JONAH: A View of Grace 

Jonah’s story begins in chapter 1 with the Word of the Lord coming to him and getting an assignment.  The assignment is not to prophesy to the People of God, but rather to preach a Word of repentance to one of Israel’s enemies.  Jonah does not want to do it.  He literally and figuratively goes in the opposite direction than what God commands. 

Between verses 2 and 3 we find Jonah’s fear and anger. 

Between verses 2 and 3 we find a struggle within Jonah that each of us also shares at times. 

Between verses 2 and 3 we find Jonah flat unwilling to do what God tells him to do. 

What do we call that?   Sin.  Disobedience.  Wrongdoing. 

What do we call that? Stubbornness.  Willfulness.  Selfishness. 

GRACE 

We see grace even at the beginning of Jonah’s story because God could have just let Jonah go.  God could have allowed Jonah to board a ship and sail west to avoid his calling.  Letting Jonah sail away was what he wanted, but it was not what was best for him.  God could have said, “Jonah, you disobeyed, and I am cutting you off!”  It is an absolute act of grace that God sent a storm to grab Jonah’s attention.  It is grace when God comes after us.  It is grace when God chases us down when we run away. 

GRACE 

We see grace for Jonah in the belly of the whale.  It was not until Jonah was in the whale that he changed his mind about serving God.  He should have changed his mind during the storm, but oh no!  He had to test God to the limits!  It is absolute grace that God planned to have a large enough fish to swallow Jonah.  God could have let Jonah go.  There were other prophets.  Amos was around at the same time as Jonah (2 Kings 14 and Amos 1).  God could also just call another prophet.  God chose to give grace and give Jonah the opportunity to turn his life around.   

It was absolute grace from God that God heard Jonah’s prayers.  Remember, Jonah was in full rebellion mode.  He was running away.  Jonah even remarks in his prayer that he is thankful God heard his prayers.  In Jonah’s disobedience, God still listened and still provided and still answered… I call that grace. 

GRACE 

The people to whom Jonah is sent are terrible.  These are bad people.  These are godless people. 

These are people who deserve the judgment of Almighty God.  These are people who received the grace of God. 

It is 100% the grace of God that He did not wipe them off the face of the earth.  Grace is unmerited favor.  The Ninevites did not merit God’s favor.  Jonah was not wrong to see them as bad, wicked, or godless folks.  What Jonah knew was that the grace of God extends even to bad, wicked, and godless folks.  Grace is not just for the good.  Grace is for those who need it. 

You might think Jonah would be happy.  We might think that Jonah would be ecstatic that his preaching was successful and that his message was heard.  He should be full of joy that the moral message about God Almighty was heard by people who lived immorally.  He should be thrilled that the power of God was displayed in the lives of people, and they saw His grace.  He could have been relieved that he finally gave the message that he was supposed to give and could now go home.  He was not any of those things.  Not even close. 

GRACE 

What should have happened is that Jonah realizes the grace that he has been given and then offers that to the people around him.  He should have seen how gracious God was with him through this whole process and so when it came to someone else… he should have also given grace.  Grace is not something we should hold on to.  Grace should be given out.   

Jonah knows God.  Jonah knows exactly who God is. 

I don’t know about you, but if I were God, I would be fed up with Jonah being fed up.  Jonah has disobeyed, run away, caused problems, sulked, yelled, asked to die on multiple occasions, whined, and on and on and on.  Jonah thinks there is nothing about Nineveh worth saving and giving grace to.  I don’t think there is much about Jonah worth saving and giving grace to. 

And that’s just it… isn’t it?  God is the author of grace.  God is the one who defines grace and hands it out.  Grace does not depend on me or you.  Grace doesn’t depend on Jonah.  Grace is a characteristic of God that pours out from Him to us. 

SUMMARY 

What do we do with Jonah?   

What should we learn from the story of Jonah?   

Grace is given to us. 

Grace is given by us. 

TMB