One of the clearest signs that someone owns a dog is this little device—a retractable leash. If you’ve ever used one, you know how it works: the dog has freedom to wander a bit, but it never leaves the control of its owner. The line may stretch, but there’s always a limit. And when the dog strays too far—or when danger comes—the owner pushes a button and reels it back in.

What a fitting picture of God’s grace.  We are all inescapably tied to God with a very similar bungee chord called grace.  Grace connects us to God.  It allows us to have a perceived level of freedom, but if we get too far, God’s grace brings us back.  We see the inescapable anchor of God’s grace displayed openly for us through the story of Jonah.  He ran from God—fast and far—but he never escaped God’s gracious pursuit.

God works this way in our lives as well.  When we run from God, he pulls us back.  When we think we’ve escaped, we haven’t left at all.  And in Jonah 1, we find good news for all of us who have a tendency to run:

Big idea: God graciously pursues his children