Part 2 of My Midrash on the Story of Jonah -- I Am Taschlich
By R. Jonah Ritter
This is the second of a five part Midrash I am writing which delves in the story of Jonah. In this part I focus entirely on the the portion of the story when Jonah was on the ship, sailing to Tarshish and away from Nineveh and the service of the L-ord. I've written this in first person, as though I am Jonah. Through Midrash I sought to explore Jonah’s decision to disobey G-d, and what ultimately changed his mind. In the process, one might judge Jonah with a new understanding. (Part I - My Side of the Story.)
G-d, I can not do what you ask. I shall not go to Nineveh. My actions say, send me not into the vial hands of my enemies. For it is not my life that I fear for, rather it is sparing theirs. Not that my word alone is worthy of a true confession and repentance by those evil doers of Niniveh. Save them? Rather I die. But my guilt is that I do not Your will. By trying not to save they of Niniveh, I have sinned against You, not man.
G-d, You conflict me so. And so I go to Tarshish. And on my journey I ask You to come to me again. Speak to me; speak to the consequences for my action. I can sleep well, knowing the fate of the dreaded and evil enemies of my people. I sleep not, if my direction were to change Yours. As i sail to Tarshish, let the 40 days time, and the Assyrians, both pass.
I am not their murderer, their fate You sealed. But what of me? What is my fate for sailing away from Your word. Tell me, as I sleep. What comes of me, as I go, lay down below? My act of defiance speaks to You. Come to me, in my slumber.
What's this I hear G-d, not the captain? I rise to the voice of your seas G-d. Surely their anger is Your rath. I hear Your call. Punish me with Your ocean, will You, for failing to do Your will. And what must I do to accept my pentance? Surely these honest sailors have no part in my sin! Must they pay a portion of my pentance?
G-d, these sailors are simply doing their earthly service. It is me, Jonah, who refused to do Yours. I paid the price for this journey, and I will pay the price the full price for my sins. Must I be Taslich? If that is the price You demand, so be it!
Cast me over sailors. This sea is on my account. Cast me off for my sin. I fear not for my life. And you should not pay my way on this journey. Give me to the Lord. Send me to the deep. And you shall see. The sea will be calm once again. Let me go my way, so you may go yours. G-d wants us all, even the evil doers in Niniveh. But now, in this hour, he calls for me. So cast me over. I am Yours L-rd!
"The floods engulfed me; All Your breakers and billows swept over me. The waters closed in over me, the deep engulfed me. Weeds twined around my head. I sank to the base of the mountains; The bars of the earth closed upon me forever." The oceans cover over my sin. I do Your will. I cry to You, please accept my sacrafice L-ord!!
I am Yours L-ord. I have atoned. What comes of this sinner now? Other then a better death than waited for me in Niniveh?
Low, what's this G-d? I am consumed, rather than forsaken. In the darkness, from the pit of my destruction, when "I thought I was driven away, Out of your sight." (Jonah 2.5.) When i thought I would never gaze again upon your holy Temple. You take me in.
"O LORD my God!" As my life ebbs away, from the depth, in the belly of Sheol, my prayer came before You. And Your answer comes to me now. The fate of Niniveh. "They who cling to empty folly forsake their own welfare." You sent me to Nineveh to declare your judgment. I was for a different sacrafice. Oh G-d! Send me L-ord! Send me again!! Deliverance is the LORD’S!
By Your command I've been spewed onto dry land. And by Your command I will go at once to Nineveh to proclaim what You have told me: "Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
Link to Part III
Link to Part III