Principles of Fasting

What is fasting?

Let’s consider several definitions of what fasting is:

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defies fasting as: Eating sparingly or abstaining from food altogether, either from necessity or desire. In medical terms, fasting is the detoxification of the body through the restriction of food. Spiritual fasting entails setting aside activities as well as reducing the intake of food and replacing these activities with the exercise of prayer and preoccupation with spiritual concerns. The NT word which is translated “fasting” literally means one who has not eaten, one who is empty.

Reasons to fast/Why should I fast?

Fasting in the Old Testament first of all was a type of renunciation. It was designed to mollify God’s wrath and move him to act in a gracious disposition. It often accompanied repentance and was an outward sign to God of being sorrowful for ones actions. The people of the Old Testament would fast in order to get God to spare them, or they would fast in emergency situations for God to graciously act on their behalf.

Fasting went hand and hand with prayer as people sought God and needed a prayer answered from the LORD.

The theme of fasting shifted dramatically in the New Testament. Jesus often taught that fasting should accompany prayer. Therefore fasting brings us closer to God.

Fasting is a form of self-denial. It helps us to bring our flesh into subjection. During fasting, our bodies may grow weak because a lack of food, but our spiritual man increases in strength as we depend on God for our substance.

In the early church, before major decisions were made, the church prayed and fasted before making appointments and decisions.

In addition there are seven occasions in which fasting was observed according to The MacArthur Topical Bible: See page 406 of The MacArthur Topical Bible.

Improper Fasting:

Just as there are reasons to fast, fasting can also be done in an improper way that would not be beneficial to the person fasting.

Fasting for something out of the will of God.

Fasting for self-piety and recognition.

Fasting in order to try and manipulate God (which sounds crazy because you can’t manipulate or force God to do anything).

Examples of improper fasting in scriptures:

Acts 23:12–14 KJV

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

Isaiah 58:3–6 NLT

‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.

Matthew 6:16–18 KJV

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Okay, let’s deal with this scripture. I can’t tell you how many times people have misinterpreted this scripture. So for tonight, I hope to settle this once and for all and that you will get the proper understanding of this scripture.

What does this scripture mean?

What is the context of scripture? What is Jesus talking about as a whole.

Listen, it is almost like looking at a picture of a man holding a basketball. If you focus on the basketball you’ll miss the man holding the basketball. What is Jesus talking about? Is he only talking about fasting or is he talking about something else that is deeper than fasting?

Notice the words “Moreover”........that one word is the word that is often overlooked, because “novices” of scripture tend to hyper focus on one part of scripture and ignore the rest of the scripture. In order to understand what Jesus is saying in verses 16-18, you need to understand what he is saying as a whole.

There is a reason why Jesus says “be not, as the hypocrites”. The context of this scripture is NOT HOW TO FAST OR WHAT YOU NEED TO DO THE FAST. The context of scripture is “be not, as the hypocrites. So who are the hypocrites?

ANS: It is the people who do stuff to be admired by others. There is no sincerity in what they do, they do it out of habit, they do it out of religion, they do it to be noticed by others.

If we consider chapter 6, Jesus leads up to verse 16 where he says “moreover”. There is a whole list of stuff Jesus talks about:

Don’t do your alms before men, to be seen of them. Another translation says “Don’t do your good deeds publicly.”

When you give to someone in need, don’t broadcast it. The only reward you’ll get is the admiration of people.....that’s it.....God won’t reward you, because your giving glory to yourself.

When you give, give secretly, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your give your gifts in private and your Father who sees everything will reward you.

Don’t pray like the hypocrites, who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Don’t try to impress people with how good you can pray or how anointed you think you are. I’ll admit, that I’m not the best prayer, I’ve learned to pray with simplicity and believe God, I believe that I don’t have to use fancy words to get a prayer through.

When you pray, go away by yourself and shut the door behind you and pray in private. God will reward you openly.

Jesus then says, don’t babble on and on like the Gentiles do. This is what I mean about your prayer time should not consist of you talking the whole time. Shut up at some point and let God talk to you or just meditate on God. God knows what you have need of before you ask him.

Then Jesus teaches them how to pray, not that you should pray these exact words. Because nowhere else in the Bible do we see the disciples repeating this prayer.....NOWHERE! It is a model for us to follow.

Resume:

So now Jesus tells them when you fast, you ought not look like you are fasting. Don’t sit looking miserable, don’t look raggedy, because that was the custom of the day. To put on sackcloth and ashes, to let your hair go and not worry about upkeep. But they were taking this abusing it to their advantage to make themselves look pious. They wanted to get pats on their back from others for fasting.

So Jesus tells them that they have to have the proper attitude and the proper look to match it. If you fast to be recognized, if you fast to make yourself appear holy, if you fast to be admired by others.....that’s the only reward you’re going to get.....don’t expect your prayers to be answered.

