The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush.
This is the stuff of children’s biblical cartoons, right? The bush coming over to Jonah. I smiled when I read this, perhaps because of my overly literal thinking.
Jonah has been saved from the belly of the giant fish, and once again God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. Given what happened the last time Jonah resisted, this time he went. Walking through the city of 120,000 people, Jonah prophesied that the city would be overthrown in 40 days more. These people were enemies, and probably in Jonah’s mind, had caused all of his misery. I can imagine him being peeved and gloatful.
To God’s delight, the people repented. When God explained to Jonah that God was no longer going to overthrow Nineveh, Jonah was crushed. He went in to the desert to die. How dare God show mercy on these evil enemies, who had caused so much trouble for Jonah? Enter the walking bush. God has the bush protect Jonah, despite Jonah’s pouting. Unfortunately, before daybreak, God sends a worm to consume the bush the next night. Jonah is again upset.
God asks Jonah if it’s right for Jonah to be upset about the bush, a bush Jonah didn’t plant, and a bush that came and went in the night. If that makes sense, then it would be reasonable for God to worry about Nineveh, with all of its people and animals.
The accompanying reflections reminds us that Jonah was sent to a people Jonah didn’t love. They caused all sorts of trouble in Jonah’s life, and eventually God loved them enough to save them. This reminds me of a great quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said “God loves you! And God’s love is so great, God loves your enemies too.”
Jonah would rather die than acknowledge that God’s love could encompass Jonah’s enemies. It seems that Jonah’s lack of love could have sentenced him to a self-imposed death. Jonah was willing to choose his own death, rather than reflecting God’s love to the evil Ninevites.
When we encounter someone or something we don’t love, do we make choices like Jonah? Are we willing to go out and die in the desert, rather than loving our enemy? Or worse, are we willing to go out and die in the desert, because God shows love to our enemy?
This morning, I’m thinking about those people or institutions or belief-holders that I’d find it challenging to acknowledge God can love. I want to check my actions, and make sure I’m not choosing to go die out in the desert, rather than marvel at God’s kingdom come.
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