Been Thinking About:
The
Big Fish
Story Of Yom Kippur
(an article by RBC Ministries President Mart De Haan)
On Yom
Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish calendar, a big fish story is
read in
synagogues. As worshipers fast, confess their sins, and reflect on the
words of
Moses and Isaiah, they listen once again to the account of a catch and
release
that is so amazing no one would believe it if it wasn’t in the Bible.
Of all the
readings that could have been chosen for the highest holy day of the
year,
someone started the tradition of reading Jonah. But why? Why do Jewish
people
read about the reluctant prophet who ran from God, was caught by a big
fish,
and then was miraculously released to complete a dangerous mission in
what is
now the nation of Iraq?
Rabbis have
different explanations for reading Jonah on the holiday commonly called
the Day
of Atonement. One teacher of Israel says the story of Jonah is more
about
repentance than it is about the fish. Some explain that Jonah is
evidence that
no one can escape the presence of God, even while trying to run from
the
Almighty. Others believe Jonah is read on Yom Kippur with the hope that
listeners would learn from Jonah’s mistakes. One rabbi says, “God cares
for
everyone. Jonah cares only for himself. God wins.”
Each of
these explanations makes a good point. But the last one intrigues me
the most.
The story of Jonah is, after all, about a stubbornly self-centered man
who was
glad to receive God’s mercy when he thought he was dying in the stomach
of a
great fish (2:9). But he wanted nothing to do with a God who could be
“gracious
and merciful” to the enemies of Israel (4:2).
Before we
are too hard on Jonah, though, let’s think about Nineveh.
In the days
of Jonah, Nineveh was the thriving capital of the great Assyrian
Empire. Her
soldiers had a reputation for torturing their prisoners of war. Rumors
of
Assyrian atrocities were so alarming that victims often surrendered
without a
fight.
These are
the people to whom God sent Jonah, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that
great
city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before
Me”
(1:2).
One of the
surprises of Jonah’s story is that when he finally shouts the message
of God in
the streets of Nineveh, the whole city repents. Even the animals wear
sackcloth
after the king of the Assyrians declares like a prophet, “Let man and
beast be
covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one
turn from
his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell
if God
will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we
may not
perish?” (3:8-9).
To Jonah’s
dismay, his worst fears come to pass. God shows mercy to Israel’s
enemies when
He sees their change of heart. Jonah is furious. As if he and his
people alone
deserve something that no one can earn, he complains, “Ah, Lord, was
not this
what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously
to
Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to
anger
and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Therefore now,
O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die
than to
live!” (4:2-3).
Then the
story gets even more amazing. As Jonah sits outside the city waiting to
see
what will happen, God grows a plant to give him shade. Jonah is
grateful. Then
God sends a worm to kill the plant. The plant shrivels, leaving Jonah
not only
to overheat under the Middle East sun, but also furious with God.
Jonah’s last
words show no change of heart. He is so beside himself with anger that
the Lord
asks, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And Jonah
says, “It is
right for me to be angry, even to death!” (v.9).
As Jonah’s
story ends, God is left prodding the conscience of a man who is more
concerned
about the plant that gave him shade than about the people of Nineveh
who needed
mercy.
That’s where
Jonah’s story would end if it were not for the possibility that, ever
since,
others have been learning from his mistake. What about us? Could the
brooding
prophet help us make this our own day of repentance by reminding us
that God
cares for everyone? We’re inclined to care only for ourselves. But with
or
without us, God will have His way in the end.
From the
beginning, God’s intent was nobler than to let one extended family
enjoy a land
of milk and honey. He poured out His love on His “chosen people” for a
purpose
much greater than themselves. Embraced by His love, they were called to
bring
the whole world the news of God’s mercy, patience, and compassion for
repentant
hearts.
By the time
Jesus appeared on the scene, some prominent religious leaders seem to
have
forgotten God’s mission for Israel. Like echoes of Jonah, they
considered
non-Jewish people unclean and untouchable and unworthy of God’s mercy.
Quite
unintentionally, these religious moralists did a pretty good Jonah
imitation.
Although they didn’t know it at the time, they were angry with the God
who
wanted to show mercy to their enemies.
And what
about us? Do we ever catch ourselves doing the Jonah routine? Could it
be
happening again to us right now? If so, will it take a “big fish” to
turn us
around? Or are we willing to make this our own personal moment and day
of
repentance?
Father in
heaven, I see Jesus and Jonah in me. One cares for all; and the other
cares
only for himself. One died for me; the other has killed me over and
over.
Please renew in me now a true heart of repentance and a willingness to
let You
love the “Assyrians” that Your Son died for. –Mart De Haan
—Mart
De Haan
