Jonah 3

Verses 1-10, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.  And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

After Jonah had had a heart change in the belly of a fish, the Lord tests him again. He asked Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh to deliver a message to the people. Thankfully God does not give up on us the way we give up on Him. Because He is merciful and gracious, He gives us second chances. Psalms 86:15, “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”  Our response to God's second chance reveals whether or not our repentance is genuine. For Israel, they were stuck on repeat as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years, never quite learning their lesson, even though they had great sorrowful words. Most of them angered God and they died in the wilderness. But Jonah and Israel aren't the only example of seconds chances in the Bible. We could look at the lives of David, Peter, Samson, etc. Even though they eventually got in line with God's will, think of the consequences of their lapses in faith that they could have been spared of, had they only been obedient on the first chance.

Jonah not only was obedient in going to Nineveh, he spoke the words that God told him. When we speak God's words, we really have no idea how the words will be received. We may presume the response, but in reality, it has very little to do with our contribution...or lack thereof. God can accomplish His will without our involvement, but He does give us opportunities to participate in His work and earn spiritual rewards. Jonah obeyed the second time and traveled a three day journey to the great city, showing that he was prepared to do what God had asked of him. The message spoken was that if the people of Nineveh did not repent of their evil ways, the city would be overthrown in forty days. In hearing these words, the people believed God and repented. Therefore God relented from the wrath He had prepared for them. Consider that this type of message today would be deemed by society as judgmental, hateful and intolerant. The most loving thing you can do is warn others of God's wrath to come, but instead churches are even guilty of making people feel secure on their way to eternal torture. The gospel message is socially unacceptable, because the world (under the sway of the wicked one) wants to continue in its wicked ways. No sackcloth and ashes, and no repentance.