In Running from God, Pursued by Grace | Jonah 1 (December 11, 2022), Pastor Harley frames Jonah as a real, historical prophet—and he anchors that by starting in Matthew 12:38–41, where Jesus calls Jonah a prophet, affirms the “three days and three nights” in the fish, and points to Nineveh’s repentance as a rebuke to hard-hearted unbelief. The setup matters: Jonah isn’t a children’s tale; it’s a true story God preserved because it exposes the human heart—and the relentless mercy of God toward both the rebellious prophet and the wicked people he doesn’t want to forgive.

From there, Jonah 1 becomes a study in simple instruction vs. stubborn resistance. God gives Jonah three straightforward steps: “Arise… go to Nineveh… cry against it.” Harley emphasizes that ...