March Madness Bracket

A Lenten Series on the number 40
Jonah’s 40‑day warning to Nineveh
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Jonah 3:1-4:3 

[Historically, Lent is a 40‑day period of preparation leading up to Easter. It involves reflection and repentance with the ultimate goal of transformation. The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is associated with multiple stories of preparation and testing. In this Lenten series, we will be looking at various Biblical stories that include the number 40, and how it applies to us.]

  

I recently filled out my bracket for March Madness. I’d love it if Michigan State would win it all, but it’s highly unlikely. So, in the spirit of being objective, I picked them to lose in the Sweet Sixteen round. That seemed like a reasonable choice.

 

However, when it came to MSU’s archrival, the University of Michigan, objectivity and being reasonable went out the window. I did pick them to go to the Final Four. After all, I could win some money if my bracket does well. But, when it came to winning it all, I chose the other team. Being reasonable has its limits.

 

The story that most people know about Jonah is that he spent three days in the belly of a whale where he would have died. Instead, he had a “come to Jesus” moment. As a result, he lived. But it’s the backstory that makes it so interesting.

 

First, Jonah ended up in the whale because he was trying to escape the Lord’s call to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. However, the Assyrians were known for their brutality, and Nineveh was described as wicked. And, although they hadn’t invaded Israel yet, it was just a matter of time.

 

Also, the message that he was to take was to warn the people of Nineveh that the Lord would destroy their city in forty days unless they repented of their sins. There were two possible responses they could have had, neither of which Jonah liked.

 

One was they could reject the message and take it out on the messenger – Jonah. The Assyrians had a reputation for “corpses impaled on stakes; severed heads stacked in heaps and captives skinned alive”. None of these appealed to Jonah.

 

A second possible response is that they might repent. This sounds desirable except Jonah wanted justice, not repentance. In fact, when they did repent, Jonah defiantly told the Lord, “I told you so”!

 

² So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.          NLT   Jonah 4

 

The book of Jonah is a story about his spiritual journey and the “unfailing love” of the Lord. No matter what Jonah did – whether he boarded a ship to cross the Mediterranean, had a temper tantrum with the Lord or pouted outside Nineveh – the Lord was always drawing him back. Just like he did with the Ninevites.

 

One final observation about Jonah. He’s the only Old Testament prophet who was physically sent to a foreign country to give a message of repentance. Why do you think the Lord chose him? No doubt he knew how Jonah would react.

 

Maybe it has to do with the fact that even as sinners, God is still at work in our lives drawing us to him and including us in his plans. Thankfully, even though we’re not all that different from Jonah, the Lord hasn’t dropped us from his March Madness bracket.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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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.