Unreasonable Grace
by Bob PetersonAs Jonah one day was just going his way
He heard God say one morning.
"Hey Jonah, you there, I need you elsewhere.
For I want you to declare a warning.
It's to Nineveh you'll go, with a message of woe.
For they're about to know my fury.
My patience's worn thin with their greed and their sin.
Change needs to begin in a hurry."
Going to nasty old Nineveh, the capital of Assyria,
Didn't seem to Jonah a lot of fun.
Taking ship the next day in the opposite way.
He chose rather than obey, he'd run.
After getting on board, in his flight from the Lord,
He thought he could afford to rest a spell.
So, he went down below, there, midst the cargo,
Sure all would now go very well.
But trying to forestall, He who's Lord God of all,
Is not really what I would call wise.
For the Lord chose to send a most terrible wind.
That came to descend from the skies.
That frightening gale shook the boat, mast, and sail.
Causing sailors to wail and cry.
They woke Jonah to say, "Man wake up and pray.
For it looks like this day we'll all die."
To discover he, whose fault this must be,
They drew lots to see who's to blame.
With the lots handed out there soon was no doubt,
And they started to shout Jonah's name.
Jonah's face filled with dread. "Yes, it's my fault," he said.
"The blame's on my head it's true.
I fled from the Lord and His will I've ignored.
So, heaving me overboard you must do."
Holding tight to his nose as they cried, "Here goes!"
With a heave Jonah arose to the air.
Then he started to drop and splashed in with a plop.
The storm came to stop then and there.
Down, down, down, with the sea all around,
Bound to be drowned, Jonah sank.
Then as he grew pale, he was swallowed by a whale,
Finding air to inhale, though it stank.
There for three days, Jonah pondered his ways.
Then repented with praise to the Lord.
God cause him to land, being spit on the sand.
To now follow the command, he'd ignored.
Jonah climbed to his feet, brushing sand from his seat.
To look proper and neat was his wish.
He started off at a trot, as now Nineveh he sought,
But smelling a whole lot like a fish.
When he got to the city, that was dirty and gritty,
Jonah felt little pity for the crowd.
For they were nasty and crude, eating foul smelling food.
All talking rather rude and loud.
"Hear me!" Jonah roared, "For a message from the Lord,
And the coming just reward for you all.
In just forty days, you'll be sorry for your ways.
For this city will blaze and fall."
Jonah shared his dark views and terrible news,
Till he thought he might lose his voice.
Going out of the gate, Jonah sat down to wait,
To watch the town's fate and rejoice.
But a strange thing occurred when they heard Jonah's word.
The people were stirred to repent.
To their knees they did fall, from the great to the small.
And from the king soon a call was sent.
"We must all change our life. Leave our sin and our strife.
Each man and wife," he declared.
"Come now and join me, going down to a knee,
And pray we might be all spared."
While outside of the town, Jonah sat on the ground.
The flies buzzing around his nose.
Sitting there in the shade of a shelter he made,
Scratching fleas that played in his clothes.
When forty days ran out, but no doom came about,
Jonah gave out a shout, "What's the deal?!
It's a downright disgrace not to punish this place.
It's unreasonable grace, I feel."
Then suddenly did rise a plant of good size.
Shading Jonah's eyes from the glare.
So happy was he, with that little shade tree,
That he hugged it in glee then and there.
Then what should appear, but a worm with a leer.
And the intentions were clear of that grub.
It looked left and then right, then took a big bite.
Dining with delight on the shrub.
The plant withered away, and Jonah in dismay,
Cried, "I wish that I may die, too.
God, You're downright unfair, and You don't seem to care,
About all that I bear here for You."
God said," You seem mad, and terribly sad,
About a plant you had used for a tent.
But for those dwelling here, you care not it's clear.
It's you that I fear should repent."
The Jonah story, is not one of glory,
Or battles in gory detail.
It's a story 'bout men and their struggle with sin.
Even one who had been in a whale.
But it also speaks of, the Lord and His love.
How it rises above all our sin.
The point's not to deny that we've all gone awry,
But it's how we reply to Him when
He calls us back to Him once again.
Who around you is there, that needs you to care,
And be willing to share God's love?
To see past their face, their sin or disgrace
Sharing unreasonable grace from above.
