Since we have had four kids we have read lots of children’s books. Many of the books are Bible story books. Some of these are very good and appropriate. I understand the challenge of trying to make a Bible story book for children, especially really young children. I don’t want this post to sound harsh, legalistic, or ignorant.
But many of these story books are just wrong.
My concern isn’t so much with the children learning the wrong story, which is a problem, but with all of us learning the wrong story. In many ways, I believe these children’s books reflect the typical view of the story.
The story of Jonah makes a great illustration. Here is a sampling of some pages from various children’s books.
Most books about Jonah focus on obedience. They speak to Jonah’s running from God. They usually focus on Jonah feeling sorry, and understanding God’s love and mercy. Jonah is often depicted as loving the Ninevites now and sharing God’s love with them. Many books, understandably, leave out chapter 4 all together.
When I really began studying and teaching adult classes on Jonah, we were all surprised by the differences in the children’s version and the real story.
The message of the book of Jonah is really — “Don’t be a Jonah!” While most books make him out to be a good guy who learned his lesson, the Bible does not. The text of Jonah doesn’t describe him as repenting in his heart, but rather being thankful for the salvation in his prayer from the belly of the fish (ch. 2). Jonah doesn’t love the Ninevites, but contains racism and hatred in his heart (ch. 4). He wanted them to be destroyed. He didn’t want to preach to them, because he feared they would repent. He was angry at God’s character because of His compassion and mercy. He was angry at God, because he wanted them destroyed, not spared (ch. 4).
The real message of Jonah for the Jews and us today, is that God loves all people. He has pity on those who are sinners and different from us. He loves our enemies. The challenge is that there is often more Jonah in us than we want to admit. It is not just that we disobey, but we can be prideful, racist, vengeful, and unmerciful. Most all of the children’s books end happily, the book of Jonah ends with a poignant question to Jonah left unanswered. It likely is meant for the reader to ask themselves, “Do I pity my enemies who are lost and “do not know their right hand from their left?” (4:11).
Sometimes the true Bible story isn’t as clean and sanitized as we would like to make it. Sometimes the Bible heroes aren’t as good as we want them to be. But when we change the Bible, we not only trod where our feet should not trod, but we miss out on God’s intended message to shape our lives.
So go read the real story of Jonah, it is a wonderful story that challenges our attitude, action, and love for others.