I’ve heard the story since before I could walk. Jonah disobeyed God and got swallowed by a big fish. But last week as I waded through the short pages of the book of Jonah, a deeper tragedy hit me.
Jonah’s heart.
God lavished His grace on Jonah. But Jonah couldn’t pour out that same grace on his own enemies. Instead he wanted God to smote them. He wanted revenge.
But God was grace.
I needed that reminder last week. I needed to remember. When left to me, the only thing I *deserve* is His judgment. Yet He so mercifully pursued me, even when I rejected Him. He so tenderly extends great grace in my life, day after day after day. How dare I not extend that same grace to those beside me.
To think I could have skimmed that familiar story and missed it. I could have flipped through the pages instead of allowing His alive Word to minister to my deceptive heart.
It’s so tempting to do. We come to a passage we’ve read before so we rush through. But even those familiar passages breathe with life. Even the story of Jonah contains a fresh word for my today.
How do you remain intentional in your Bible study even when reading those familiar passages?
WOW, I JUST read my kids “the story of Jonah” tonight and this is exactly what I was emphasizing to my son (7)!! This was truly the Holy Spirit. I too needed to hear that as a reminder to extend the same grace that has been extended to me each and every day by our Mighty and Merciful God! Thank you :)
God is so gracious to even speak to us through our kids’ Bible stories. It’s humbling.
Jonah is such a beautiful testimony of God’s great grace!
It was one of the first books of the Bible I studied in a small group study…loved it.
Thinking of leading it this Spring at church…
That would be great!
Great timing on this post. I’m reading a book that just referenced this story and how the main point is GRACE, not just obedience. Thank you for mentioning this, Lara.
Thanks, Caroline. It hit me so heavy last week. Grace. He’s so patient with us.