Take the classic biblical story of Jonah, for example. Scripture tells us that when Jonah tried to run away from God’s call, a massive storm threatened his ship. God intervened, rescuing Jonah from drowning by sending a great fish to swallow him. Jonah lived for three days and three nights inside that fish, and then—in a display of raw, divine power—the fish vomited Jonah out onto dry land, alive and uninjured.
          Now, that is not the sort of thing that happens every day! For many, it is simply too miraculous, too supernatural to take literally. Yet, for all the debate surrounding the great fish, that is actually not the hardest part of the story. The real hurdle comes in what happens next.
          God compelled Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria—his nation’s most hated enemy. Jonah was tasked with warning these brutal oppressors of impending divine judgment. To Jonah's absolute horror, the Ninevites actually repented, humbling themselves and begging God for mercy.
          And how did God respond? Scripture tells us the Lord “had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3:19).Jonah was furious. He snarled, “I am angry enough to die” (Jonah 4:9).This angry prophet wanted God to favor him and his own people. He was utterly outraged that God would show kindness to these foreign adversaries who had a long, bloody history of making life miserable for Jonah’s countrymen. But God cared about Nineveh. He looked at Jonah and asked a piercing question that echoes down to us today: “Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:11) The book of Jonah ends right there, leaving all of us standing in the quiet, forced to ponder God's searching question.