2 | Invitation to Jonah
If Jonah’s role in the story is to represent Israel, then his experience of
being swallowed by the great fish may have an additional symbolic
meaning that can help us get a general idea of the book’s date. Even
when he is still inside the fish, Jonah sings a song of thanksgiving,
which is the centerpiece of the book. While he isn’t yet safe on dry
land, he has already been delivered from the engulfing waters. This
may indicate that the book’s author and audience are in exile: they’re
not yet back in their own land, but they have been spared from
destruction. On the other hand, Jonah’s argument with God, in which
the book’s message is heard most clearly, takes place after he is back
on dry land. Once again, if Jonah is playing a symbolic role, this may
suggest that the book was written after the return from exile.
But we don’t need to know exactly when the book was written in
order to appreciate its message. The people of God are always called
to the mission of helping others come into the light and truth of the
world’s Creator. Those of us living in a later act of the biblical drama
should also avoid viewing those outside the believing community
as enemies, hoping only for God to trample them down. Instead, we
should rejoice in—and certainly not resent—the fact that we serve
a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in
love, a God who relents from sending calamity. This mercy and love
extends beyond the borders of Israel to include all nations, indeed, to
the whole creation.