Doomed to Receive Mercy

Jonah obeyed God this time. He didn’t try to outwit God, or defy Him for His eyes run to and fro the earth, and he could neither deny his sovereign power nor hide from it. As Jonah took the first step to Nineveh, the way seemed long and the journey dangerous, yet there were people who needed the message of God badly, and with a sigh, he filled his lungs with the air of that city as he alighted from the ship.

The night before, God’s voice was clear, and it scraped his calloused heart and it bled: “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to the people the message I have given you.”

Now finally, in Nineveh, Jonah walked its cobbled streets with renewed strength and fervor, and shouted with every step: “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!”

Busy city people stopped to listen as the prophet passed through. From the city gate to the market place and back, doing his rounds as would a beggar to earn his bread, Jonah incessantly proclaimed the message of destruction to the disobedient people. It was the message of God, and he was not afraid.

No one tried to stone him to death as he passed by. Nobody laughed and scorned him. As he marched, the townspeople received the message of God with contrite hearts.

The people decided that they should fast, and all the people from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented. The message of destruction pricked the people’s hearts, even the King’s. He put on sackcloth and fasted as was the manner in those days.

“He sent out a proclamation to the people of Nineveh: This is an order from the king and his officials: No one is to eat anything; all persons, cattle and sheep are forbidden to eat or drink. All persons and animals must wear sackcloth. Everyone must pray earnestly to God and must give up their wicked behavior and their evil actions. Perhaps God will change his mind; perhaps he will stop being angry, and we will not die!” (Jonah 3:7-9, TEV)

God saw what they did and He was pleased. So He changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would.

This angered Jonah exceedingly. So he prayed: “Lord, didn’t I say before I left home that this is just what you would do? That’s why I did my best to run away to Spain! I know that You are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish. Now then, Lord, let me die. I am better off dead than alive.”

Shaking the dust off from his feet as he staggered to the east of Nineveh, he decided to mull over the events of the past days, and his heart ached in anger.

“Why, the Lord sent me here to declare doom! Now, He changed His mind and forgave these people! Of all people! They will turn back to their gods again after their show of repentance, that is sure!”

And having said so, Jonah wished for his death under the shelter he made for himself, for the sun was shining so brightly. From a distance, he was waiting for brimstone and hail and fire to fall down on the wicked city, but none of these came. Meanwhile, the scorching heat of the sun began to burn Jonah’s skin, and God took pity on him.

“Then the Lord God made a plant grow up over Jonah to give him some shade, so that he would be more comfortable. Jonah was extremely pleased with the plant. But at dawn the next day, at God’s command, a worm attacked the plant, and it died. After the sun had risen, God sent a hot east wind, and Jonah was about to faint from the heat of the sun beating down on his head. So he wished he were dead.” (Jonah 4:6-8, TEV)

“I am better off dead than alive!” Jonah muttered in disgust. He waited for heaven to strike him dead, but instead, heard God’s calming voice.

“What right do you have to be angry with the plant?”

“I have every right to be angry — angry enough to die!” Jonah said.

The Lord said to him, “This plant grew up in one night and disappeared the next; you didn’t do anything for it and you didn’t make it grow – yet you feel sorry for it! How much more, then, should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than 120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals!” (Jonah 4:10-11, TEV)