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God’s mercy: sovereign over all

God’s mercy: sovereign over all
Jonah 1:1-16.

I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break. Happy New Year!

Have you ever had one of those sat-nav moments where no matter how far off course you go, it keeps rerouting and repeating “make a u-turn.” That’s the story of Jonah. God sends him north-east to Nineveh, but Jonah heads west to Joppa instead. And the book shows us something remarkable: God’s response to people on the wrong route isn’t abandonment, but mercy. Like a sat-nav, He keeps rerouting and calling us back to Himself. Jonah takes us on a journey into the nature of God’s mercy.

In today’s passage, as we see the striking stubbornness of Jonah toward God, we begin to see the saving sovereignty of God’s mercy. In spite of Jonah’s refusal of God’s directive, God is still in control. He commands and can change all things (Ps 148:5, Jer 32:17).

  • God commands all things - Jonah and the storm (v1-9):
When God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, he fled toward the sea (v1-3). In Scripture, the sea often symbolises opposition to God’s rule (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:12), so Jonah’s escape reveals his resistance to God’s command. In response, God commanded a violent storm to stop his escape (v4-6), showing his sovereignty over all creation (Ps 24:1), be it storm, fish, plant, worm or wind (Jonah 1:4, 1:17, 4:6, 4:7, 4:8), oh and Jonah is not excluded from God’s sovereignty.

In fact, God displays his sovereign mercy by advancing his saving plan despite Jonah’s disobedience. In Jonah’s effort to introduce himself to the sailors, he ends up introducing the saving Creator (v7-9). Nothing can escape God’s rule, not even rebellious Jonah. So, the question remains: will we yield to his command? The journey of God’s rescued people (the journey of purpose) is defined by obedience to His command (Num 9:18-23).

  • God changes all things - the sailors and the storm (v9-16):
As the storm raged, the sailors’ survival instincts kicked in: do whatever you can to survive and call on your god (v5). They all did, and soon discovered that their best efforts and their idols couldn’t save them. It only led to the loss of their cargo, and still nothing changed (v5, 13). The storm only grew worse. Yes, God let it, as this was His unexpected means to mercy.

So when the sailors listened to Jonah (v9-12) and turned to God in obedience and repentance, “the raging sea grew calm” (v14-15). Their circumstances changed immediately, but more importantly, so did their hearts: “the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him” (v16). Nothing is too hard for God’s Sovereign hand to change (Jer 32:17)—not our circumstances, and certainly not our hearts.

God shows that His mercy is sovereign over all. The God who commands all creation also changes hearts through our soul’s anchor, Jesus.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
We have an anchor. Song by Priscilla J. Owens (1882).

Reflect & Pray
Where might God be inviting you to change direction this year? How have you seen God’s mercy meet you in unexpected ways?
Thank you, Father, that Your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Help us always extend that mercy to others this year, in Jesus’ name, amen.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 ESV.
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