Jonah

Was just reading the bible the other day, and decided to read the book of Jonah just before I sleep.
One of the few questions that struck me was why didn't Jonah initially wanted to go to Nineveh to proclaim God's coming judgement? Why was he disobedient?
Was it because he felt inadequate?
Was it because he's not very eloquent?
Was he scared he might be killed by the Ninevites?

The later verses shed some light where Jonah knew God is a merciful God who is slow to anger, gracious and merciful, but that was the very reason Jonah didn't wanted to preach the word. So the question is, did Jonah had a problem with God's graciousness and mercy?
To Jonah and the Israelites, the Ninevites were just cruel, oppresive bunch of pagans who had been giving the Israelites a hard time, and were outside the covenant of the God of Israel.
So, we might assume that Jonah, pretty much wouldn't mind seeing these bunch of pagans get a taste of God's wrath and wait out till the judgement comes upon them.
And to just skip to the last part, eventually Jonah did preach the word to the Ninevites and they repented, and God spared their lives. But to Jonah that was exactly what He didn't wanted.
Yet, God used an interesting way to convey a message to Jonah, by using a plant. The Lord provided a plant to cover Jonah during the heat of the day, and eventually, a worm came and damaged the plant and it withered. And God asked "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"
And Jonah replied "Yes, even to death"
But God said "You had pity on the plant that had not labored for, nor made it grow.....and should I not pity Nineveh.....who cannot discern between their right hand and their left"

That leaves me to wonder....when or how then does a person, a city or a plant is deserving of pity, mercy or grace? What qualifies them to deserve pity or mercy or grace?
Is mercy or grace deserved at all?

This is the struggle Jonah embodies. This was the struggle of the Prodigal Son’s older brother. This is the struggle being enacted on the world stage as the powers that be line up to administer justice. And one way or another, this is our struggle.

Ultimately, the story of Jonah it is not about God judging the people of Nineveh, but about Jonah judging God. And how often are we guilty of the same?

And so perhaps Jonah - while being laughable in almost every way - reminds us that our response to mercy is ultimately a response to God. May we learn to delight in it … particularly when it’s shown to others. And in our delight, may we too, become merciful.

Blessed are those who show mercy, for mercy shall be shown to them.