The Uncontrollable Mercy of God

We continue our trip through the Bible with today’s reading from Jonah. The story of Jonah is one that appeals to all ages, but in some ways it is also a difficult story. Initially, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh and give God’s word to that city. But he goes in the opposite direction, heads out to sea, and, in a storm, is swallowed by that big fish, and, in that way, was brought back to the land. This time he does go, and the Ninevites repent and are saved. But Jonah is angry that the Ninevites have been saved. This is a theme we see throughout the Bible and may experience ourselves when we are not happy about God’s mercy to others. Another Biblical example is in the story of the prodigal son when the older brother is angry. Both stories end with an invitation from God or the father of the young men, but there is no account of whether Jonah or the older son accepts that invitation. We learn that there is no end to God’s mercy, and we are invited to join God in the joy of that mercy: God loves Nineveh unconditionally.