Rev. Mart Vershel (6-8-14) - Jonah 1

Few stories capture the spirit of repentance and return like the story of Jonah. It's a story of God's compassion and longing for all people to return to him. It's a story of running and returning, of illusions and disillusions, of disobedience and spiteful obedience, and ultimately about a world completely transformed by God's love.

In Jonah 1, the point of this chapter, the point of the story, is not about a fish but rather is it about Jonah’s call. The book opens with the words, “Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah . . .” and God wanted Jonah to do one thing. He called Jonah to give himself away, to no longer make it about him but to make it about following God. God reminded Jonah that when he chose to follow God, he wasn’t being called to enjoy a cruise ship but rather was called to be a mission outpost.

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah and the Word of the Lord comes to you and me. And like Jonah, we have a choice to either follow or runaway.