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Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace
The story of Jonah the prophet is familiar to us. It's full of unforgettable images, ironic twists and turns, and dramatic encounters between humanity, nature, and God. Most importantly, it is a microcosm of the human story. Your story. My story. The story of Jonah.
In this audiobook, you will meet a prophet not so different from yourself. The prophet's rebellious spirit is astounding, but more astounding still is the surprising grace of God. The same God who relentlessly pursued Jonah and who relentlessly pursued the Ninevites is pursuing you.
May this story cause you to rest in his unstoppable grace.
In this audiobook, you will meet a prophet not so different from yourself. The prophet's rebellious spirit is astounding, but more astounding still is the surprising grace of God. The same God who relentlessly pursued Jonah and who relentlessly pursued the Ninevites is pursuing you.
May this story cause you to rest in his unstoppable grace.
Audible Audio
Published October 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 20, 2021
I am looking for a book to have my youth group read and this might be it. Carter does a good job of pointing out the key issues in the book of Jonah. He brings out many things that I think will speak to my youth group well. I am excited to have them read it.
January 16, 2019
'Running from Mercy' is a devotional-like commentary that will comfort you with the mercy of God you can receive through Jesus Christ, and it is a resource that will challenge you to extend mercy to others just as God has done to all peoples and nations in Christ. If you are looking for the encouragement of God’s mercy as a rebel and learning to extend that same mercy as one redeemed, then grab your copy of this book by Anthony J. Carter!
See full review at: http://www.entrustedbygod.org/2019/01...
See full review at: http://www.entrustedbygod.org/2019/01...
May 4, 2020
This book was on sale, but before deciding to buy it, I though to borrow the audiobook from the library (that doesn’t offer the ebook) first to see if it is worth buying. I was looking for another OT book to study after studying Esther from Cosper’s worthwhile Faith Among the Faithless. This book is a study of Jonah, so just what I was looking for.
I wanted so much to like it, but it just didn’t deliver. There are good parts for sure. Since the author is Reformed, he presented sin as sin (racism in any form is evil), has a high view of God, as expected. What made me give this two-star is its bad application of Jonah’s story.
He contextualized the book of Jonah, forced his own meaning to fit in his points. In the part where the prophet fell asleep on the boat while running away from God, and the other people in the boat had to wake him up, the author said that’s like the church now who seems blind to social injustices and needs the world to wake us up to pay attention. He literally said, “Stay woke!” is the lesson here for us and uses Romans 1:16 to prove it from the Bible.
He also says that the fish represents any trial or hardship we face. I think it was just a fish that God used to teach Jonah, just like Goliath was just a giant David had to face, not an enormous hurdle we have to overcome in our Christian walk.
The author, though I’m sure with good intention, forced his social justice gospel to explain Jonah and that’s why I found his book disappointing, despite its good points.
I wanted so much to like it, but it just didn’t deliver. There are good parts for sure. Since the author is Reformed, he presented sin as sin (racism in any form is evil), has a high view of God, as expected. What made me give this two-star is its bad application of Jonah’s story.
He contextualized the book of Jonah, forced his own meaning to fit in his points. In the part where the prophet fell asleep on the boat while running away from God, and the other people in the boat had to wake him up, the author said that’s like the church now who seems blind to social injustices and needs the world to wake us up to pay attention. He literally said, “Stay woke!” is the lesson here for us and uses Romans 1:16 to prove it from the Bible.
He also says that the fish represents any trial or hardship we face. I think it was just a fish that God used to teach Jonah, just like Goliath was just a giant David had to face, not an enormous hurdle we have to overcome in our Christian walk.
The author, though I’m sure with good intention, forced his social justice gospel to explain Jonah and that’s why I found his book disappointing, despite its good points.
August 17, 2023
I’m studying Jonah so this was a welcomed resource to listen to alongside my study. There were some good insights and nuggets but nothing groundbreaking for me. This would probably be good for someone not as familiar with the book or reading with your eyes and/or a group. I’m also listening to Paul Tripp sermons and David Platt Secret Church and that’s where it’s at👏🏼👏🏼
October 10, 2024
“𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒢𝑜𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓉, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒾𝓉.”
“𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝓃 𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓎.”
I’ve heard Jonah’s story first when I was a little girl and it stayed with me since then and now that I’ve read it in the Bible again I immediately felt a need to learn more about the story in a deeper level.
This book was about Jonah the rebel prophet and God’s mercy toward him. It’s about rebellion, a second chance and forgiveness. I really enjoyed how deeply the author dived into the meaning behind Jonah’s book.
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 was a short but very rich and meaningful read that I absolutely loved every second of it. I really enjoyed the narration for the audiobook as well which is always a pleasure.
It the story of Jonah fascinates you, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out this amazing book!
“𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝓃 𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓎.”
I’ve heard Jonah’s story first when I was a little girl and it stayed with me since then and now that I’ve read it in the Bible again I immediately felt a need to learn more about the story in a deeper level.
This book was about Jonah the rebel prophet and God’s mercy toward him. It’s about rebellion, a second chance and forgiveness. I really enjoyed how deeply the author dived into the meaning behind Jonah’s book.
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 was a short but very rich and meaningful read that I absolutely loved every second of it. I really enjoyed the narration for the audiobook as well which is always a pleasure.
It the story of Jonah fascinates you, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out this amazing book!
November 2, 2024
An old old story about rebellion, repentance, redemption and restoration.
October 4, 2019
This is a decent study of Jonah for someone who has never dug deep in the Old Testament book. I didn't find anything groundbreaking but it was a quick and easy read. That being said, I found the author's writing style to be a bit repetitive. He would often write the same sentence three different ways back to back. I suppose that's one way to drive the message home, but it felt like a student "accidentally" using a larger font in order to pad out the length of an assignment.
December 27, 2018
Good insights about an intriguing biblical story. However, the author was repetitive and would restate a phrase or word multiple times to get their point across. It got a little tiring to me.
February 19, 2019
Jonah didn’t get it. Like us, Jonah thought he was in charge, he could control his life, he knew what was good or not so good for him. What he didn’t realize was this was not about him. pp. 28
How many times have you read this story? What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see the name Jonah? I’d bet it’s the fish. But you know what? Jonah is not about the whale. It’s not about what’s going on inside the fish. It’s about what’s going on inside of Jonah. Surprised at that? I was. We want it to be about the whale because we don’t want to face our own fickleness which is so much like Jonah’s.
Am I saying we’re fickle Believer’s? Yes, I am. When life is going as planned (by us) and we’ve achieved a measure of success (Jonah was a known prophet.) we can start believing we can control our own lives and destiny. We can’t! That’s part of what this story is about. Jonah had to learn (the hard way) that once he committed to being God’s servant it was no longer about him. It’s all about God’s mercy! ALL! Even for someone as fickle as Jonah. Someone who thought he had it all together. Someone who knew God intimately, heard His voice, helped others understand Him.
What Jonah didn’t recognize in himself was his sinful nature. He thought everyone else was sinful. (i.e., the Ninevites) He certainly didn’t want to be in contact with that kind of sin. So he ran away. He didn’t get that you can’t run away from God. But he certainly tried.
We all know that God is the God of many chances. When He sets His sights on one of us He never gives up. That’s how I see the story of Jonah. God would not give up! From the pit (in the hold of the boat) to the prison (in the belly of the whale) to the palace (maybe the home of Shalmaneser lll) God pursued him.
I’ve studied the book of Jonah several times, with different authors, and let me say this is the first time I saw myself in this Old Testament parable. I’ve never grown tired of this story and I hope I never will. God will continue His pursuit of you and me. My fervent prayer is we will hear Him and respond so we don’t end up in a giant fish.
Powerful words in Running from Mercy by Anthony J. Carter:
…He is not going to stop until He gets you. Goodness and mercy shall pursue you all the days of your life (Ps. 23:6). pp. 48
God keeps his appointments and has every intention of making sure we do too. pp. 57
If you have people in your life who love you enough to talk to you about your sin, don’t cut them off. Don’t shut them down. Don’t blame them. They are the grace of God to you. pp. 87
In every church gathered in this world today, people are either changing the gospel, or the gospel is changing them… We must not seek to change God’s Word but seek to be changed by it. pp.106
I highly recommend this book. It’s a life changer!
