Murmurs of Grace ~ B
Jonah was mighty soon to become jetsam.
Distress counseled a low heart to obey.
Jonah was soon to learn to not forfeit grace. Murmurs of grace multiply.
pick me up and throw me into the sea... I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you. (Jonah 1:12)
The sacrifice God asked of Jonah is now so much greater than a 1000 kilometer trip to Nineveh. God has upped the ante. And, these pagan sailors up the ante too, rowing ever harder. The ignorant are more righteous than the evangelist.
Jonah wouldn't preach for 120000 to be saved, but now he is dying for a mere handful of sailors.
Proverbs 16:25, there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Jonah descended to the bowels of the seas, Jesus descended to the bowels of the earth. Jonah has learnt true self-death.
And ... the sea became calm (Jonah 1:15). Jonah's sacrifice removed the penalty. Is this a foreshadowing of Jesus' grace-laden sacrifice?
Jonah now lives the true pattern of substitutionary sacrifice. Death for another. This is righteousness.
It is in the depths a man is made ready to obey God.
The Last Word:
Grace has long and waterproof arms.
ENJOY - Murmurs of Grace ~ A