A friend and colleague in ministry, soon to be Reverend April Alkema, wrote this. A very timely message that I thought of sharing with you.

Not the Rescue We Asked For

Have you read the story of Jonah recently? Jonah is tasked with carrying prophetic truth to the city of Nineveh and instead of going, flees in another direction (Jonah 1:1-3). The story reveals that he fled because he didn’t want that city to experience God’s mercy (Jonah 3:10-4:2). Seriously.

Jonah says, “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…” and this was the cause of his anger. If I’m honest, L get it. It can be really hard to be inconvenienced for the sake of others L don’t even know, or in Jonah’s case, people that he doesn’t like.

Jonah’s fleeing causes a huge storm to brew while he’s at sea. When the sailors on his ship realize the storm has been caused by his prejudice, his anger, his miserliness, Jonah takes responsibility for his wrongdoing – he asks them to throw him overboard. Then, God rescues Jonah from the sea. God sends a large fish to swallow Jonah up (1:17). The fish is God’s “provision,” his salvation (1:17). It can’t be the kind of rescue Jonah expected. Or wanted.

The fish has been misinterpreted by many people as God’s punishment on Jonah. But it’s not. It’s just…not the kind of rescue he would’ve asked for.

Personally, I would be happy to never hear the phrase «social distancing” again. I would like to punch social distancing in the face. “Sheltering in place” I still haven’t wrapped my head around. This is not the kind of rescue I would’ve asked for. But I think we’re all being invited to consider it as God’s mercy on us, love for us, and part of our salvation.

Dear friends, welcome to the belly of a really really unexpected fish.

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Let’s pray with Jonah, who said this when he was inside the fish:

“2 In my distress I called to the Lord, and God answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry.

3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me; ah your waves and breakers swept over me.

4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.

7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You, to your holy temple.

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.”