Jesus then says in verse 17 and this is the verse that confuses people because they don’t understand it. “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face.” So all of these years, we’ve thought that when we face that we are suppose to get up, move around, anoint our head, and then wash our face. My wife asked me yesterday “did you anoint your head” I told her “nope” I don’t need to. She said, well I thought you were suppose to anoint your head. I told her, I’ll teach on it tomorrow night.

Let me tell you something, I hear some of you grumbling up under your breath. Can any of you point out anywhere in scripture that one anyone fasted, they got a bottle of anointing oil, anointed themselves, and then washed their face? It’s not in there. Moses did not say “LORD, hold up.....I can’t come up there until I have anointed my head and washed my face. Elijah didn’t tell the LORD, Lord I can’t go into that wilderness until I anoint my forehead with a cross and then wash my face. Jesus after he was baptized, didn’t go to the store and buy a bottle of anointing oil, anointed his head, put a little cross on his forehead, and then head into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. You see how ridiculous that sounds.

I know some of yall are boiling hot because I’m messing with years of teaching that you’ve been taught. But I’m telling you, that’s not what Jesus is saying here. Now if you want to continue to put your little cross on your forehead go ahead. But for two days, I haven’t did it.....because the power of God doesn’t come from just the oil.....it comes from God himself.

Jesus when he says anoint your head with oil, you have to remember that olive oil just wasn’t used for anointing, just wasn’t used for praying for the sick. Olive Oil is used for many things. The first time I brought Olive Oil home to cook with, Lady Tonya asked me “Why do you have anointing oil in the cabinet.” I told her “Babe, you can use Olive Oil to cook with, it is one of the healthiest oils you can use to cook with.”

Olive Oil was also used to style hair, oh man, its very good for your hair. Olive Oil can be used as a carrier oil for other essential oils. Meaning you can use Olive Oil as a base and add other oils to the olive oil to create a fragrant oil. I have made my own personal batch of anointing oil with Myrrh, Frankincense, and other biblical oils and it has an amazing smell to it.

Jesus is telling them.....remember the context.....don’t be like the hypocrites. They were fasting and they wanted everyone to know that they were fasting. They had sad faces, their hair was a wreck, they didn’t wash their faces for days. Jesus said.......Nahhhhh don’t do that. When you fast, anoint thine head........put oil in your hair.......not crosses on your forehead. Put some grease in your hair and comb it out! Don’t let your hair be all over the place so that when people ask what is going on you say......ohhhh I’m fasting. LOOK NORMAL!!! Don’t be in the corner of the lunch room looking pitiful......LOOK NORMAL!!! Don’t look like you are about ready to pass out.....LOOK NORMAL!!! That thou appear not unto men to fast........DO YOU SEE THAT SCRIPTURE!!! YOU UPKEEP YOUR HAIR, YOU WASH YOU FACE NOT AS A RITUAL......JESUS SAID “THAT THOU APPEAR NOT UNTO MEN TO FAST, BUT UNTO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET: AND THY FATHER, WHICH SEETH IN SECRET, SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY.”

DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT SCRIPTURE NOW!? No you don’t have to get up at a certain time, if you want to get up at 6:00am then go ahead and do that. Don’t you add to the scripture, don’t put something in there that is not in there. It doesn’t matter what time you get up, when you get up and you decide that you are going to fast then go ahead and fast. If you get to work and you decide “you know what.....I’m going to fast today” then you go ahead and fast. You don’t need to leave work to go home and anoint your head. God knows and sees everything and He honors you when it is done from the heart. If you want to keep with that tradition of putting that cross on your little forehead go right ahead. But that is NOT what that scripture means. You can put three crosses on your head.....if your attitude is not right, God still won’t honor your fast.

Let’s talk about another scripture that is often misinterpreted:

Matthew 17:21 KJV

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

and also:

Mark 9:29 KJV

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Let’s look at Mark 9:29 first:

The context of this scripture is about a boy being demon possessed right. A father brings his child to Jesus to heal him because he has a son that is possessed by a demon, that teareth him (seizes), he foams, and gnashes his teeth, and pineth (becomes ridgid).

The disciples tried to cast this demon out but could not.

So they bought the boy to Jesus.

They young man’s father says to Jesus “but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” In which Jesus says “If thou canst believe”. Let’s stop here. This is the reason why I advocate using different translations to understand the text. I am a strong proponent of the KJV. But I also use the original languages along with other translations. The KJV is my main Bible but I use additional Bibles to understand what I’m writing.

I do not want to assume that what I read in KJV is correct (this takes a little bit of humility). I want to be sure that I’m interpreting the text right. Because if I preach something that the text is not really saying, God will hold me accountable. The same can be said for any preacher.

