Jonah: Prodigal Son or Older Brother?

Jonah 4:1-11

 

“Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

“So, God, if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!”           The Message

 

You’re probably familiar with the story of the Prodigal son. The younger son asks for his inheritance and spends it on wild living, while the older son stays at home, obediently working for his father. When the younger son realizes his sin and repents, his Father welcomes him home with open arms. But the older son resents him deeply.

 

The story of Jonah reminds me of this parable of Jesus. First you have the Ninevites – bad guys to the core. They represent everything that is evil and unrighteous before the Lord, but eventually repent.

 

Then you have Jonah – an all-around good religious guy. He is a prophet of the Lord, who God believed in enough to call him to minister in one of the most important cities of the day – Nineveh. But he rebels and condemns the Ninevites.

 

As a result, Jonah instead of following God’s word, heads off to Spain – the total opposite direction of Nineveh. Despite Jonah’s rebellious behavior, the Lord pursues him and shows His love and mercy to him. Following God’s saving grace, Jonah obeys and goes to Nineveh. And low and behold, the people repent!

 

You’d think at this point Jonah would be excited about how God has used him in His plan of redemption. NOT! Instead he is angry at God for showing grace and mercy to the hated Ninevites. This is the same grace and mercy that God had shown to him. It is the same grace and mercy that God shows to you and to me.

 

In this story we come face to face with ourselves. In so doing, we must ask ourselves the question that the title asks of Jonah: Are you like the prodigal son or the older brother? Or are you like the Ninevites or Jonah?

 

We also come face to face with a loving and merciful God and must ask ourselves another question: Will you accept His love and forgiveness only for yourself or will you pass it on to others. The choice is yours.