JONAH'S DILEMMA
Jonah's Dilemma by MICHAEL B. OREN and MARK GERSON
(WSJ)
This year, as on every Yom Kippur, Jews throughout the world will recite the Book of Jonah, one of the Hebrew Bible's shortest and most enigmatic texts. Jonah is the only Israelite prophet to preach to Gentiles, and the only prophet who clearly hates his job. And yet Jews read the book on their holiest day of the year because of its message of atonement and forgiveness. But Jonah also conveys crucial lessons for all Americans as they grapple with crises in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East and yearn for far-sighted leadership.
2 comments:
It seems to me that your article has some merit, despite your biblical paradox being totally made up.
“If Nineveh heeds his warnings and is spared, its citizens will later question whether the city was really ever in danger and assail Jonah for forcing them to make needless sacrifices.”
This is belied by both its absence in the text and the factual outcome of the story. I see no evidence of this possible outcome in the text. Further, since the story unfolds reveal the sparing of the Ninevites because they heeded Jonah’s warning to repent, and since the text shows no such Ninevites questioning the validity of God’s impending wrath, it seems like you invented this Part A of your paradox out of whole cloth … a false paradox. On the side note, moving from a state of “evil ways and violence” (Jonah 3:8) (i.e., pre-Jonah), to a state of obedience to God (i.e., post-Jonah) is not “to make needless sacrifices.” Although you obviously don’t believe in God’s message of peace through obedience, you could at least be true to the mere text for the sake of this article.
“But if Nineveh ignores his exhortations and is destroyed, then Jonah has failed as a prophet.” Wrong. In the case where Jonah does has God commanded Jonah (i.e. preach repentance to Ninevah), then Jonah has done exactly as God has commanded; thereby making Jonah a successful prophet; not a failed prophet (i.e., God commands Jonah to bring the message + Jonah brings the message = successful prophet.) If it were other than this, then Jeremiah would have failed as a prophet. However, the OT clearly portrays Jeremiah as a successful prophet as he fulfills God’s command (“… but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.” Jer. 23:28), despite the lack of Israel’s repentance and, God’s wrath that Israel subsequently suffers.
So, neither Part A nor Part B of your paradox is valid. The crux of your article has merit without making up a paradox in the Scriptures that is not there.
"Jonah is ... the only Israelite phrophet who clearly hates his job." I think you could make very good arguments that Jeremiah hated his job as a prophet. For example, consider Jeremiah's complaint to God, "O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long." (Jer 20: 7-8). Also, didn't Habbakuk build a watchtower and complain to God (Hab 1 & 2)?
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