I used to think the primary lesson of Jonah was about the importance of obeying God. After all, disobedience is costly for Jonah! A raging sea storm, a near-drowning, a fish belly. And, in the end, the same command from God: Go to Nineveh! Obedience is important but the main emphasis in the book of Jonah is about concerns. God's and ours. The real question is this: Why is God so deeply concerned about not only Nineveh, but this man Jonah? This complaining, stingy, self-centered, pouting prophet - why him? Why would God pursue him to the ends of the earth, to the bottom of the sea, and to the outskirts of Nineveh? Should God not be concerned about Nineveh, Lilongwe, or San Diego? Should he just not be concerned? More and more I see that how we answer that question says a lot about our view of God. This incredible story reveals the concerns of God's heart and provides an opportunity for God to align our hearts with His!