Jonah, the reluctant prophet, boarded a ship in an attempt to escape God and his appointed task.

I used to think it was a simple story about God’s judgment… that if you didn’t do what God wants you are in danger of being swallowed by a sea creature.

I’m now convinced the theme of the story is grace.

True, because Jonah was running away to sea instead of going where he was sent, “the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea,” (1:4) and eventually the sailors threw him overboard. (1:15)

Adrift at sea Jonah “called out to the LORD … and he answered me.” (2:2) God’s answer was to appoint “a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” (1:17)

Jonah learned the learned the truth of what the Psalmist wrote when he said, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).

Though we run the opposite direction there is no place too remote from God’s grace. Even at the bottom of the sea as the, “waters closed in” (2:5) Jonah was not beyond God’s ability or determination to save him – and neither are we.

I have never been eaten by a fish… but I imagine it is unpleasant. Nevertheless, from the “belly of the fish” (2:1) Jonah prayed, “with the voice of thanksgiving [I] will sacrifice to you.” (2:9)

One good reason to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) is that, even if we feel like we’re stuck in fish guts, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

God sent the fish not just to stop Jonah from running but to take him back where he wanted him. Then things started looking up… instead of fish food he became fish spew.

“The LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land.” (2:10) Jonah sensibly decided that he should do what God asked him and he went to be a missionary to a hated enemy.

Again we see God’s grace at work. When half-hearted Jonah preached to the Ninehvites they, “believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” (3:5)

God’s grace was shown to the enemies of the people of God… again we learn that there’s nobody beyond God’s salvation.

And he showed his grace through a disobedient, whinging servant… if God could use him he can use us too.

Jesus said some puzzling things. For instance, I have always found what he said to the disciples when they asked him about why he spoke in parables confusing (Matthew 13:10).

His answer was: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Matthew 13:11-13 ESV)

It confuses me because, people typically say that Jesus taught using examples that people identify with to help them understand his message.

Yet, Jesus’ response when his disciples asked him why he spoke in parables was so that the people, ‘seeing don’t see, hearing don’t hear, and do not understand.’ (v.13)

We often expect to have theological depth communicated in a slogan printed on t-shirts and key-rings. For some, our preferred teaching occurs in a twelve step program, with a book and supporting DVD.

But, God is not proven by rational argument and meaning isn’t obtained by science. The truth that changes peoples’ lives is given by revelation.

God gives to those he chooses, “to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.” (v.11)

That’s the revelation which, like it did for the disciples, makes us come to Jesus, and as we establish a relationship with him, moves us to ask him what he meant.

Proverbs 29:18 is regularly quoted by church leaders and business people alike – I (mis)quoted it myself in management assignments at university.

The appeal of the verse for leaders is that, in the King James Version it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Simplistically, it appears the verse supports the popular business view that success depends on having a clearly articulated purpose.

Notwithstanding that I’m not convinced ‘success’ is the objective of faith, this verse tells us something more (or different) to the management application.

The English Standard Version translates the verse as, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint.”

The Old Testament tells the story of the repeated failures of the Israelites and God’s grace which continually returned them to faithfulness. The instrument at these turning points was a revelation from God through one of his prophets.

But as the era of each prophet passed the people once again ‘cast off restraint’ and did their own thing.

In that context, it is appropriate to talk about needing a fresh revelation from God. But some of us have developed a habit of not making decisions or actions until we ‘hear from God’. So, we stall waiting for a revelation about about what brand of teabag to buy.

Then I noticed the second half of verse 18: “but blessed is he who keeps the law.”

Rather than needing a fresh revelation from God, often what we need is to do what he has already told us.