Jonah was angry at the Lord for being compassionate and merciful to the people of Nineveh. He was angry that God granted them salvation. Jonah was angry despite having had the same thing happen to him: He was away from God but God lifted him out of darkness. Jonah was thankful for himself but he didn't feel the same way for the Ninevites.
This is a small but important lesson. I am thankful that God has been good to me and has granted me many things that I have or never asked. He makes sure that I well. When something good also happens to someone else, I sometimes get jealous or feel down that it didn't happen to me. God gives and takes, and everything that I have does not belong to me but to Him. God gives and takes different things from different people, each to help that particular individual grow in the truth and love. I need to take up the cross and reflect God's character: thankful for what I already have, supportive to others around me regardless of my or their circumstances, and bringing all the glory back to our God.
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