The fact that Jonah has been so much to the fore in the rationalistic conflict, and so much to the rear in the deeper understanding of the people of God, is itself a very significant thing. When anything which has received the sanction of the Lord Jesus in any measure has become the object of special assault on the one hand, or peculiar insufficiency of consideration on the other, the suspicions of the watchful should be aroused. Surely this must signify that the enemy back of human minds is especially concerned to obscure something of vital account to his opponent the Lord Jesus. If ever this was true and exemplified in any direction it is true in the case of Jonah. Here in this short narrative and the three references to it by the Lord Jesus, there is a comprehensiveness of the most vital, profound, and far reaching truth which it would be difficult to find in so narrow a compass anywhere else in the Scriptures. That is saying a tremendous thing, but we have weighed our words, and hope that as we proceed the statement may be seen to be justified. Our method will be, not so much an exposition of the text as a recognition of the great truths; and these may not be brought out strictly in the order of the narrative, but in the order of practical application. Firstly, then we shall take the Master's own use of Jonah as in Luke 11:29, 30.
The Condemnation of a Race
When He refers to the "evil and adulterous generation" our Lord is not merely speaking in the strict sense of the latter word as we use it any more than He is using the word adulterous literally. His frequent references to the Prophets, their ministry, message, and the treatment they received at the hands of Israel links the people of His own day with the unfaithful and spiritually adulterous race for some centuries. Spiritual adultery was the charge brought against Israel by more than prophet.
Then, again, this people from the very beginning by reason of its disbelieving and unfaithful heart had demanded "signs" and "wonders" to hold them to God. It was almost always true of them that "except you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The word "generation" here must therefore be regarded in its wider sense. It was a race and a race disposition which was being dealt with. This is important to bear in mind for the people of Jonah's day and the people of Christ's day were one and alike, and although Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, there was a relationship of his experience and ministry to Israel as we shall see: and Christ is now turning him upon them.
Jonah was a type of Israel: called to fulfill a ministry of warning and mercy to a sinful gentile world: to reveal the attitude of Jehovah toward sin and then toward repentance. But there is a terrible breakdown and failure. The cause, which has various aspects, is not far to seek; it is clearly this:
The Paralysis of a Blinded Mind and a Darkened Understanding
Jonah had lived his life and fulfilled his ministry so far among the ten tribes in Samaria, and doubtless he expected to remain there till the end of his days. His horizon was a narrow one, and his interests local. The only other reference to his prophesying has significantly to do with an act of great grace on the part of Jehovah to Israel in a day of serious departure and declension (2 Kings 14). Jonah was wrapped up with his own people and jealous for them and for himself and his own ministry. He had learned through Divine inspiration that Jehovah is "a gracious God, and merciful, and slow to anger, and of great kindness" (Jonah 4:2), but for that to be extended beyond the borders of Israel and to Israel's bitter enemies was unthinkable. There is nothing so blinding as pride, jealousy, and selfishness; and this was Israel's curse, and Jonah's malady. We shall see later more of that to which he was blind. For the moment we note the fact as typical of Israel, and Israel as a type of many more.
Isaiah prophesied to Judah not to the ten tribes, but undoubtedly the spiritual state of Isaiah 6:9, 10, extended to all and is applied to the Jews of Christ's day and the Apostles (Matt. 13:14, 15; Acts 28:26, 27; Romans 11:8). This blindness is an incapacitation through idolatry and unbelief. There are two phases of such blindness mentioned in the Word of God.
1. The blindness of the natural man, who cannot know the things of God (1 Corin. 2:14).
2. The blindness which overtakes those who have been enlightened and have had the lively oracles of God, and not "walked in the light," or have failed to fulfill the purpose for which the light was given.
In both cases the adversary of Christ has found his ground for "blinding the eyes of them which believe not, lest ... "Their understanding is darkened" (Eph. 4:18) and their "mind hardened" (2 Corin. 3:14).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 2)
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