Jonah is the only book in the bible that ends with a question. Let's review chapter four of the book. “But to Jonah, this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."

But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?" Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade, and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."

But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" "It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead." But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not be concerned for the great city of Nineveh, where there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" 

Let's talk about Jonah's racism for a moment. The Ninevites were mortal enemies of the Jews and had treated them with great cruelty. Jonah had reason not to like them. Plus, he was one of the chosen, the Jews whom God had blessed and from whom the Messiah would one day come. The Ninevites were often oppressors of the Jews. They were uncouth, violent, and harsh people. Jonah despised them, which is why he ran from God's assignment and was so angry when God spared them. When it came to the Ninevites, Jonah was a classic racist.

A racist is "prejudiced against or antagonistic toward people based on their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group." Jonah's antagonism ran deep, and he told God he would rather die than God be gracious to them. But notice again the question that closes the book of Jonah. “And should I not be concerned for the great city of Nineveh, where there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" 

God knew how bad these Ninevites were. That is why he was going to judge them and destroy them unless they repented. But what would have caused the heart of God to have compassion for a group that had oppressed His people?

Jonah gives the answer to God in verse 2. "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." Here is Jonah's second death wish. First in the running from God and now when He sees that God will not destroy the Ninevites. His antagonism ran deep!

Why was God's heart different? Because God created all people in His image. That image was destroyed in the fall when Adam and Eve sinned, but the remnants remain. He sees all people the same. Broken and needy images that He wants to re-image, restore, and heal. There are no exceptions. God wanted Jonah to see the Ninevites in that light, and He wants us to see all people in that light. There is no racism in the heart of God. There are no groups more deserving than others. None deserve His grace, but we all have access to it and should see our neighbors in the same light.

There are no people more deserving of God's grace than other people. None of us deserve it. Americans don't deserve it