Jonah

I use a read the Bible in three years plan. I think this is the third time we have covered Jonah. That means I have been using this a long time now. Wow, how time goes by!

Jonah is one of the funniest books in the Bible. Jonah is social commentary with a barb. Think of some plays, TV shows, movies that you know that are entertaining with a commentary aspect. Some of those are based on fact just like we believe Jonah was.

Jonah would make a great play. What would you think of musical based on Jonah. There have been musicals based on worse concepts. I have seen a play based on Jonah called Saving Nineveh. No it is not a musical but it is pretty funny.

I still remember fondly being able to attend a read through at the AD Players'. With minimum props it might have been even funnier this way. Knowing the basic plot beforehand I can supply my own mental images to go with the dialogue.

God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah says, "No way, Yahweh!" (To the tune of "No way, Jose!" if I have to explain it.)

Nineveh was about 500 miles east of Jerusalem. Instead Jonah heads to Tarshish, about 1,000 miles west.

I think that we all have our Nineveh's. There is a place or form of service where we have said "no" to God. That will stymie our advancement with God. We need to deal with it.