This past Sunday, we continued our series “Relentless Grace: Jonah’s Story and God’s Mercy” by focusing on Jonah 4:1-5. In this passage, Jonah’s heart is exposed as he struggles with God’s mercy being extended to people he despised. How do we respond when God shows grace to someone we dislike or feel doesn’t deserve it? Jonah’s story reveals that pride blinds us to grace, challenges our comfort, and calls us to love even those we’d rather avoid.

Jonah, after running from God’s call and experiencing the consequences of his disobedience, now receives a second chance to fulfill his mission. This chapter highlights Jonah’s return to obedience and God’s incredible patience and persistence. Even after Jonah’s rebellion, God’s relentless grace pursues him, restores him, and empowers him to complete the task he was given.

Jonah, after running from God’s call, found himself at rock bottom—literally, in the belly of a fish, deep in the sea. Even here, though, we see that no matter how far we fall, God’s grace is always there, ready to meet us and bring restoration.

Jonah acknowledges that peace will only come through his sacrifice. This foreshadows the Gospel truth: real peace comes through sacrificial love. Just as Jonah’s sacrifice brought peace to the storm, Jesus’ death on the cross brings peace between us and God.