The God of Second Chances

Many of us have had the experience of getting lost while driving. This happened quite frequently to my wife and me when we first moved to a new state. While driving with my wife I thought I would take a "shortcut", and we lost our way. After some time, we came upon certain landmarks that we had passed not long before. We had driven in a circle. We had gotten off course and were now starting out again from the same spot.

Jonah had a similar experience, except that he had gotten lost on purpose. He had heard God clearly tell him to go east to Nineveh and preach against it. Instead, he chose to go west toward Tarshish, although his real destination was anyplace where he would not be bothered by God's presence. True to God's character, he refused to let Jonah go. Instead, God used a frightening display of might to stop Jonah's flight and humble him, bringing him to the very edge of death. From the belly of the fish, Jonah expressed a renewed commitment to the Lord who had saved him.

Now Jonah finds himself on land again, ironically, probably not far from the point where the ship left for Tarshish some time ago. Jonah is starting out again, having taken "the shortcut" to Nineveh by way of a ship heading the wrong direction. Only this time he will actually make it to the city.