Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”  -- Jonah 1:1 –2 (ESV)

It's a familiar Sunday school story. It has pretty amazing elements. There is a prophet, a mission, a storm, a whale, and a revival. The illustrations pretty much draw themselves. Jonah is one of those Old Testament tales we have heard again and again.

I wonder how much of it we have taken in. Have we considered why Jonah ran? What did he think he was escaping from? Who did he think would replace him? What did he think God would do? How did he respond when God did exactly what he thought he would do?

This week we begin a 4 week series on the book of Jonah. In it we will exploring the audacious grace and mercy of God. I'd encourage you to read through this little book. It's just 4 chapters and I think it lays out some themes and confronts us in some much needed ways.