Jonah has had a rough time of it lately. He's run from God, been tossed into the sea, swallowed by a fish, but finally prayed to God and has now been thrown up out of the fish onto dry ground. So let's look at where he goes from here.
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Nineveh was a very great city, three days journey around. Jonah went into the city a day's journey and called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The word reached the king of Nineveh and he removed his robe, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh, "By decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, not herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish." When God saw what the people of Nineveh did, turning from their evil ways, God relented from the disaster He said He would do to them and did not do it. (Jonah 3)
Right of the gate, we get taste of how great God is. His word came to Jonah a second time...isn't it awesome that our God is a god of second chances, that He's loving, forgiving, gracious, and understanding!
This time when Jonah heard God's word, his reaction was much different. This time Jonah had repented of his previous sin and had repented, and he obeyed the Lord's command. Jonah showed us that a repented heart is one that will now heed what God tells us to do. And we learn that just because we've said "no," or been disobedient to God before, that He still has a plan for us. God can take someone who has been in the deepest and darkest places, like Jonah was, and once they repent and turn to Him, He can use them for good.
Once Jonah went into Nineveh and called out God's word, the people believed God. For this to have been such a people with such a reputation and cruel and as a constant enemy, it's clear that the Holy Spirit has been softening the hearts of these people. It's also inspiring to note that that people believed God's word through the mouth of Jonah, a sinner. This is just another example of how God uses imperfect people to lead others to Him, and a reminder that He is the savior, we are merely the vessels.
Once the people of Nineveh believed in God, they put their faith into action. James 2:17 says, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Let me be clear, works will not and can not save you. However, if you have real faith, it will drive you to do works that bring glory and honor to our Lord.
The story makes sure to point out that the all the people believed in God, from the greatest to the least. God doesn't offer salvation to only some, his gift of salvation is available to all people, regardless of how we measure up based on worldly standards.
This next part gives us some hope during this election time in our country. The king of Nineveh repented and then set an example for the people. He issued a proclamation asking everyone to "call out mightily to God." And the king followed all the rules he set in his proclamation. These people were blessed with a godly leader who held himself to the same standards he expected out of his people.
And lastly as this story concludes, we see the compassion of our loving Heavenly Father. When God saw the people turn from their evil ways, he spared them from the disaster he had planned to impose. Isn't it awesome to serve a loving, caring, compassionate, living God today. Those with children will likely understand this discipline a little better. I love my son, and I hate to have to discipline him (I assume he considers timeout a disaster), but I know that at times it is what's needed to help him become a better person as he grows up.
Thank you Lord that you can use imperfect people to accomplish your plan, and for being compassionate and understanding when we mess up.
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Nineveh was a very great city, three days journey around. Jonah went into the city a day's journey and called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The word reached the king of Nineveh and he removed his robe, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh, "By decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, not herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish." When God saw what the people of Nineveh did, turning from their evil ways, God relented from the disaster He said He would do to them and did not do it. (Jonah 3)
Right of the gate, we get taste of how great God is. His word came to Jonah a second time...isn't it awesome that our God is a god of second chances, that He's loving, forgiving, gracious, and understanding!
This time when Jonah heard God's word, his reaction was much different. This time Jonah had repented of his previous sin and had repented, and he obeyed the Lord's command. Jonah showed us that a repented heart is one that will now heed what God tells us to do. And we learn that just because we've said "no," or been disobedient to God before, that He still has a plan for us. God can take someone who has been in the deepest and darkest places, like Jonah was, and once they repent and turn to Him, He can use them for good.
Once Jonah went into Nineveh and called out God's word, the people believed God. For this to have been such a people with such a reputation and cruel and as a constant enemy, it's clear that the Holy Spirit has been softening the hearts of these people. It's also inspiring to note that that people believed God's word through the mouth of Jonah, a sinner. This is just another example of how God uses imperfect people to lead others to Him, and a reminder that He is the savior, we are merely the vessels.
Once the people of Nineveh believed in God, they put their faith into action. James 2:17 says, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Let me be clear, works will not and can not save you. However, if you have real faith, it will drive you to do works that bring glory and honor to our Lord.
The story makes sure to point out that the all the people believed in God, from the greatest to the least. God doesn't offer salvation to only some, his gift of salvation is available to all people, regardless of how we measure up based on worldly standards.
This next part gives us some hope during this election time in our country. The king of Nineveh repented and then set an example for the people. He issued a proclamation asking everyone to "call out mightily to God." And the king followed all the rules he set in his proclamation. These people were blessed with a godly leader who held himself to the same standards he expected out of his people.
And lastly as this story concludes, we see the compassion of our loving Heavenly Father. When God saw the people turn from their evil ways, he spared them from the disaster he had planned to impose. Isn't it awesome to serve a loving, caring, compassionate, living God today. Those with children will likely understand this discipline a little better. I love my son, and I hate to have to discipline him (I assume he considers timeout a disaster), but I know that at times it is what's needed to help him become a better person as he grows up.
Thank you Lord that you can use imperfect people to accomplish your plan, and for being compassionate and understanding when we mess up.
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