Age of Innocence

And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

This dialogue with Jonah  over the destiny of the Ninevites implies a lot about God's mercy and accountability.  Evidently children that cannot tell their right hand from their left hand do not deserve judgment.  A good case for them being in heaven and the concept of the age of accountability.  Notice that God put the cattle in the same category!

The fact that He was willing to destroy the entire city if the adults did not repent speaks to the fact that His love and mercy did not outweigh the need for justice and judgment.

The prophet Jonah did not want to see mercy extended to these enemies of the Jews.  Ironic because the Jews via the Abrahamic covenant were supposed to be a conduit for blessing to all peoples of the earth.  A role that we as children of faith have been given and should take seriously.