Jonah derides the LORD for being so gracious. He chides the Almighty for going soft. Where others perceive God’s character as a source of faith and hope, Jonah makes such attributes the basis of his indictment—as the cause for doubt and cynicism.

The prayers of the Ninevites have been answered but Jonah isn’t falling down and praising the LORD for their redemption. Jonah is angry. He is burning with rage—but not against the people of Nineveh. The target of his meltdown is the Almighty himself.

Father, Son, and Spirit take turns shining the spotlight on one another. The Father and Jesus send us the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit calls out in our hearts, 'Papa Father!' and 'Jesus is Lord.' Back and forth they love and praise one another.

Pentecost Sunday—the celebration of God’s pouring out of his Holy Spirit among his people. Just as the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters to bring creation into being, so this same Spirit gave birth to a new creation—the Church.

Why does the LORD afford forty days before bringing his judgment upon Nineveh? Was God still undecided about what to do? And if judgment was the sentence that had already passed, why does the LORD relent? Does God change His mind?

The Word of the Lord comes to Jonah a second time. Jonah got a fresh start, a second chance. The LORD does much the same for us. In Baptism, our rebellious, selfish, old self is drowned, and our new, resurrected life in Jesus Christ begins.

Jonah prayed for deliverance from the very God who brought the storm. Let us reflect on the circumstances of our own lives when the darkness has overtaken us. Discover that sometimes the best time to pray is when prayer is all we have.

The God made known in Jesus Christ is not interested in payback. The LORD doesn’t send the storm to pay Jonah back for his disobedience, but rather to get Jonah back on the path of obedience.

Jonah was just another prophet—a man of God minding his business. Living off his reputation from the reign of King Jeroboam II, Jonah was enjoying the silence and living the dream. That is, until God start speaking.

Are you looking for a sign from God but having a hard time taking direction? The Resurrection of Jesus is the sign of our times. On more than one occasion Jesus framed the sign of his resurrection through the sign, the story of Jonah.