ABOUT THE BOOK

The 4 Soils & the Fruit They Produce

For the longest time, I thought the story of Jonah was simply about disobedience. However, as I deepened my relationship with God and learned more about who He is, my understanding evolved. I was reading a small book of sermons by Hunter Beckelhymer, and when speaking about the story of Jonah, he said, “It implies, for instance, that we have a responsibility to Nineveh. Israel’s special place in God’s economy was not merely something to be gloried in and enjoyed. It was first and foremost a mission to the world.”

The story of Jonah could have ended in the belly of the fish, but I believe Jonah’s prayer of repentance was what made all the difference in God’s eyes and led to his frustration at the end of the story. Jonah’s last sentence in his prayer of repentance is “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” In this context, when Jonah utters this phrase, it means that it is God’s choice whom He saves.