God didn’t leave Jonah in folly:
his fleeing and folly were stopped
by the storm and the waves, then God kindly
provided a fish and it gulped,
and swallowed, enclosing the prophet,
saved to stop and consider his ways:
near death in the sea brought him profit
– when released from the fish, he obeys.
The Ninevites repented and turned,
when warned that their violence and sin
would soon bring destruction they’d earned,
hoped God would relent and not bring
that judgment, and such proved the case
but Jonah was angry and selfish
not wanting that they receive grace:
forgot what he’d learnt in the fish.
He watched, still expecting their end
and God gave a plant to give shade,
but later a worm, and hot wind
– these people by God too were made
and Jonah should gladly show pity
not just that his shelter be spared,
but for this repentant vast city
who’d heeded the message they’d heard.
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