God’s salvation brings us out of the depths of selfishness into a place of beauty. When our own bitterness keeps us from seeing opposing views, we must trust God to resurrect us in Christ’s power. Jonah eperienced God’s salvation from the root of bitterness in his heart. Those Assyrians from Ninevah were viscious and had done countless evils to the Jewish nation. Why would Jonah want them to experience God’s mercy? Only by experiencing God’s heart of mercy for himself was Jonah able to extend this grace to his enemies. – Teresa

Jonah 2: 2-9 (ESV)

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

3

For you cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows

passed over me.

4

Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

yet I shall again look

upon your holy temple.’

5

The waters closed in over me to take my life;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head

6

at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land

whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord my God.

7

When my life was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

8

Those who pay regard to vain idols

forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.