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Broadman Holman/Lifeway Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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How many times have you read this story? What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see the name Jonah? I’d bet it’s the fish. But you know what? Jonah is not about the whale. It’s not about what’s going on inside the fish. It’s about what’s going on inside of Jonah. Surprised at that? I was. We want it to be about the whale because we don’t want to face our own fickleness which is so much like Jonah’s.
Am I saying we’re fickle Believer’s? Yes, I am. When life is going as planned (by us) and we’ve achieved a measure of success (Jonah was a known prophet.) we can start believing we can control our own lives and destiny. We can’t! That’s part of what this story is about. Jonah had to learn (the hard way) that once he committed to being God’s servant it was no longer about him. It’s all about God’s mercy! ALL! Even for someone as fickle as Jonah. Someone who thought he had it all together. Someone who knew God intimately, heard His voice, helped others understand Him.
What Jonah didn’t recognize in himself was his sinful nature. He thought everyone else was sinful. (i.e., the Ninevites) He certainly didn’t want to be in contact with that kind of sin. So he ran away. He didn’t get that you can’t run away from God. But he certainly tried.
We all know that God is the God of many chances. When He sets His sights on one of us He never gives up. That’s how I see the story of Jonah. God would not give up! From the pit (in the hold of the boat) to the prison (in the belly of the whale) to the palace (maybe the home of Shalmaneser lll) God pursued him.
I’ve studied the book of Jonah several times, with different authors, and let me say this is the first time I saw myself in this Old Testament parable. I’ve never grown tired of this story and I hope I never will. God will continue His pursuit of you and me. My fervent prayer is we will hear Him and respond so we don’t end up in a giant fish.
Powerful words in Running from Mercy by Anthony J. Carter:
…He is not going to stop until He gets you. Goodness and mercy shall pursue you all the days of your life (Ps. 23:6). pp. 48
God keeps his appointments and has every intention of making sure we do too. pp. 57
If you have people in your life who love you enough to talk to you about your sin, don’t cut them off. Don’t shut them down. Don’t blame them. They are the grace of God to you. pp. 87
In every church gathered in this world today, people are either changing the gospel, or the gospel is changing them… We must not seek to change God’s Word but seek to be changed by it. pp.106
I highly recommend this book. It’s a life changer!
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Broadman Holman/Lifeway Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
SHARE THIS:
April 2, 2019
I've been a B&H Publishing / Lifeway blogger for quite some time. In all honesty, though, I can't remember the last time I reviewed a book for them, and of course, after I received today's book - Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace by Anthony J. Carter, I unfortunately suffered a random condition called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which they call a "brain bleed". I was hospitalized for a week and then instructed to convalesce for five to eight weeks, so today's post is late.
Running from Mercy is an Old Testament study on Jonah the Prophet and how we are much like him. I recognized the full worth of the way salvation is made clear in the first few chapters of this book. Readers are made clear that we are saved by grace through faith and not of any action we take ourselves. The Lord promises to save everyone who calls upon His name. We are reminded that mercy is greater than all your failures!
Each chapter broke of Running from Mercy down a few of the Bibl verses. It went really deep into Jonah as a person and about God. The author bought the focus away from the fish and brought it to God. We are reminded that grace and mercy come from a big God who races after His people. No matter how many times we try to run away from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster than us.
Jonah is not just a story of the redemption of Nineveh, or the usage of an unwilling heart. The author shows how Jonah reflects the unrelenting love and mercy of God. I'm grateful for the author's contribution and recommend Running from Mercy as a supplement to studying Jonah. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory and give you new insight. If you have not studied Jonah, this book is a great way to start!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing / Lifeway in exchange for my post. A positive review was not required.
