Whale Spit

Jonah didn’t like the people of Nineveh. In his opinion, they deserved the worst.

He didn’t want to play any part in extending grace or mercy to “these people.”

He was so turned-off by the Ninevehites, when God called him to go preach to them, he ran…

Opposite direction.

Boat.

Storm.

Thrown in.

Swallowed by a whale.

Three days in the whale’s belly.

Whale spit-up…

Running didn’t work. God’s plan was bigger than Jonah’s prejudices and opinions!

Instead of judgment, God poured out His grace on the sinful people of Nineveh.

Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it – when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran… I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!” (Jonah 4.1, 2 MSG).

Silly Jonah.

He knew God was all grace and mercy.

He received God’s grace and mercy for himself – yet he didn’t want “those people” to receive God’s grace and mercy.

A few lessons we can take away from Jonah:

• Running from God’s plan never works.

• God’s plans are bigger than our prejudices and opinions.

• Don’t try to block the flow of God’s grace and mercy to others (you might end up being whale spit).

• Give, as happily as you’ve received, God’s grace to others!