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Many of us are probably familiar with the basic beats of the Jonah story, with all its drama and excitement, but as we go beneath the surface, we will find themes and lessons that challenge us right where we are. Wherever he runs, Jonah finds himself surrounded by people he would count as enemies, whether he’s at sea or in the city. And God insists on using him despite what appears to be the very minimum cooperation from the prophet himself. 

From time to time, we, like Jonah, may find ourselves wrestling with God, challenged by the wideness of his mercy, or downright mad at God. We may fight against the tasks he places before us, unable to see the goodness or the greater purpose of his guiding hand. And perhaps most of all, we have a hard time seeing the world through God’s merciful eyes. May our attentiveness to this story save us from having to learn these lessons in the hardest of ways, as Jonah did. May we see God as he is, and may our hearts be formed by this foundational narrative.