Running from Mercy is an Old Testament study on Jonah the Prophet and how we are much like him. I recognized the full worth of the way salvation is made clear in the first few chapters of this book. Readers are made clear that we are saved by grace through faith and not of any action we take ourselves. The Lord promises to save everyone who calls upon His name. We are reminded that mercy is greater than all your failures!
Each chapter broke of Running from Mercy down a few of the Bibl verses. It went really deep into Jonah as a person and about God. The author bought the focus away from the fish and brought it to God. We are reminded that grace and mercy come from a big God who races after His people. No matter how many times we try to run away from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster than us.
Jonah is not just a story of the redemption of Nineveh, or the usage of an unwilling heart. The author shows how Jonah reflects the unrelenting love and mercy of God. I'm grateful for the author's contribution and recommend Running from Mercy as a supplement to studying Jonah. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory and give you new insight. If you have not studied Jonah, this book is a great way to start!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing / Lifeway in exchange for my post. A positive review was not required.
January 1, 2019
If you ever went to Sunday school, you’ve probably heard the story of Jonah and the big fish. And if you’re a fan of Veggie Tales, for sure you’ve heard of it. But, as is often the case, when we try to simplify things for children, a lot gets left out, and all too frequently we don’t make time as adults to go back and read the biblical account. And so we miss out on an awful lot.
Anthony Carter has taken the account, rather than the story, and fleshed out what it means to be exposed to the God of Second Chances. Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace ( B&H Publishing, 2018) reminds us that we are Jonah, and God is pursuing us, just as he did the Jonah of the Old Testament. As Carter puts it: “The Bible is the story of God's gracious pursuit of rebels. It’s the story line of the Bible, It’s the message of Jonah.”
And when God chases after us, we need to remember that He has an endless supply of resources available. He even orchestrated a divine appointment between Jonah and that giant sea creature. Perhaps some things happen by chance, but chances are God is involved, and we learn that regardless of how far we try to run, how hard we try to hide, God is relentless in his pursuit of us. If the gospel is not changing us, then it’s probably because we’re listening to a changed gospel. (p 106)
My favorite takeaway from this book is that mercy doesn’t run after the righteous, rather mercy runs to sinners (p 162). I am Jonah, and I love seeing where God is at work in my life, continuing to reach down in pursuit of me, regardless of the running that I try to do.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my thoughts about the book. I was not required to write a positive review.
4/5
Anthony Carter has taken the account, rather than the story, and fleshed out what it means to be exposed to the God of Second Chances. Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace ( B&H Publishing, 2018) reminds us that we are Jonah, and God is pursuing us, just as he did the Jonah of the Old Testament. As Carter puts it: “The Bible is the story of God's gracious pursuit of rebels. It’s the story line of the Bible, It’s the message of Jonah.”
And when God chases after us, we need to remember that He has an endless supply of resources available. He even orchestrated a divine appointment between Jonah and that giant sea creature. Perhaps some things happen by chance, but chances are God is involved, and we learn that regardless of how far we try to run, how hard we try to hide, God is relentless in his pursuit of us. If the gospel is not changing us, then it’s probably because we’re listening to a changed gospel. (p 106)
My favorite takeaway from this book is that mercy doesn’t run after the righteous, rather mercy runs to sinners (p 162). I am Jonah, and I love seeing where God is at work in my life, continuing to reach down in pursuit of me, regardless of the running that I try to do.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my thoughts about the book. I was not required to write a positive review.
4/5
January 12, 2019
Fantastic study of the book of Jonah! Anthony J. Carter did such an impeccable job diving deep into Jonah, relating him to Jesus and comparing the story to other stories in the Bible. A lot of the stuff I knew from my personal study of Jonah, but I truly enjoyed the insights he gave.
Each chapter broke down a few verses and really went deep into Jonah as a person and God. He bought the focus away from the fish and to God. Grace and mercy come from a big God who runs after His people. No matter how many times we try to run from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster.
I truly enjoyed every single page of this book and recommend it for those who have not yet studied the book of Jonah. It will open your eyes to depths of the book. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory AND give you new insight.
Profound study of Jonah. Truly loved and recommend it.
