By Joe Greer
Synopsis: The story of the prophet Jonah provides an insightful look at God’s mercy and how He offers it to man.
Many of us know the story of Jonah and his plight of spending three days in the belly of a great fish. Perhaps we have taught this lesson to young children and watched in amazement (or maybe amusement) as their eyes grow big, while thinking about what it would be like to be swallowed like Jonah and then spit out on dry ground. To those young and old alike, it truly is an amazing story with powerful applications of our need to obey God. While we rightfully make application of that point, one that is sometimes overlooked is God’s mercy—which is the essence of the message.
Jonah, to be sure, was reluctant to fulfill his role as God’s spokesman. He was a prophet who turned away, literally, from going to Nineveh to deliver God’s message of impending judgment on this Assyrian city. Jonah was a Jewish patriot who seemingly would rather see his enemy suffer God’s wrath than to deliver a message that might cause their repentance. His actions reveal a spirit contrary to that of God’s—his cold, callous, and calculating attitude was opposite to the grace that flows from the Creator of all things. Think about how we see God’s mercy displayed in the book of Jonah.
Jonah defiantly turned away from what God wanted him to do. He paints a clear picture of what rebellion toward God looks like—turning from God and going in a totally opposite direction. Admittedly, it is easy for us to look at Jonah, point a finger at him, and say, “What are you doing?” Clearly, his choices were foolish. We see why God’s wrath was released on him. Yet, to be honest, are we different? Have we deluded ourselves into thinking that we could be judged with a soft hand when we defy the will of God?
For many of us, it is only when we have been brought low that we seek God and turn to Him, the same that could be said of Jonah. When Jonah humbled himself and submitted to God’s will, God responded immediately. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. . . And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2:1-2, 10, NIV).
From the belly of that great fish, contrite prayers ascended on high to the ears of God. His response was not because Jonah was so good, as he has clearly proven otherwise, but because God’s mercy is so great. In Jonah, we see a change of heart, a humbling of self and recognition that “salvation comes from the Lord” (v. 9), and Jonah was introduced to the mercy of Jehovah God.
Assyria represented a powerful and wicked nation feared by many. During this period, it was a looming threat to Israel. In about fifty years, Assyria would conquer Israel and carry them into captivity. While we understand Jonah’s reluctance to preach hope to the very ones who posed such a threat to his people, God did not ask his opinion on the matter. God wanted His messaged preached. “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you. This time, Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord.”He proclaimed: Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned. The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:1-5, NIV).
It is amazing to picture in our mind—this great and powerful city, that seemingly once had no fear, bowing to the God of all creation. Even the king humbled himself, removed his royal robes, covered himself in sackcloth and ashes and made a proclamation: “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish” (Jonah 3:8b-9, NIV). Approaching God with a contrite heart and humble attitude is always wise.
We see unfolding what is a reoccurring pattern—God’s willingness to extend mercy to those undeserving to be its recipient, and that His grace and compassion are always great to the repentant. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He has threatened” (Jonah 3:10, NIV).
While the God of heaven always looks favorably upon those who are meek and humble in spirit, the Ninevites’ response was not what Jonah wanted to see. Jonah was obedient to deliver God’s message, but he was still dealing with a serious heart problem. “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry” (Jonah 4:1, NIV). How could Jonah possibly be angry at the repentance of the people? Well, that will remain a discussion for a later time while we focus instead on God’s mercy in this story.
In this case, as always, God’s grace and compassion are without equal. His concern is saving the lost, offering a way for the sinful to draw near to Him—not by compromising His holiness, but by presenting a way for sinful man to leave that life behind, and turn to Him. What was the focus of our righteous God? “But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:11 NIV). The answer is of course, yes! Certainly, God is concerned about the many in that city and the 120,000 innocent souls (presumably children), and all the rest of His creation as well. God’s mercy. . . What can we say!?
So, what does this mean to you and me? God’s grace and mercy, which we can never appreciate too much, should cause us to fall on our knees in thanksgiving. If God can offer his mercy to a repentant Jonah, or to an incredibly wicked city willing to turn and worship Him, just think of what He would be willing to do for you and me. Oh, but He already has!
To be clear, we are not deserving. Neither can we perform enough good works to overcome our sins. Rather, by turning to Him, we can accept grace that He generously offers and be recipients of His exceedingly great mercy. We would not be the first—no, not at all—but heirs, none the less, of God’s abiding love toward all His creation. So great is His love for man that He gave the most precious and valuable gift that could ever be offered—His only begotten Son. If we choose to be in Him, we have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Remember the words of the apostle to those early disciples who were so troubled with sin that they were covered in it. In Ephesians 2, Paul paints this picture of a people “dead in trespasses and sins. . . walking according to the course of this world” (vv. 1-2). Is it only the early disciples who were battling the scourge of sin? No, it is our problem too. Let us thank God for His great love for us, and also for His mercy—but His mercy is nothing new. We read about it even in times long ago, like when a great fish swallowed a disobedient prophet who himself became a needed recipient of God’s mercy. . . even as we need it today. Thank God for His undeniable love for the sinful and lost, for grace that is immeasurable, and for mercy that is rich and draws us to Him.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-7, NKJV).
