God's sea sank him, and God's fish swallowed him, yet God's great mercy toward Jonah remained. Somehow Jonah knew this, though he did not feel this. "Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight…," Jonah 2:4a (NKJV). The Christian life is often lived contrary to feeling. What we feel and figure and fear – especially in times of great duress – must be brought to the immutable God who hears us, cares about us, and is always for us. "Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple," Jonah 2:4b. It is the look of faith, not reaction to feelings, that we most need when we're afflicted… even when God Himself does the afflicting. He will never forsake His own. Forgiveness and acceptance are God's unchangeable disposition toward His wayward children – no matter how far they've strayed. Because of God's great mercy, the way back into His relational presence is always shorter than the distance they've strayed. "Salvation is of the LORD," Jonah 2:9. We hope you'll join us this Sunday as we continue our study of Jonah with "God of Mercy: The Way Back."
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Steve Massey is the pastor of Hayden Bible Church of Hayden, Idaho. He also writes about matters of faith for The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash., where he previously worked as an editor and reporter. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children, Jake and Sarah.
