Seaweed Prayers
During ten years of campus ministry, fundraising was never fun-raising, so I avoided it. But when I fell behind in my budget, I didn't blame my lack of effort. Instead of telling God, "I haven't done a good job caring for my donors or reaching out to new ones," I'd pray to God, "Please help me." Yet, in God's mercy and the generosity of many donors, my budget was always fully met. For over a decade of teaching people how to follow God, I often used prayer as a substitute for effort.
Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God. Jonah had told God he didn't want to be a prophet anymore and tried to go to Tarshish. Now he prays to his God. His. God. It goes both ways: I called to the LORD. He answered me. Earlier that day, he was sound asleep in the lowest part of the ship. Now, he's descended even further, but he's awake to God. Not only does Jonah turn toward God, but he can also praise God for what God has done: You threw the storm, and you threw me into the sea. He recognizes that God has orchestrated the situation. I would have raged at God. Jonah recognizes that God's actions reveal God's greatness. There's a saying, "Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom." Jonah went down to the foundations of the mountains. It was only once he arrived at a place of no hope that he found his hope in God. Because God sent the sea creature, Jonah was raised from death to life. So he thanks God. Jonah's prayer is entirely about himself. Look at what the prayer is missing: he doesn't ask God to protect the sailors or offer mercy to the Ninevites. Instead, he looks toward God's holy temple. That's what Israelites do in exile: they long to go home. I sense that he might be presuming on God. Jonah's prayer might be "God, thank you for saving my life. Now please bring me back to Jerusalem." Nor does Jonah repent. What distress was Jonah in? As he sees it, the problem is that he was drowning and about to die. But he doesn't seem distressed that he disobeyed God. Even though he has defied God, his prayer makes him sound pious. Even in the belly of a sea creature, with seaweed wrapped around his head, he's trying to make himself look good. So, how do we know what Jonah prayed? If a narrator is reconstructing what Jonah prayed, then it is an indictment: a prophet who doesn't know how to pray. But if Jonah himself shared this story, then it tells us he eventually told others about his failure. God didn't wait for Jonah to get it right. Even though Jonah doesn't repent and doesn't pray for others, God saves his life.
Before today, what do you think about Jonah? How is your perspective shifting?
Jonah tells God, "You did this." What keeps him from saying, "Here's what I did"?
What's one way you've used prayer to avoid obedience?
Together with a trusted friend, discuss the ways you've done religious things instead of addressing your problems with God.