The story of the prophet Jonah is embedded in an international conflict of the 8th century BC. A quick look at the day’s news or recent history reminds us that international conflict is still very much with us. But while the conflict between Israel and the Assyrian Empire form the backdrop to the Jonah story, the key lessons of the story are personal; they’re lessons for Jonah. And, as with the rest of the Bible, they’re for us, personally, too, even thousands of years later.
When the Lord called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, it was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, the major power in that part of the world in the 8th century BC. Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh at least partly because the Assyrian Empire was a feared enemy of Israel, one that often threatened and fought against Israel and Judah (and that would eventually destroy the northern kingdom and besiege Jerusalem).
As recounted in the book of Jonah, the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh to call its people to repentance. Jonah’s initial reluctance resulted in his fleeing, and his encounter with a great fish (see Jonah 1). Jonah finally went to Nineveh after the Lord called him again (see Jonah 3:1-3) and preached there. To his dismay, the Assyrians responded to his call, and they did repent! As a result, the Lord did not destroy Nineveh (see Jonah 3:10).
Jonah was not happy that the superpower enemies of Israel were going to be spared. Indeed, “he was very angry,” (Jonah 4:1) so angry that he wanted to die (Jonah 4:3). The Lord did not grant his request to die. He simply asked a question: “Should you be so angry?” (Jonah 4:4).
Jonah’s response was to camp outside of Nineveh, perhaps hoping that the capital city of Israel’s enemies would still be destroyed. But when the Lord provided a shade plant that died, Jonah’s anger was rekindled and he asked to die a second time. The Lord simply asked again whether Jonah should be so angry. Jonah’s response was that, yes, he should be angry “even unto death” (Jonah 4:9).
The book of Jonah concludes with the Lord asking whether Jonah should be so upset that the Lord extended mercy to so many people (Jonah 4:10-11), highlighting the power of bitterness and anger at those we see as not part of our group, politically or socially. Do we ever act like Jonah? Do we get upset if something good happens to our opponents?
It is probably worth reflecting on the source of anger. Heaven and Hell 562 suggests that “contempt for others; envy; enmity toward anyone who is not on their side, and a consequent hostility; various kinds of hatred; vengefulness; craft; deceit; callousness; and cruelty” all have their origin in a focus on self-love. The Word often calls that love a “snare” or “trap” that evil spirits use to capture people and bring them in as members of “the devil’s crew” (see Arcana Coelestia 9348:6).
That passage continues, stating that self-love is the source of all evils and from it “springs disdain for others in comparison with self, then mockery and denigration of them, followed by enmity if they disagree with oneself, and finally by the delight that goes with hatred, vengeance, and so with inhumanity, indeed barbarity” (Arcana Coelestia 9348:7).
The progression from disdain through mockery, enmity, hatred and all the way to barbarity is alarming. The trap is set, waiting for its next victim. The image of a baited trap makes the Lord's repeated question to Jonah even more compelling: “Should you be so angry?”
