Jonah ChallengeSample

Jonah was angry at the Lord's mercy but forgot that it was the same mercy that prevented the fish from having him for dinner!

Jonah was basically saying to God, "Look, I knew you were going to have mercy anyway, that’s why I didn’t want to go! You’re too compassionate." Jonah saw his mission as pointless and futile, but God didn’t!

I see and understand Jonah’s perspective, especially from the position of getting annoyed when people abuse the "grace" of God. But it’s not for us to get annoyed. Moreover, our annoyance should not infringe on our obedience to God’s instruction.

Yes people abuse God’s grace… but I will still tell everyone about it! Because someone will be saved!

Jonah was so dramatic… was it really that deep? Verses 3-4 made me chuckle. How can Jonah request to die?! I imagine God saying to Jonah in today’s slang ‘is it really that deep?’

God’s grace transcends our human understanding.

I love the way The Message Bible puts verses 4-11. God is saying to Jonah and to us; don’t get angry at what you didn’t work for! Jonah didn’t look after the plant. He didn’t see it through its early days, and consequently allowed it to die. God used the plant to describe the city of Nineveh. He is saying that He wants to see that plant grow, live and not die.

This chapter is a real wake up call to ‘Christians’ who consider other people unworthy of God’s grace. Please look back and remember the ‘amazing grace’ that saved YOU. Rejoice when people turn to God, because it means you have gained another sibling in the Lord.

Be careful not to look down from a position of pride. Be careful not to be selfish with your saved "status". WE desire for ALL to be saved!

God didn’t even have to explain Himself to Jonah, but He did! He wants us all to understand His grace. God is sovereign in any decision He makes. He can ‘relent’ if it pleases Him to do so.