As familiar as we are with the story of Jonah, which we probably learned in our childhood Sunday School classes, we might miss the most important thread in the story…like Jonah did.

Despite Jonah’s own disobedient childish behavior, including his argumentative and self-pitying attitude, God showed great love and compassion to him. He did the same for the sinful city of Ninevah, who were also disobedient and anti-God.

When Jonah finally obeyed God and spoke the Word of the Lord to them, it caused them to turn from their evil ways and repent unto God. As God said in the very last verse of chapter 4: …”why shouldn’t I spare Ninevah”…after all, He’d spared Jonah!