Second Chance
Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Our God is a God of second chances. He was telling Jonah once again to go into Nineveh and to preach the message that God has for this people. Many of us have failed to follow God his way. Some of us have turned aside being caught up in emotions and problems of this life and we have failed to put God first. Then we return and God still asks us to do his will. Yes, LORD, we hear you, we no longer wish to ignore your will and word in our life. We have made a mess of things, you are who we desire to serve.
Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
Nineveh was surrounded by 100 feet high walls, thick enough for three chariots to run upon it, side by side. The city was said to be about sixty miles across, one would need to travel twenty miles each day to cross it in three days. Jonah did not look for financial support and others to help him with this task of evangelizing this immense city, he followed God's will alone. Sometimes we must go it alone, serving God. Not everyone has the same calling or desire placed in them from God.
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
He was speaking God's simple message. It was God who would move on the peoples hearts to make a decision. We have a simple gospel message to preach. If we are faithful, God will move in the hearts of the hearer.
Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Everyone likes to know that God is love, yet most are headed for eternal destruction. Are we obedient servants warning the lost of impending judgment? Jonah was speaking a simple message, repent or be overthrown. Was he speaking in an unknown language? No, he was speaking no doubt in the Aramaic, the language of the Assyrians.
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1 Cor 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
We speak God's word so as to be understood by the hearer and pray that they be able to hear and understand, for satan has made some hard of hearing.
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The people of Nineveh needed to hear the message, to prevent the wrath of God. The same is true for people today.
Proclaim a fast
Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How is it that all would suddenly repent and fast, humbling themselves and wearing sackcloth? They heard Jonah's message from God and believed him. From the greatest in authority to the least of them. They did not ask Jonah what they had done to anger God. All knew they were sinners. Before we will repent we must realize that we are sinners and headed for destruction.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jonah 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Even the king removed his kingly garments and covered himself in sackcloth and sat in ashes. He humbled himself before the God of Israel and all followed in obedience. Where did this custom come from? I recall Job of old despising his flesh, sitting in affliction on a heap of ashes. He humbled himself and God lifted him up, restoring life and hope to him. He was being tested, having found favor with God.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Jonah 3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
He enforced his decision on the people under him in the kingdom, publishing a decree of fasting and humility, even over their herds and flocks. If this happened in the USA, the ACLU would sue and a liberal court would throw out the decree, and they would all perish. Fortunately, each man is responsible unto God. No opponent of God, or court, can prevent us from worshipping God, or repenting or praying. These are personal choices. We serve God first and always. Each person is responsible to obey God.
Jonah 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Doing the right thing from the heart and in unity is powerful.
Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Psa 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
God repented, the Hebrew word for repented is, nachum, to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion. God is a loving compassionate God to those who turn from their evil way. Here he would show compassion on the enemy of Israel, because they accepted God's word, were fearful and cried out to him for mercy. If we do not listen to God and continue in our sins, then God must punish. He prefers that we be restored and seek His will.
We have a need of fasting and repentance for our own country.
2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God is faithful and he keeps his promises.
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