- God gave Jonah a mission but Jonah felt he did not need to obey God. Many times God is speaking to us but we are consumed by our own goals and ideas. We believe we can run away from God’s purpose for our lives and escape God.
- He made a 180 degree turn and went away from the place God was directing him. How many times we knowingly disobey the still small voice inside us. And when we do that we get ourselves in a whole lot of trouble.
- He put others in danger because of his disobedience. When we walk away from God, we endanger the lives of those around us because of our reckless disregard and selfishness.
- Jonah died and from the depths of death’s captivity, he cried out to God and pleaded with God. In the valley that we walk in due to our own self-centeredness and careless behavior, even in that dark valley that resembles the grave, the Lord hears our prayers.
- God gave Jonah a second chance. Many times, God gives us a second chance. And we know it is the second chance. God is a God of second chances.
- Jonah delivered the message of God. The people repented and turned from wickedness. And Jonah was disappointed. What a strange reaction from a prophet who got a second chance himself. When God was merciful, he complained to God about God’s mercy and used God’s mercy as an excuse for his earlier disobedience.
- Yes- we are servants of God. And yes- we deliver God’s message. But let us never lose sight of the grace and mercy that God showed to us. Let us put aside own prejudices and judgments and see that the same grace and mercy God showed to us, He is willing to show to others.
- Jonah learned the lesson of the vine. God again showed him grace by providing shade and then took it away. When it got uncomfortable again, Jonah complained to God that he allowed a plant to be devoured. But it was not about the plant. The problem was that Jonah was made uncomfortable after he had delivered God’s Word. How many times, we think we are faithful to follow God’s instructions and we think God owes us. And then when things do not go the way we conceived, our plans do not work out quite the way we envision, we blame God.
- God reminded Jonah about His mercy and grace and asked Jonah to have empathy for the lives of 120,000 people living in Nineveh. It is not about our plans, but God’s destiny. Our selfish desires and egos need to bow before God.
- Jonah was at the point of death, he returned from the dead, God resurrected him to accomplish the mission. God gave Jonah more than his fair share of chances. But habits and attitudes are hard to break. Selfishness, self-righteousness and ego must all fall and bow before the grace, love and compassion of a loving God.
CASTIN-GRACE 