My favorite story in the whole Bible is probably Jonah and the whale. The big emotions and outlandish reactions, getting eaten by a whale and crying over a cucumber plant, and “the many cows” at the end make for some superb storytelling. But even more, I love the faithfulness of God through the unfaithfulness of Jonah. 

At the beginning of the story, Jonah is told to go to Nineveh (his enemy!) and share God’s message with them so God can have mercy on them. God is asking Jonah to love his enemies (Matthew 5:43-47). Jonah refuses and tries to run in the opposite direction. In the midst of Jonah’s rebellion, God uses him to save a bunch of pagan sailors and the very nation he despised! 

In the middle of this story is some Hebrew wordplay. Jonah is told to announce to Nineveh: “40 days and Nineveh will be נֶהְפָּֽכֶת (nihpaket: destroyed, overthrown, overturned).”Jonah thinks he is announcing Nineveh’s destruction. However, after hearing the message, the entire city of Nineveh repents and turns from its evil ways. God had turned over their hearts. The prophecy was true; Nineveh had been overturned!  

Jonah learned a difficult lesson: God loves the people we hate. If we are only kind to the people we love, we are no different from the world. Following Jesus means we are fundamentally different! Where all others choose hatred, we invite God into the space between us and our “enemies” so that love and grace can flourish. Who knows … maybe God will change their hearts and our hearts, too, while he is at it? 

As Christians, we are to be formed into Christ-likeness. In some things (peace, love, healing), it sounds great! In others (sacrifice, forgiveness, the cross), it sounds near impossible. Loving our enemies feels like the latter. And yet, we hear the good news ringing: 

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). 

Reflection: 

  • Do you have enemies in your life to whom you have a difficult time showing love? Pray for them! 
  • Jonah’s story teaches us that God loves the people we hate. How does that change how you view your enemies?