MORE THAN A CHILDRENS STORY

The inspiration for this picture is found in the Old Testament. The Prophet Jonah and his experience with the fish is a favorite children’s bible story. When was the last time you read the story? Though it may often be referred to, as a children’s bible story there is a timely message for adults.

Jonah has become angry with God and begins to question justice. Nineveh represents the seat of government for Assyria, which had often invaded and harassed the land of Israel. The desire of the Prophet was to see the annihilation of Assyria but as God shows mercy and extends grace Jonah becomes angry. “ But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” (Jon. 4:1)

Anger is an emotion shown toward a person or event. It is stimulated by fear, personal threat or a sense of injustice. The prophet’s memory will not allow him to forgive yesterdays injustice and his personal patriotism can not fathom grace being shown to such an undeserving group of people.

The event recorded in the Book of Jonah happened around 650 B.C. Now fast forward if you will to March 15, 2004 to a place called Mosul, which is in northern Iraq very near ancient Nineveh. David and Carrie McDonnall were in Mosul serving as missionaries in this war torn country.

Where Jonah held contempt for this area the McDonnall’s were filled with love and compassion for a people who though very religious did not know Christ.

While waiting in traffic, militant insurgents approached the vehicle and emptied their Ak47s killing three of the five missionaries instantly and seriously wounding the McDonnalls.

This story is well documented in Carrie McDonnall’s book, “Facing Terror”. Carrie was hit Twenty-Two times by bullets and shrapnel and survived the attack. However, her husband David died the same afternoon as a result of his injuries.

Rather than blame God for the injustice in her life Carrie McDonnall moves ahead in love and ministry. She had spent time in Israel living with and ministering to Israeli Arabs and she still has a heart for these people. We read in First Corinthians chapter thirteen love, “does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil.”

The prophet of the Old Testament ran from God then reluctantly went to Nineveh. He became angry when grace was offered to people who he believed to be undesirable. The McDonnall’s ran to God and gave themselves in service to the ancestors of these undesirables.


Carrie McDonnall is an example to those of us who justify anger, resentment and bitterness. Amazing that eyes of the world are one again turned to this same piece of real estate. Reading the McDonnall’s story has challenged my thinking about what is an appropriate end to the Iraqi conflict and showed me another reflection of grace.