Each chapter broke down a few verses and really went deep into Jonah as a person and God. He bought the focus away from the fish and to God. Grace and mercy come from a big God who runs after His people. No matter how many times we try to run from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster.
I truly enjoyed every single page of this book and recommend it for those who have not yet studied the book of Jonah. It will open your eyes to depths of the book. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory AND give you new insight.
Profound study of Jonah. Truly loved and recommend it.
January 12, 2019
Fantastic study of the book of Jonah! Anthony J. Carter did such an impeccable job diving deep into Jonah, relating him to Jesus and comparing the story to other stories in the Bible. A lot of the stuff I knew from my personal study of Jonah, but I truly enjoyed the insights he gave.
Each chapter broke down a few verses and really went deep into Jonah as a person and God. He bought the focus away from the fish and to God. Grace and mercy come from a big God who runs after His people. No matter how many times we try to run from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster.
I truly enjoyed every single page of this book and recommend it for those who have not yet studied the book of Jonah. It will open your eyes to depths of the book. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory AND give you new insight.
Profound study of Jonah. Truly loved and recommend it.
Each chapter broke down a few verses and really went deep into Jonah as a person and God. He bought the focus away from the fish and to God. Grace and mercy come from a big God who runs after His people. No matter how many times we try to run from Him, no matter how fast we think we are running ... God is faster.
I truly enjoyed every single page of this book and recommend it for those who have not yet studied the book of Jonah. It will open your eyes to depths of the book. If you have studied Jonah, this book will refresh your memory AND give you new insight.
Profound study of Jonah. Truly loved and recommend it.
March 9, 2020
This book reads like a sermon and I mean that in the best way possible. Carter eloquently pulls the reader in utilizing what we already know (scripture is God's love letter to us) to reveal how God in his rich love and mercy pursues us even to the point of confronting us with our own sin. Carter reveals in this book what Scripture reveals to us but goes unnoticed, Jonah is a reflection of us as sinners. We are often the bad guy of the story, that's why outside looking in we often can see the screw ups and of course "it's obvious that we should not do it that way!" But the truth is we screw up and run from God but he runs us down chasing after us. This book is a great read by itself, given that it comes with some study questions I think this would be great for a church or small group to go through together and discussing it. I loved it!
January 1, 2019
I have heard the story of Jonah many times. We've discussed his heart of disobedience, God still working through the unwilling, and how awful and offensive Jonah must have looked, and smelled, entering Nineveh after three days in the belly of a whale.
Never had i ever thought of the enormous Grace and Mercy God showed Jonah.
Jonah is not just a story of the redemption of Nineveh, or the usage of an unwilling heart. Jonah shows us the unrelenting love and mercy of God and Anthony Carter beautifully unpacks it all
Never had i ever thought of the enormous Grace and Mercy God showed Jonah.
Jonah is not just a story of the redemption of Nineveh, or the usage of an unwilling heart. Jonah shows us the unrelenting love and mercy of God and Anthony Carter beautifully unpacks it all
December 3, 2018
Not quite what I expected, but incredibly pastoral in its approach. Carter's tone here reads like a sermon manuscript. This certainly isn't a bad thing, but it seemed as though there was a heavier emphasis on personal application than exegeting the text. For a more exegetical approach, I'd recommend Tim Keller's recent release. With that said, I'm thankful for Carter's contribution here and have no reservations recommending it as a supplement to studying Jonah.
January 8, 2019
Anthony J. Carter has written a new book, Running From Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace. Because I've been fascinated by the book of Jonah for so long, I grabbed this book and dug in quickly. And this book rocked my world.
Carter walks the reader through this familiar book of Jonah. But if you think you know this story, I think you'll still find yourself learning and understanding this book in an entirely new way.
You might find you are more like Jonah than you thought!
In the pages of this book, I found myself shocked to see so much of my broken heart reflected in Jonah. More than that though, I was able to see and understand more about God and his grace and mercy than I ever knew before.
By walking through the story of Jonah, small chunk by small chunk, Carter gives you an in-depth look at how God's grace and mercy apply when we turn our backs on God and in our rebellion turn away from Him.
