It’s one of the most popular children’s Bible stories – Jonah being swallowed by the big fish.  The tale of an Old Testament prophet who tried to outrun God and spent three days inside a fish (talk about a clear “time out” lesson) only to be spit out and given a second chance to obey God’s initial instruction to him.

While the story itself is an incredible snapshot into God’s grace, mercy, patience, and compassion, it’s how the book concludes that never ceases to amaze me. 

The book of Jonah leaves us hanging on the edge of our seats intentionally.  It ends with a question from God to Jonah.  That’s it.  Turn the page and you’ll find yourself in the book of Micah, but no answer to God’s question from Jonah.

If you take the time to read through Jonah, you’ll immediately notice how very human Jonah was (he’s emotionally unstable and mentally conflicted – ever had those days?). 

After resisting God at the beginning of the book, Jonah finally acquiesces to the divine command to go preach to the rebellious city of Nineveh – a city of 120,000 souls that God’s heart was broken over, so much so that He was moved to send a prophet to help.

To Jonah’s complete disappointment, the city receives God’s correction and corporately repents.  Jonah is miffed.  “That’s why I fled … in the first place.  I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.” (Jonah 4:2)

After voicing his displeasure to God, Jonah leaves the city and heads off to sulk.  God catches up to him, uses a plant as a great teaching tool for Jonah, and asks Jonah a straightforward question: “Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh…?” (4:11) 

And that is where the book ends!  We never hear Jonah’s answer!

While there are many theological insights that can be taken from this book and a variety of teaching highpoints that could be extracted from it, it’s the ending without closure that is, perhaps, the most pronounced point of all.

Just like Jonah, we get to choose how our story unfolds and, ultimately, the way it ends. 

We all have segments of our lives where we can look and see Jonah – seasons when we ran from God; moments when we were angry at God; times when we blamed God and wanted nothing to do with Him.

We also have choices.  Daily decisions and minute-by-minute options as to whether we are going to love God or live in a self-serving manner.   

God uses His Holy Spirit to speak to us daily, ask us questions, and gives us the opportunity to do what’s right and glorify Him or we can run in the opposite direction (potentially setting ourselves up to become fish food).

And that’s the beauty of the book of Jonah and our lives, as well.  The choice to follow God is freely ours.  We get to write our ending.

“…choose for yourself this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!