The Gourd and the Lord

What is it about this little four-chapter book that captures our imagination? A man being swallowed by a fish? Sounds bizarre, perhaps even unbelievable, yet Jesus seems to suggest there is something about this story that bears great significance. So much more than a cute children’s Bible story, Jonah reveals that the darkness in the world is often as close as our own heart.

We will discover the choice Jonah faced between pursuing his own selfish pleasure and God’s will is the same choice we each face. It is the same choice Jesus faced as he considered the cross. As we explore the depths of Jonah’s pain and struggles, we discover our own painful struggle with pride and selfishness. We will also see how God meets us in those dark places and uses even our failures to accomplish his greater purposes.