Jonah: a Prophet’s Pride and the Relentless Grace of God

The little book of Jonah from the Hebrew Old Testament has often been dismissed as a fairy tale better suited for Sunday school flannelgraphs. And yet, in spite of its diminutive stature, it may very well be one of the most relevant books of the Bible, with one of the most urgent messages, especially for the modern reader. We know Jonah ran from God. But the reasons he ran, the internal struggles that compelled him to refuse extending God’s grace to Nineveh, are less clear. As we examine the prophet’s heart and the Hebrew culture of the day, a subtext steeped in nationalism and ethnocentric pride becomes painfully visible. And in turn holds a mirror up for the modern Christian and the American Church.Drawing from his experiences in Northern Iraq, from the same plains of Nineveh where the book of Jonah plays out, author Mark Langham gives us new insights into the minor prophet, his life and mission, and how these 48 short verses are a cautionary tale for today’s church.With an economy of words and livable, biblical wisdom, Langham shows us what a life imprisoned by pride becomes and what a life enraptured by grace can be.