THE BOOK OF JONAH is one of my Biblical favorites—and not just because it's short. Rather, it shows me the variety of inspiration that can come from four brief chapters. The story is simple. God tells Jonah, an Old Testament prophet, to go to the Assyrian city of Nineveh and preach to the people there. Perhaps because the Ninevites have been enemies of Jonah's people—attacking and enslaving the Israelites—Jonah resists this assignment. Instead, he heads in the opposite direction, boarding a boat to the city of Tarshish. When a storm comes up at sea, the sailors decide Jonah is somehow to blame and throw him overboard. A "great fish" then swallows Jonah, and Jonah spends three days in the fish's belly praying for God to deliver him. After the fish spits Jonah up onto dry land, Jonah goes to Nineveh and preaches to the Ninevites. His efforts are successful. The people of Nineveh give up their violent ways for a more spiritual life.
Although it might seem like a stretch, a wayward prophet and a vomiting fish have a lot to offer 21st-century thinkers. I've turned to Jonah again and again for guidance and inspiration. Here are some examples.
For comfort. When I was a child, the Jonah story spoke to me of God's love and presence. No matter where I found myself—even in the belly of a whale at the bottom of the sea—I knew God would be there, ready to deliver me from harm. When I was about seven, I had a bad bike accident while staying with my aunt. Although my mom couldn't be there to sing hymns and pray with me, the story of Jonah was there to comfort me. I remember feeling God's love all around me and understanding that, like Jonah, there was no place where I could be separated from God. This realization calmed me down and brought healing. My aunt was surprised at how quickly the cuts from the accident closed up.
