Jonah’s Powerful Lesson

Jonah refused to go to Nineveh to warn the people of the impending move of God against them if they did not turn from their wicked ways, not because he was afraid, but rather because he thought that God might change His mind about destroying them if they repented. Jonah 4:2

Jonah became so angry that he wanted to die. God prepared a gourd and caused it to come up over Jonah, the shadow of which delivered him from his grief. God then caused a worm to destroy the gourd which again angered Jonah. God taught Jonah by comparing both situations, which is more important, getting angry because a worm had destroyed the gourd or the saving of 120,000 persons who were simple and couldn’t desern well, along with much cattle? Jonah 4:7-11

The fast which preceded this looks like an absolute fast as not even water was taken during this period. The more you put in is the more you get out.Jonah 3:7. It is worthwhile to note that if the king did not fear God and repented, all the people could have perished.