The story of Jonah is possibly the most familiar in all of the Bible. Unlike any other prophet in the Bible, Jonah refuses to obey God after being told to go and warn the great Assyrian city of Nineveh of God’s impending judgment. Instead, Jonah tries to run from God. After booking passage to Tarshish in Spain, God causes a raging storm to threaten the ship and its crew. When the crew discovers that Jonah is the reason for the storm, the crew throws him overboard and Jonah is swallowed by a large fish (not a whale). He spends three days in the belly of the fish before God has the fish spew him out on the beach. Whereupon a reluctant Jonah, goes to Nineveh and warns the inhabitants, they repent and turn to God. God accepts their act of penitence and spares them, much to Jonah’s disgust. Jonah becomes so upset that He asks God to let him die. Instead, God allows a huge plant to grow to comfort Jonah. But when the plant dies and Jonah is exposed to the elements, he again becomes very angry and wishes to die. The book ends with God reminding Jonah that He has given him protection and also, shown him how easily he can take it away. God points out to Jonah cared for plant in much the same way that God cared for the people of Nineveh. In an infinitely greater way, God cared for the vast city of Nineveh and its people, who are of infinitely greater importance than the plant. That is why God gave them the opportunity to repent.