Story · 20 · Jonah
The prophet who feared he'd succeed
Jonah flees his mission to warn Nineveh. When he finally delivers it, the whole city, animals included, repents in sackcloth, and God relents. Jonah is furious.
Mercy can be the hardest message to deliver.
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Jonah knew God was 'gracious and compassionate, slow to anger.' The paradox: had Assyria not been spared, it couldn't later have devastated Israel. And had Israel heeded its prophets like Nineveh did, it would have escaped judgment.
Bible reference: Jonah 3–4
Source: Why the Bible Began, pp. 317–318
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