A Whale of a Tale

"When God saw what they did,

how they turned from their evil ways,

God changed his mind about the calamity

that he had said he would bring upon them;

and he did not do it."

(from Jonah 3:1-5,10)

Whale Watching trips are major attraction in Bar Harbor, ME.

Book a trip, go and watch for a whale spout or breach, return to port, and compare whale tale sightings.

I can't imagine any whale tales include being thrown overboard, swallowed, and spit out on the beach.

Jonah’s fish fable creates a fun Bible narrative for children.

Jonah’s fish fable is actually an adult moral tale designed to teach something about God, salvation and ourselves.

Imagine how you, like Jonah, would feel if you were told to “Go to Ninevah,” the capital of your occupying force known for its brutality, and say God will overthrow this sin city in 40 days.

Like Jonah you'd probably disobey God, get in a boat and go in the opposite direction.

This isn’t what God says to do, so Jonah ends up in a fish.

God saves him, tells him again to Go to Ninevah, and with zero enthusiasm, prophesies to Ninevah the wimpiest prophesy possible.

Ninevah’s repentance is overwhelming, practically earning Jonah a place in the evangelism hall of fame.

God forgives Ninevah, the worst sin city imaginable, because forgiveness is what God does.

Ninevah is saved from destruction.

Is Jonah happy about this mass repentance?

No, he’s angry because God does what God says God will do: be merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (4:2)

What have we learned and been taught from this moral tale?

The moral of Jonah’s whale tale is: God is being God when salvation is a free gift of grace offered to save the worst of people.

Think about it: God gave Jonah and Nineveh a second chance. Who needs a second chance from you?