I love the simplicity of children’s Bible stories.  Especially when they are really well done.  Often, while reading one to my own kids or to the Sunday School class I teach, a new truth will strike me (even when I’ve heard the story umpteen times).

Many children’s stories are written about Jonah.  Whether it is the sheer wonder of a fish swallowing a man -or- the hilarity of the man being puked up onto the shore -or- the terrific illustrations of a sad-faced Jonah hiding from God… kids love the story.

Here is my new truth today from this age-old tale…  This is not a story about a group of people (the Ninevites) changing their sinful behavior and turning to God.  It is a story about one of God’s followers (Jonah) dealing with his own disobedience and judgmental attitude.

It is not about God’s people going to the sinners and telling them about their sin.  It is about God’s people dealing with their own reactions to the sin in this world.

Jonah knew God’s rules.  He prayed to God.  He even heard God’s messages.  But there was something about the Ninevite people that caused Jonah to put his foot down and say, “No God.  What they’ve done is too wicked.”  It’s caused me to stop and wonder: Who are my Ninevites?  Is there someone you classify as a Ninevite?  It could be someone close to you who has hurt you -or- a group of people who live a lifestyle you don’t agree with.  The problem?  The problem isn’t their sin.  It is your (and my) lack of love.

God’s answer isn’t to wage war against them or run from them.  It isn’t to preach a message of doom and then wait for it to come true.  Jonah said, “I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God…”  Jonah knew that God desired reconciliation from the Ninevites, not their destruction.  Jonah knew there was a chance that they would repent and be restored.  In his opinion – they didn’t deserve the chance.  That’s pretty harsh, isn’t it?

God does not want us to have Ninevites in our lives.  Not in our families, not in our towns, not in this world.  He is the one to pass judgment – not you or I.  Our job – love them.  Our job – obey Him.  Through our obedience there is the great chance that we get to be a part of someone else’s reconciliation.

God didn’t need Jonah to restore the Ninevites.  God would have used someone else if necessary.  The book of Jonah is about Jonah dealing with Jonah’s sin.  Whoever causes you or I to want to turn and run the other way is in our lives because we have something we need to deal with too.  Our pride, our disobedience, and our demand for justice done on our terms keeps us in the belly of the fish.  Not a place I want to hang out.  How ’bout you?

~ Peace.

(I got this image from South African Illustrator’s website – they own the copyright)