FOCUS TEXT: Jonah 1:7-10

This past Sunday, we continued our series, Relentless Grace: Jonah’s Story and God’s Mercy, by exploring Jonah 1:7-10. Jonah, a prophet of God, was called to go to Nineveh, but instead, he fled toward Tarshish. His disobedience revealed a deeper issue—Jonah’s hatred for the Ninevites and his desire to escape God’s mission. Jonah thought he could hide, but God’s relentless grace brings our sin to light, confronts the disconnect between our identity and actions, and calls us to repentance.

God’s Grace Pursues Us in Our Rebellion (Jonah 1:7) — The sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm, and the lot fell on Jonah. This wasn’t bad luck—it was God’s sovereign grace pursuing Jonah. In the same way, God often uses difficult circumstances to expose our sin. Not to condemn us, but to lead us back to Him. Sin grows in the dark, but confession brings healing. God’s grace ensures our sin won’t stay hidden forever.

God’s Grace Confronts the Disconnect Between Identity and Actions (Jonah 1:8-9) — When questioned, Jonah identified as a Hebrew who feared the Lord. Yet, his actions told a different story—he was fleeing from God. This disconnect between Jonah’s words and his actions is something we all face. We claim to follow Christ, but do our lives reflect that? God confronts this inconsistency not to shame us, but to bring us back in line with our true identity in Him.

God’s Grace Reveals the Seriousness of Our Sin (Jonah 1:10) — Jonah’s confession terrified the sailors as they realized the danger his disobedience had brought on them. Sin has real consequences—not only for us but for those around us. God exposes our sin not to punish us, but to bring us to repentance and restoration. While sin leads to destruction, God’s grace offers a way back.

God’s Grace Provides a Way Back (Jonah 1:11-17) — Though we focused on Jonah’s exposure, the story doesn’t end in judgment. Next week, we’ll see how God’s grace made a way for Jonah’s restoration. Even in the depths of the sea, God provided for Jonah. His grace provides a path back for us, too, no matter how far we’ve strayed.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• What sin might God be bringing to light through challenges in your life?

• Where do you see a disconnect between your professed faith and your actions?

• How can you realign your life with God’s purposes through repentance?

PRAYER RESPONSE: “Father, thank You for Your relentless grace. Expose the areas of our hearts where we’ve been hiding, and help us confront the disconnect between our words and actions. Lead us back to You in repentance, and give us the strength to walk in obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

MEMORY VERSE: Jonah 1:9 — “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”