drowning, but Jonah could have. Bringing bad news to a city is uncomfortable enough, but that totally owns! Jehovah certainly isn't a god of comfort and convenience!

Arriving in Nineveh, Jonah proclaimed the people's impending doom. It must have taken Jonah some time because the diameter of the city was a three day walk! Upon hearing Jonah's message from Jehovah, the people believed him and immediately mourned in repentance. Even the king included himself! Like Jonah had already apparently thought, Jehovah relented on the city's judgment because of the people's change in heart!

Jonah sulked off to the East country side near the city and waited to see if anything would happen. During the night a broad-leafed tree grew up. Impressive! God could certainly make plants grow fast for his purposes. It provided some much appreciated shade for Jonah during the next day. God had also sent a worm, which chewed through the tree. In another day it withered and died. On top of that, a hot wind came from the east. Jonah became faint and started wishing that he were dead. There is no wonder that my friend suggested that Jonah must have really been emotionally unstable.

At the end of the biblical narrative of Jonah, God asked Jonah why he was upset over his grace which saved the city and the worm that destroyed the tree, when, in both situations, Jonah had done nothing to create or maintain either. What annoys you that you honestly have no ownership in?