Jonah, Chapters 1-3; Mark 1: 14-20
In the Hebrew Bible section before us, Jonah urges the Ninevites, “Repent, return to the Lord.” The prophet’s back-story, however, is important. Jonah hopped on a boat to Tarshish because he was running away from the Lord: although scholars debate exact its location, they agreed Tarshish is in the opposite direction of Nineveh and far away. Yet, Jonah claims Lord God as his god, and admits he is Hebrew. He is not denying or betraying God, just running away from what he’s being asked to do.
Caught in a dangerous storm and realizing Jonah brought it on by turning tail on his Lord God, the sailors chuck him overboard. Because Jonah may well have drown, the sea creature who swallows him up has done him a great favor. I imagine visiting the belly of a sea monster. It is very disorienting: I don’t know if it is day or night, how much time has passed, and if I am even alive. (And I am so hungry!) In all seriousness, the sensation of disorientation stays with me.
Once our prophet reaches Nineveh, the people repent with fasting and sack clothe. Jonah goes to extraordinary lengths to run away, assuming peril and death, but the people respond with generous enthusiasm. (The Lord pointed out to me… I often predict gloom and doom and am pleasantly surprised too.)
Simon and Andrew, James and John do not run away, but run towards. Jesus says, “Follow me. I will make you fishers of men.” Fishing— hauling in the catch, cleaning and selling, mending nets is hard physical labor, requiring patience and attention. I imagine Peter’s enthusiasm over a catch of fish: the sense of triumph and satisfaction at a great catch. While the Post-resurrection Peter often seems solemn and serious, I wonder if he did not exhibit the same enthusiasm in catching men, in building the Early Church.
To orient or reorient requires one to stop and look around, to seek and decide on an object, path or goal for reference. In the case of the fishers, their orientation shifted from fishing for fish to fishing for men. They followed Jesus spontaneously and without question or struggle, no discernment needed. Although Jonah fought the Lord, the whale reoriented him towards Lord God. Deepening our relationship with the Lord must involve this process of periodic reorientation.
Journal Questions:
- When have I needed to stop, look around and be reoriented? What do I learn about myself and God in reflecting on these past experiences?
- Do I need reorienting at this point in time?
© 2018 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved
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