Jonah 4:11
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
JONAH 4:11
God’s final question to Jonah about sparing Nineveh—“Should not I spare Nineveh…?”—frames a cosmic argument: God’s desire to save the many (over six score thousand) shows the breadth of His mercy. The inclusion of “they cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand” suggests spiritual ignorance, underscoring the vulnerability of the city.
This verse crystallizes the theological centrality of God’s mercy to the nations. It challenges ethnocentric expectations and reveals the universality of salvation. God’s concern for “much cattle” echoes the value God places on all creation and life.
Let this verse widen your circle of concern beyond your own tribe or nation. Consider how you might participate in mercy outreach to neighbors who are spiritually or culturally distant. Practical steps: support international or multicultural mission efforts, cultivate diverse friendships, learn about different belief systems with humility, and seek ways to serve across cultural lines.
Cross-References: Acts 10:28-35; Romans 1:16; Isaiah 49:6; Luke 24:47