Life is strange right now. Most of us aren’t actually sick, but we must self-isolate and social distance ourselves. Some people are really upset by this. And I will admit to being annoyed at times. And yet, I can’t help but to think of Jonah.
Jonah knew that if he proclaimed a disaster and everyone repented they would be spared (which is good) but then he ran the risk of looking like a liar, a false prophet. And right now, some people think that if we self-isolate and no one else gets sick, that means it was never that dangerous. But Jonah was flattening the curve too! The city of Nineveh was not too far gone yet. They could take the proper precautions and gain God’s mercy. Right now, we too can take the proper precautions and gain God’s mercy. I don’t mean we should fast, wear sackcloth, and sit in ashes. I mean we need to listen to the science and medical communities as they offer their warnings, and follow their instructions.
I don’t believe that God sends us instructions the way God did in the time of Jonah. I believe that we have to use the reasoning abilities that God gave us, and listen to those people whom God has inspired to be doctors (and nurses, and other healers) and scientists.
So, it’s time to be like the citizens of Nineveh. We might spend a lot of time at home, and isolated right now. And it may seem like it is all for nothing. But I promise you, it is not. Every time we stay home, or limit our interaction, every time we social distance ourselves, or sanitize things, it is helping to save lives. Every time we limit the spread of COVID-19 we help to “flatten the curve” of infections, and that helps to keep our hospitals under control.
The bible doesn’t say if the people of Nineveh thought Jonah was a false prophet when the wrath of God did not come. Perhaps they knew that their actions mattered, just like ours do now. Do you think they didn’t also have plans? Celebrations cancelled? Of course they did. But it didn’t matter. It was life or death, just like it is now.
