Jonah: biblical narrative and theological interpretation

Jonah

The passages found in Acts 1:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, as well as their surrounding context, both emphasize the mystery of God's works on this world, especially through the personages of the prophets and Jesus Christ. these passages specifically deal with Jesus immediately prior to and following the time of his Passion. Acts 1:7-8 has Jesus reminding his followers that their concerns should not be of God's plan, but rather bear witness to that which they themselves know, form the power that they are imbued with by the Holy spirit. The passage in 1 Corinthians contains the description of the last supper and the rites of the communion, where the righteous eat and drink in remembrance of Christ's body and blood, which were broken and spilled for mankind's salvation. Each passage is a reflection of God's power on Earth, and the mystery this entails for man.

The first section of Jonah's story in the bible is comprised of the first two chapters. The central idea of this section is the necessity of obedience to God's will, and the magnitude of God's power on Earth. This is shown through the troubled seas that the sailors experience due to Jonah's disobedience, the sailors' fear of God in throwing Jonah, an innocent man in their eyes, overboard, and in Jonah's prayer from within the belly of the great fish. In all instances, disobedience leads to trouble from God (in the form of stormy seas) whereas fulfilling God's will restores peace and safety -- the calmer seas, the fish that saves Jonah from drowning, and the depositing of Jonah on dry land after his promise of obedience. Jonah's purpose for traveling -- to warn the people of Nineveh away from their own disobedience -- also shows the same basic concept at work in the larger story.

The second section of the Jonah story is that which is contained in the third chapter, where Jonah preaches to the people of Nineveh and they quickly turn back to God and away from their errant behaviors. The main subject of this section is God's compassion, which is willingly bestowed upon the deserving. Whereas the previous section contained immediately present and observable threats to the very lives of the people involved, in this section it is merely Jonah's admonition that is required to turn the people of Nineveh back on to the path of righteousness. Upon hearing his words, even the king reduces himself to fasting and sackcloth, and requires the same turning to God of all the citizens and even the livestock that live within the city. This total devotion to God from a mere reminder of his due is enough to restore God's compassion and dissuade him from his punishments.