The book of Jonah begins with a clear call from God to Jonah - Get up and go to Nineveh and call out to them. Jonah rejects this call and flees to Tarshish. Yahweh, however, does not allow Jonah to reject this call, he instead brings a storm that results in Jonah being thrown off of the boat he's in. The sailors on the ship function as a counter response to the divine working of Yahweh! They pray, they call out to him and offer reverential worship to him. Though pagan initially, these sailors function as an example of faith. They reverently commit themselves to God in the end. Do you? Will you?
The prophecy of Jonah has characteristically been viewed through the lens of the great fish that swallows Jonah, but Jonah is about much more than the spectacular events that characterize the book. Jonah is a book that vividly demonstrates the mercy of God to Jonah, to terrified sailors, and to the foreign Ninevites. Jonah is called to go and preach to Nineveh, but he refuses the message of God and instead flees. Throughout this brief book, Yahweh will pursue Jonah and demonstrate to him repeatedly his rich mercy that is available to Jonah, the sailors, to Nineveh and the Ninevites. The mercy of God is available to you as well, today that mercy comes through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for your sins. Through this rich mercy, you too can have a relationship with God.
Graceway Church of Michiana exists in South Bend, IN for the purpose of Exalting our great God and Savior, Edifying and Encouraging believers and Engaging our Community.
Graceway Church is committed to being a God Exalting, Christ Centered, Spirit Motivated, Word Focused local body of Believers!
