This final scene in the story of Jonah depicts the hidden hostilities in our own hearts, causing us to despair of life. Jonah had his reasons for wanting the Ninevites destroyed and as a result was offended by the display of God’s grace. We may also feel justified in wishing calamities on others but no such reasoning can be allowed to stand in the light of the revelation of God’s grace.

Despondency and coolness towards God are often a camouflage for deep seated resentment at God’s failure to act in accordance with our view of justice. We see something of the working of our own hearts in the way the prophet believed he had the right to be angry at God’s compassion.

We may, like Jonah, say that we know that ‘God is gracious, and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity’ but do we rejoice that this is so and live in the freedom of such love?