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How can we compare Jonah and the Whale story with the world today?

In Australia people are so confused about everything, from food to vaccines to what will happen if they get this Coronarvirus?  Nobody could have predicted the outcome of the terror of a real virus, not some make belief story, but one in which we are all playing a part.

If we look at the story of Jonah, a prophet from Gath Hepher, a real place and in a real time-frame, we can learn from his records and story. 825BC

This happened during the reign of King Jeroboam, King of Israel, who worked hard to restore boundaries in Israel. Samaria was its capital.

The first lesson we learn is that Jonah was right there when the Lord "helped Israel" because there was nobody to help them.

(2 Kings 14:26 -27)

When Jonah was told to go and preach to the city of Ninevah, he refused flatly, and even ran away from the area to get away from the Lord's command.

He was more fearful of the Ninevites than he was willing to obey the Lord.

The Lord's reasoning was that the people of Ninevah had become wicked, therefore needed a good preacher, and Jonah was a good preacher. The chosen one for this job.

Jonah was blamed for the strong wind that promised to send the ship aground, and the sailors threw him overboard because they thought he was the problem because everyone was praying and he was asleep. (Smart cookies!)

Later on, once the big fish had spat his cargo out - Jonah, he was then sent back to Ninevah. Jonah obeyed reluctantly.

The people repented and their destruction was stopped by the Lord. (Jonah 3:9) They dressed in sackcloth and called on the Lord, at the command of their King.

He shares some of his whinging which is a bit of a surprise. "This is what I said..." Jonah was angry that the Lord did not destroy the enemy (Jonah 4:1-3)

Finally, the Lord says why he was so graceous to the Assyrians (Ninevites). "But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle." Jonah 4:11 "Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

In other words, there were many young children and cattle to provide milk for them. God saw this and did not destroy the city or its people.

Now, for the big question?

Which character depicts you in our present dilemma? Are you an anti-vaxer? (Jonah) Are you a parent of young children? (King of Ninevah)

Are you the Lord? (Thinking about the vulnerable ones)

Everyone can make up their own mind, from kindergarten age 5 to 100+. (Some may have parental guidance  or carers of course)

But, the most vulnerable ones are like the children of Ninevah, under 5 years of age. They have no options to do anything to help the situation. And what about their food supply, cows for milking, their food.

If the Lord had destroyed Ninevah at this point in time the loss of children, orphans and dead cattle would have been horrendous.

Now, because of Jonah finally obeying the Lord, they repented and were saved.

Can we please do everything possible to help spare our children under 5, the helpless ones, and spare our world from utter destruction by this virus?