The story of the disobedient prophet Jonah and his trip to the bottom of the ocean and back is one of the bible classics, so I won’t talk about it too much here, except to say it was only Jonah’s obedience which saved him, and that God rescued him in a way that would never be expected and would normally be seen as certain death.

So sometimes when we are feeling like things are at their end, there’s no hope, then hope we still should.

That much to me is obvious.

But Jonah’s tale has a curious end. After he warns Ninevah (the capital of the Jewish rivals and indeed oppressors, the Assyrians) to change their ways, and they do so, Jonah heads off into the desert in a massive sulk.

“I told you this would happen God,” he says, “Now I might as well be dead.”

A curious response, and one I have found so confusing. So God grows a little plant over his head as shade in the desert. Jonah was pleased with the plant – but then God kills it the next day.

Again Jonah scolds: “I am better off dead,” he repeats.

But God is angry: “What right have you to be angry about the plant. This plant grew up in one night and disappeared. You didn’t make it grow, and yet you feel sorry for it.

“How much more then, should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than 120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals.”

I love the way God includes animals in His calculations on why Nineveh is worth saving.

Dear Father God, I have had another challenge to my faith since my great revelation yesterday. How typical. The spiritual battle for my soul continues. I guess I should find it comforting that it is so regular. Father thank You for the promise You have made that nothing can separate me from Your precious love. Please show me how to fight off this attack. Please love me, grow my faith, and create in me a clean heart. Please also be with my father, who is still suffering. Thank You that his latest operation seems to have cleared the problem. In Jesus’ name, Amen