Jonah was mad that God would be so gracious to such awful people. If Jonah had his way, they would have gotten what they deserved. It’s easy to develop an “us versus them” mentality. As a culture, we are quick to draw lines in the sand and strictly define who is the in-crowd and who is not. God demonstrated time and time again that the only thing that puts you in the right crowd is a right relationship with Him—not the color of your skin, your socio-economic status, your family of origin, or your good deeds. We find ourselves in real spiritual danger when God’s grace makes us angry.

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As Jonah marched into Nineveh to proclaim the message given to him, it was clear he was doing it reluctantly. But even in our reluctant faith, God can accomplish His will. He can and will work through anything in order to reach those who are far from Him. The Ninevites repented when they heard Jonah’s message. The response that took place was shocking. It was the kind of response that most prophets would long for—a quick and speedy turning. It demonstrated that, whether we willingly or reluctantly share the good news of Jesus, it can result in salvation. It is not for us to pick and choose who should be offered forgiveness. It is our job to scatter the seed, and it is up to God to produce the crop. When it comes to sharing our faith, we must learn to expect the unexpected.

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Jonah found himself in need of salvation as he was in the perils of the ocean. God, in His mercy, sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah and keep him safe within its belly for three days and three nights. It was inside of the fish that Jonah recognized God was his only means of rescue. Without God, Jonah was doomed. Though he understood that God had rescued him, it did not translate to a sense remorse for his failing to go to the Ninevites, only gratitude for his personal fortune. Eventually, the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land, which gave him a chance to respond correctly to God’s initial command. God is a God of second, third, and fourth chances—not just for Jonah and the Israelites but for everyone. The same opportunity for repentance and redirection is available to us all.

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God chose Jonah to be His bearer of grace to a people that most believed did not deserve it. Jonah looked for every reason to go in the opposite direction. But before we are too hard on Jonah’s reluctance, we need to look at our own reluctance to share the love of God with people we see as dangerous or deserving of judgment. Are we too quick to find our own "ticket to Tarshish?" Where Jonah was unwilling, God was willing. Oftentimes, we confuse the God we want with the God who is. When God calls us to do His work, it often is not easy, but it is worth it.

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