a poetic paraphrase and application
God said to the prophet Jonah,
“Go tell Ninevah their sin is great.
I can’t ignore it any longer.
Now go and do not wait.”
But Jonah did not want to go;
for Ninevah he did not care.
He got on a ship for Tarshish;
got on board and paid the fare.
God sent a terrible wind at sea;
it filled the sailors with dread.
But Jonah lad down, fast asleep
while the rest thought they would soon be dead.
The captain woke him up and said,
“How can you be asleep?!
Pray to your God to rescue us
from dying in these waters deep.”
They wondered, “Who has caused this storm?
What bad things has he done?”
They drew lots for an answer
And found Jonah was the guilty one.
Jonah said, “I worship God
who made the sea and land.
I have run away from Him.
This disaster is from His hand.”
He told them, “Throw me overboard,
Then the storm will trouble you no more.”
But the men were very frighttened
And tried hard to row to shore.
Finally as the storm gew worse
And they had done all they could do
They cast Jonah into the sea
And soon the sailors knew:
That God who made the sea and land
Is God, the only One
For the waters suddenly grew calm
They were in awe at what the Lord had done.
But …
What happened to Jonah?
How did the prophet fare?
Was he gone for good, or
Did God for Jonah care?
Now …
God prepared for Jonah,
A great fish to swallow him whole
Water was all around him
Even to his very soul.
There he was three days and nights
In the belly of the fish
To God he prayed and cried. He said,
“I’ll do whatever You wish.”
Then God spoke unto the fish
It threw Jonah up onto shore.
Then God said to Jonah
And told him again once more,
“Go to the city of Ninevah;
Their sin is very great.
Surely I will destroy them
Because their wicked deeds I hate.”
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord,
He did as God had said.
He told Ninevah, “God will destroy you;
In forty days you will be dead.”
The people listened and trusted God.
The whole city mourned and wept.
They fasted and cried out to God
And of their wickedness did repent.
When God saw what they had done,
How they changed their ways,
He had mercy on them
And pardoned them that day.
Now this made Jonah angry.
He lost his temper and said,
“God, if you will not kill them
Please kill me! I’m better off dead!”
I knew You wouldn’t do it!
I wasted all this time!
I knew You would forgive them
Because You are so kind.”
God said, “Why are you angry?
Why does this make you mad?”
But Jonah refused to answer;
Jonah’s behaviour made God sad.
Jonah went out of Ninevah
And sat down in defeat.
Out of branches he made a shelter
To give shade from the heat.
He watched the city of Ninevah
To see what God would do.
Their wickedness was very great,
This Jonah felt he surely knew.
God had pity on Jonah
And grew a plant over him
To cool him off and cheer him up,
Jonah felt pleased and not so grim.
But the very next day
God sent a worm to eat
The plant that had sprung up
To keep Jonah from the heat.
The sun came up, the wind was hot;
Blisters formed on Jonah’s head.
Jonah got angry again and prayed,
“Please kill me! I’m better off dead!”
God said to him, “Why are you mad
And feeling pity for this tree?
This tree lived and died in one night
And you are angry as can be!
What about the people of Ninevah?
Do you know how I am feeling?
Should I not have pity on them
And to their hearts bring healing?"
Consider...
Where would Ninevah be
If Jonah did not go?
For on their own they could not see
Their own wickedness they did not know.
Perhaps they would not have turned
From the sin that filled their days
Perhaps God owuld not have changed His ind
He may have destroyed them in their ways.
Do you think your life is pointless?
Are you angry, wanting just to die?
Don't give up and don't give in,
Do not believe that lie!
For where will the pople of this city be
If you do not go?
On their own they may not see;
Their wickedness they may not know.
Perhaps they will hear and listen
And turn away from their sinful ways.
Then God may hear and pardon them
That they may live and give Him praise.
INDNJC
Copyright 2005 Connie R. Smith
ISBN: 978-1-7386429-5-3 (print)
978-1-7386429-6-0 (digital)