Carter takes you deep into the story of Jonah, through God's gracious pursuit of us, in a way that makes you stop and ponder as you go. I still find myself considering new things about God and his grace though I finished this book over a week ago.
This is a book that will stick with you. And one I'm betting I'll read again and learn new things as I go!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
Carter walks the reader through this familiar book of Jonah. But if you think you know this story, I think you'll still find yourself learning and understanding this book in an entirely new way.
You might find you are more like Jonah than you thought!
In the pages of this book, I found myself shocked to see so much of my broken heart reflected in Jonah. More than that though, I was able to see and understand more about God and his grace and mercy than I ever knew before.
By walking through the story of Jonah, small chunk by small chunk, Carter gives you an in-depth look at how God's grace and mercy apply when we turn our backs on God and in our rebellion turn away from Him.
Carter takes you deep into the story of Jonah, through God's gracious pursuit of us, in a way that makes you stop and ponder as you go. I still find myself considering new things about God and his grace though I finished this book over a week ago.
This is a book that will stick with you. And one I'm betting I'll read again and learn new things as I go!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
February 10, 2022
Helpful for Christ-centered preaching of Jonah. At times, I found Carter's exegesis a bit of a stretch (what he was saying was true, but not very well grounded in this particular text).
He writes clear and uses illustrations well.
He writes clear and uses illustrations well.
May 10, 2024
This book took me a bit to get through but I loved it! God is so so good and this book is a testament to that. Walking through the story of Jonah readers have a chance to better understand what it looks like when God doesn’t stop pursuing us ❤️
December 11, 2018
Review to come.
January 24, 2019
Great read for a new Christian. There is something about learning to understand how God’s grace goes beyond our self. Wonderful book.
November 2, 2022
So much interesting info packed in this book. Definitely will never look at this story the same again.
December 31, 2018
A God-focused message analyzing the book of Jonah that is both convicting and uplifting. My full review: https://medium.com/@jpark_21/running-...
February 9, 2019
My Thoughts:
As a child in Sunday school, the story of Jonah and the whale was popular. The fascination of a whale swallowing a man and the man surviving was shocking. As an adult, I don’t hear of the story of Jonah taught to adults. When I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance to read and review.
In the introduction, Anthony J. Carter states Jonah was a real person, and Nineveh was a real place. The story of Jonah has at times been whisked away as possibly-surely not true. Jesus referred to the story of Jonah in Matthew 12:40-41. Carter ends the introduction by reminding the reader we are all runners like Jonah. We too are rebellious.
What I loved about this book:
•All four chapters of Jonah is taught chronologically.
•God’s attributes are taught. For example: Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and mercy.
•Jonah’s deep sleep is compared to our deep sleep in regards to ignoring God’s calling in our lives. This is a significant point. “This rebellious sleep illustrates Jonah’s spiritual numbness.” Page 25.
•Jonah’s sin is a teaching point: “You and I need to understand that our sin rarely, if ever, affects only us.” Further, God will reveal our sin eventually. “God reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:22.
•One of my favorite sections is on prayer. “The will of God will always get done-not yours, not mine, but God’s will. And what is God’s will? Part of God’s will is that men and women pray. God brought Jonah to his knees. And that is where God delights to bring all of us. Jonah prayed.” Page 67.
•Page 88 defines the attribute of God, mercy. “Mercy is the goodness and compassion of God in the midst of misery.” But people must willing confess their misery and sin in order to experience God’s mercy and grace.
•My favorite reason I loved this book: Jonah is not just a story for children who will sit in a chair and listen without knowing they can ask questions. Jonah is a story for grown-ups who ask questions, read and study God’s Word; and understand why the book is much more than a story about a big fish, it is the story of God’s patience, mercy, and grace.
Source: I received a complimentary copy, but was not required to leave a positive review.
As a child in Sunday school, the story of Jonah and the whale was popular. The fascination of a whale swallowing a man and the man surviving was shocking. As an adult, I don’t hear of the story of Jonah taught to adults. When I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance to read and review.
