How do we know God is merciful in the story of Jonah?

The narrative of Jonah is saturated with the theme of God's mercy. Initially, God sends Jonah to warn the wicked city of Nineveh of impending judgment. However, upon Jonah's reluctant obedience and proclamation, the people genuinely repent and seek God's mercy by fasting and donning sackcloth. God responds favorably to their cries, demonstrating His unchanging character of compassion and grace. This event illustrates that God's mercy extends even to those deemed unworthy by human standards, echoing the promise that He desires all who are lost, including the most wicked, to turn to Him and be saved. Thus, the story of Jonah not only reassures us of God’s mercy but also underscores the overarching theme that salvation is from the Lord, and it operates according to His divine will and purpose.