Let’s look at this same text from the NASB:

The KJV says “If thou canst believe”.

The NASB says “If you can?”

These are two different statements.....so it seems.

The original language has Jesus repeating what the man said. In which the original language says “If you can”.

Don’t worry, they are both right.

Notice the question mark. So what Jesus is essentially saying is repeating what the man says, which tells us that Jesus is saying “What do you mean if I can?”

Notice Jesus’ words prior to this:

Mark 9:19 KJV

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

Jesus knew that peoples faith wasn’t where it needed to be. Was he talking to his disciples? Possibly, but I find it that he could be talking to both the disciples, the unbelievers, and even the father himself.

Because the father says “if” meaning you may be able to help him, you may not be able to help him.

“If” should not be a part of our prayer language!!!

Jesus therefore says “What do you mean ‘If I can’?” Then Jesus says what? “All things are possible to him that believeth”. Encourage someone and tell them “Anything is possible if you believe.”

In which the father admits and cries out. There is a lesson here in this......watch for it:

Mark 9:24 KJV

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Lord I believe......help thou mine unbelief. LORD I BELIEVE THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE. LORD I BELIEVE, BUT HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF. I BELIEVE BUT MY FAITH IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE!

YOU NEED TO BE HONEST AND UP FRONT WITH THE LORD!!! I DON’T CARE IF YOU ARE AN ELDER, A MISSIONARY, A PASTOR, A DEACON, there may come a time that you struggle with your faith. Your mouth says you believe, your conscience mind says you believe, but deep down within you, you can have an area in your heart that really doesn’t believe.

Whatever it is you have before the LORD right now, lift your hands and say these words “LORD I BELIEVE BUT HELP ME TO OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!”

You know how the LORD helps him overcome his unbelief? He rebuked the evil spirit and commanded it to come out of the boy and never enter him again. The bible declares the spirit screamed, threw the boy down on the ground, the boy went into violent convulsions, and then left the boy. The boy laid there for a moment motionless and every one thought the boy was dead. Then Jesus takes the boy by his hand, helps him to his feet, and the boy stood up on his feet delivered!

So now the disciples probably feeling embarrassed that they couldn’t cast this one out. Remember, according to the scriptures, Jesus gave them power over unclean spirits, they went into the villages preaching “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” they healed the sick and cast out demons and they came back to Jesus rejoicing that they were able to do these things.

So now they ask Jesus “what happened, we did it before, why couldn’t we do it this time?” Jesus replied “This kind can be cast out only by prayer and fasting.”

Now, this is an interesting scripture. One because in other translations fasting is left out. I tend to stick with what the KJV says because it is the received text. I’ll talk more about that another time.

The reason why they couldn’t cast this evil spirit out was because they weren’t prayed up enough. Not only that, they needed to fast. If you notice in the gospels, the Pharisees and John the Baptist’s disciples posed a question to Jesus about his disciples:

Mark 2:18–20 KJV

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

There is a combination that is needed:

Prayer and fasting. You can fast, but if you don’t pray it’s not going to happen. You can pray, but if you don’t fast it is not going to happen.

But there is something else that is at work if you notice the flow of the text.

The father brought his son to Jesus, look at verse 16-18:

Mark 9:16–18 KJV

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Again, considering other translations, we see a picture that we could not see clearly at first. The father initially brought his son to Jesus, but the disciples most likely jumped at the chance to perform an exorcism. They could have possibly said “Jesus is busy, we can cast out this demon, we’ve done it before, Jesus gave us authority to do so.”

So the father mostly like said “Okay, cast the demon out then”. But they couldn’t do it. Not because they hadn’t fasted, not because they hadn’t prayed, but because of another condition in the heart. Ans: Pride. They got the big head.

Not only does prayer and fasting keep us close to God. Watch this, how much closer to God can you get than walking with Jesus earthly!?!? But here it is......wait for it.......fasting also keeps us humble because we humble ourselves through fasting!!!!

How to Fast.

There are three types of fasting:

Normal

Partial

Absolute

Normal Fasting:

Normal fasting is the restriction of food intake for a period of time throughout the day. Usually, in the religious circles, fasting is done from sun up to sundown but is not restricted to only those times. A person can fast for 12 hours, for 8 hours, or half a day.

In considering fasting, we have to take in consideration that some people may not be able to fast for long periods of time due to medical reasons. There are some that are not able to fast for periods of time due to the need to take medication and the requirement of food intake during those times.

It is important to note, that if you take medication that prevent you from having adverse medical conditions, you need to really pray and seek the LORD before attempting to fast.

In other-words, if you are a diabetic be careful, you do not want to go into a diabetic coma, or end up in the hospital because your pastor told you to fast. Pray, use wisdom, understanding, and seek the LORD as to what you need to do.

