'Jonah: Promise Breaker. Promise Keeper' / Tash McBride

Grace Community Church NI

The story of Jonah is perhaps one of the most well-known bible stories, beautifully portrayed in children’s books and animated cartoons. However, this portrayal might make it easy to miss the themes of justice, love and God’s continual mercy. We read of Jonah’s struggle with God’s love towards the people of Nineveh, causing him to literally run away. There are lessons for us in this story, perhaps even seeing aspects of ourselves in Jonah. Do we struggle with the idea of justice for everyone? Do we have an instinct to sleep or act selfishly, when we are being asked love the unloveable? We are called to stand up for justice, love those who God loves and be counter-cultural, when needed. ​‘Agape’ love doesn’t depend on how lovable a person might be, it depends on the Goodness of God, which never fails.