Jonah 3 & 4

Summary: The book of Jonah would have such an uplifting ending if only it stopped at chapter 3. Instead, it ends on a very sour note and with a bit of a cliff-hanger in terms of Jonah’s ultimate relationship with God. The final chapter spells out that the real reason Jonah fled from his calling was not fear but hatred. He despised Nineveh and resented that God would use him as an instrument of His grace to such an evil people. What Jonah fails to see is that he needs God to be just as merciful with him as with Nineveh. The book of Jonah reveals the missionary heart of God to spread His grace to all nations, and it invites us to examine whether our own hearts are fully aligned with His.