There is a story of a small town that was shaken by a string of burglaries. Each time, the local police department lacked crucial evidence to pinpoint a clear suspect. All this changed one night after a call reported an active burglary. The responding officer wasn't prepared for what he would discover. Immediately after coming to the scene, the suspect fled down a back alley. After a long chase, the officer finally caught the suspect climbing a fence. He wrestled him to the ground, landing on top of him, and he froze. He knew the eyes instantly, he had apprehended his son. He hesitated but knew the oath he had sworn. He read him his rights and booked him as he fought back tears. He was present in the courtroom as the judge read off the charges of every single recent burglary. He listened as he was sentenced to an astronomical fine. If the fine couldn't be paid, appropriate jail time would be served. As the clerk processed the paperwork, the father stepped forward, "I will pay the fine." He liquidated all his accounts and used his entire retirement savings, all so his son would not get what he truly deserved. Guilt wasn't denied, and justice was served, but a tremendous amount of mercy was shown. 

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In chapter three, God displays a heart of mercy. He commands his vehicle of grace to give Jonah a second chance. Because large fish don't often surface and he ultimately lands on dry land, Jonah went for a wild ride. God wastes no time, giving him essentially the exact same assignment. Jonah proceeds to preach perhaps the shortest sermon ever, consisting of just five Hebrew words, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." The Hebrew word for overthrown can simply mean "radically changed." As if Jonah were saying, 'Regardless, in forty days, you people will be quite different.' The word traveled quickly around this large city. The people believed and engaged in the customary acts of mourning. The least up to the greatest, even the king, wore sackcloth, sat in ashes, and began to pray to God earnestly. A decree declared that no human or animal would eat in hopes that God might decide not to destroy them. God saw their repentance and thus their hearts and chose not to do it. Aren't you glad God has a heart of mercy? Are you moved by His decision to withhold what you deserved so that you had time to repent and believe? Does your heart match the heart of God today?