Series
A study through the book of Jonah that keeps asking one question: why does God's mercy extend farther than we want it to?
Start with Those Who ClingJonah 2:1-10
"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.'"
Jonah 3:1-4:5
Jonah names two sources of violence: Nineveh's brutal paganism and Jonah's moralistic religion. God refuses both. He does not excuse Nineveh, and he does not excuse Jonah's anger. The way forward is forgiveness that has already dealt with hate before it confronts injustice. The ultimate answer is a gospel identity formed by the cross: humbled enough to lose the right to hate, secure enough to lose the need.