In the introduction, Anthony J. Carter states Jonah was a real person, and Nineveh was a real place. The story of Jonah has at times been whisked away as possibly-surely not true. Jesus referred to the story of Jonah in Matthew 12:40-41. Carter ends the introduction by reminding the reader we are all runners like Jonah. We too are rebellious.
What I loved about this book:
•All four chapters of Jonah is taught chronologically.
•God’s attributes are taught. For example: Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and mercy.
•Jonah’s deep sleep is compared to our deep sleep in regards to ignoring God’s calling in our lives. This is a significant point. “This rebellious sleep illustrates Jonah’s spiritual numbness.” Page 25.
•Jonah’s sin is a teaching point: “You and I need to understand that our sin rarely, if ever, affects only us.” Further, God will reveal our sin eventually. “God reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:22.
•One of my favorite sections is on prayer. “The will of God will always get done-not yours, not mine, but God’s will. And what is God’s will? Part of God’s will is that men and women pray. God brought Jonah to his knees. And that is where God delights to bring all of us. Jonah prayed.” Page 67.
•Page 88 defines the attribute of God, mercy. “Mercy is the goodness and compassion of God in the midst of misery.” But people must willing confess their misery and sin in order to experience God’s mercy and grace.
•My favorite reason I loved this book: Jonah is not just a story for children who will sit in a chair and listen without knowing they can ask questions. Jonah is a story for grown-ups who ask questions, read and study God’s Word; and understand why the book is much more than a story about a big fish, it is the story of God’s patience, mercy, and grace.
Source: I received a complimentary copy, but was not required to leave a positive review.
December 27, 2018
Running From Mercy is an Old Testament study by author Anthony J. Carter. This is a study on Jonah the Prophet and how we are much like him.
I wanted to read this study because our pastor recently did a study on the book of Jonah. This book met my expectations by reaching out to Seekers, Young Believers, and Mature Believers. The reason the author wrote this study is so the reader will learn much about the greatness of God’s grace.
I learned God had commissioned Jonah on another occasion to prophecy good news to the people of Israel (II Kings 14:24-27). I found the information about Francis Thompson interesting. (p. 32-33)
I appreciate that the way of salvation is made clear in the first few chapters. You are saved by grace through faith and not of yourselves. The Lord promises to save everyone who calls upon His name. (p. 50) Page 53 explains that the only way to the Father is through the Son, Jesus. You can call on Jesus and be saved today.
I recommend this study to Seekers and young Believers because it gives the very basics of Salvation, and for Mature Believers who want to be reminded of God’s grace.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I wanted to read this study because our pastor recently did a study on the book of Jonah. This book met my expectations by reaching out to Seekers, Young Believers, and Mature Believers. The reason the author wrote this study is so the reader will learn much about the greatness of God’s grace.
I learned God had commissioned Jonah on another occasion to prophecy good news to the people of Israel (II Kings 14:24-27). I found the information about Francis Thompson interesting. (p. 32-33)
I appreciate that the way of salvation is made clear in the first few chapters. You are saved by grace through faith and not of yourselves. The Lord promises to save everyone who calls upon His name. (p. 50) Page 53 explains that the only way to the Father is through the Son, Jesus. You can call on Jesus and be saved today.
I recommend this study to Seekers and young Believers because it gives the very basics of Salvation, and for Mature Believers who want to be reminded of God’s grace.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
January 17, 2019
How is the ancient story of Jonah the prophet a microcosm of the human story in the 21st century? How does the prophet’s rebellious spirit and his resulting circumstances demonstrate the surprising and unstoppable grace of God?
Bible Gateway interviewed Anthony Carter (@eastpc) about his book, Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God’s Unstoppable Grace (B&H Books, 2018). Read our interview with Anthony Carter here: https://bit.ly/2ATcsuH
Bible Gateway interviewed Anthony Carter (@eastpc) about his book, Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God’s Unstoppable Grace (B&H Books, 2018). Read our interview with Anthony Carter here: https://bit.ly/2ATcsuH
March 22, 2019
Great book on Jonah. Theologically deep and very readable.
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