In today’s reading we conclude the short book of Jonah. To begin the book of Jonah we read of him fleeing from God, and in the close of this book he is flying in the face of God.
“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.'” Jonah 4:2
Jonah’s unjust quarrel with God provides us with insight that Jonah only delivered the message of God to the Ninevites – he had no intentions or desire in assisting or encouraging them in their repentance. Jonah appears to only be concerned about himself, quickly forgetting how God rescued him and snatched him “from the jaws of death” (Jonah 2:6 NLT).
We read or hear about evil acts that take place in our cities and world, and like Jonah, perhaps we feel those individuals are not worthy of forgiveness. But then are we any different than Jonah with our cold heart towards the lost?
God is rich in grace to all that call upon Him. This is not an invitation to only a select few but to every nation – in Nineveh as well as Israel. Those that fear God, are accepted by Him. Those that repent and turn away from their evil ways, will find mercy in Him.
Lock Your Wings 
That same verse (Verse 2) stood out for me because Jonah is pretty brazen to complain to God. We may question God or wonder how things are going to end up but it actually indicates that Jonah complained to God as if Jonah felt that HE had a better way of doing things. May we never be so brazen.
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