Jonah was self-righteous, bitter, and lacking in mercy and compassion. The stubborn prophet had to learn a hard lesson about grace.
The Sign of Jonah: Jonah was hurled into the sea to appease the wrath of God. Jesus appeased the wrath of God on the cross for our sins.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” wrote A.W. Tozer.
They called him “Wrong Way” Roy. His gaffe on New Year’s Day, 1929, is often cited as the worst blunder in college football history.
When a humpback whale off Herring Cove Beach swallowed Michael Packard, it was utter darkness for the veteran lobster diver.
C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
Pagan sailors seem to have more sensitivity and awareness to things God is doing around them than does Jonah, who ironically is a “prophet.”
It’s been said that most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience. As a prophet, Jonah waseducated in the things of God.
In his book A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus, Floyd McClung wrote about “cozy Christians” and their “safe” theology.
Divine appointments are not choreographed to indulge our comforts. God’s pruning process of sanctification is often an exceedingly uncomfortable work of grace in our lives. Just ask Jonah.