Sun, Aug 09, 2020
Duration: 39 mins 59 secs
Jonah grouses with God. He's angry, ranting, raging. Twice he expresses his desire to die. God listens, asks, questions, and gets the last word. Jonah ends with a question about concerns. What concerns Jonah? What concerns us? Sadly, our anger blinds us to others as image-bearers in need of God's mercy. Anger riles us up, wears us out, and exposes our fragility. What we need is a long look at God's large love to turn our anger away.
Sun, Aug 02, 2020
After escaping death and being spit up on the shore, Jonah receives a second chance. God again calls him to preach to Nineveh, but God's tone seems to have changed. Jonah sniffs it out. And the people of Nineveh catch a note of compassion in Jonah's 40-Day Ultimatum. Change does not come easily to us, but when second chances, ultimatums, mobs, mandates, and God's compassion combine, it creates the right climate to face the monster of change. Jonah does. Nineveh does. Who knows, maybe even God does? Regardless, his compassion remains the same.
Sun, Jul 26, 2020
Duration: 43 mins 57 secs
After resisting God, Jonah realized the futility of his plan. He accepted his fate and went overboard. While sinking to the bottom of the sea, sensing the nearness of death, he cried out to God. His prayer blended well-known lines and images from the Psalms. Broken Jonah repented; savior God repented. This chapter demonstrates the remorse we feel as we look at death. It invites us to redirect our hearts to God to find grace and freedom. (NOTE: Audio quality a bit tinny due to recording issues.)
Sun, Jul 19, 2020
Duration: 49 mins 10 secs
Jonah resisted God's call. He wasn't the only prophet or person of faith to do it. We all do. We say No when God says Go. We chose comfort over calling and hide behind religion. We try to keep distance from God, but it is futile. He owns the heavens, land, and see. He'll find us. We must learn to accept Him and His will rather than run.