During a normal fast, you are permitted to drink fluids, in particular water. Don’t drink soda, you can’t have fruit juice, no sugar, no diet drinks, nothing that is going to gratify your flesh. Just water! You don’t like tap water, get you some bottled water, some distilled water, some spring water, some filtered water. No club soda, you’re cheating.....it has fizz in it.....it reminds you of soda.

Let’s be clear, you won’t find scripture on this, Paul once in his epistle said “said I not the Lord”. He was telling the church that I’m giving you this command, the Lord didn’t say it, you won’t find it in scriptures. And this is what I’m saying when it comes to just drinking water. Because one of the reasons to fast is to crucify the flesh. When we drink liquids that contain sugar or anything that we really like, it gratifies the flesh, and we are trying to bring our flesh into subjection when we fast. Therefore, drink water when we do a normal fast. You don’t want to get dehydrated and end up in the hospital with an IV in your arm. During a normal fast stay hydrated......don’t over do it because you can’t eat. Don’t get full off of water because you can’t eat.....you’ll defeat the purpose. 8 glasses a day, you can even cut down to 6 glasses a day.

Partial Fasting:

In a partial fast, some food is allowed. Your diet is restricted. When I think about a partial fast I think of what is called “The Daniel Fast”.

Let’s look at that:

Daniel 1:8–14 KJV

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

So Daniel refused to eat the meat and wine given him from the king. Why? Not because it is wine, but because the meat and the wine were probably offered unto idols. Not only that, but the meat could have been meat from an unclean animal, because according to the law, pork was considered to be unclean.

So Daniel tells the chief of staff to “test us for 10 days on a diet of vegetables and water”. The word pulse is translated vegetable. To be exact, it is lentils a small edible legume or small bean.

You must understand that Nebuchadnezzar who picked young men from Judah to serve him to be strong, educated, and have good judgement.

In order for that to happen, you have to eat, whether you realize it or not, it matters what you put in your body when you learn. So the king offered them his best food from his very own kitchen. But Ashpenaz the chief of staff was afraid that the King would get upset at the refusal of good food from his own kitchen.

Daniel tells Ashpenaz to test us 10 days on vegetables and water and then come back and compare us to the other young men who eat the king’s food.

Look at verse 15:

Daniel 1:15–16 KJV

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

So essentially, they became vegetarians if you understand the scriptures. I’m not saying that would should become vegetarians. I can tell you right now as far as I am concerned.....it’s not gonna happen with me! Gotta have my steak, gotta have my chicken, gotta have my pork-chops smothered with gravy.

But look at the following verse:

Daniel 1:17 KJV

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Because of their dedication to God, because they refused to compromise, listen, everyone else was eating the king’s meat, but they decided Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah also known as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego decided that we will not compromise, we will not do what everybody else is doing, we will not defile ourselves with the king’s meat.

So because of their dedication to God, because of their love of God, the bible declares that The LORD gave them unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom, and The LORD gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meaning of visions and dreams.

When you give yourself to God, when you make up your mind that I’m not going to live like the world, I’m not going to be like other Christians that call themselves Christians but that compromise His Word, then God will bless you! He’ll baptize you with his Spirit! Then he’ll give you the fruit of the Spirit and if you seek Him, He’ll even give you a spiritual gift!

So to summarize partial fasting, you have a dietary restriction on what you eat. You can fast with just vegetables and water like Daniel did. I believe that this type of fast is very good for those who have to eat due to medical reasons. If you are fully healthy and you have the ability to do so, do the normal fast. Don’t be trying to cut corners in your fast. Little effort.......little results.......great effort......great results. Sacrifice!!!

Absolute Fasting:

Absolute fasting is fasting with no intake of food or water.

Biblically there are several examples of absolute fasting, lets consider those:

Moses went up to the mount and fasted while receiving the 10 commandments. Some scholars say he fasted to receive, others say he just fasted. I don’t believe he fasted to receive, that makes it seem as if what he did brought the result of receiving the 10 commandments. No, Moses was with the LORD and because he was with The LORD and was receiving the 10 Commandments, it resulted in him fasting.

Deuteronomy 9:9–10 KJV

When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

Elijah fasted for 40 days and 40 nights:

1 Kings 19:5–9 KJV

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Esther called for a 3 day fast of no food or water that God would grant Esther favor with the king so that the Jews would be delivered from the decree that Haman caused King Xerxes to decree:

Esther 4:16–17 KJV

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Of course we know that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

Matthew 4:1–2 KJV

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

So lets stop and consider everything that we have read. We see three examples of people in the scripture that did an absolute fast for 40 days and 40 nights. This is a supernatural fast. Because your average person can’t do it. God has to really keep someone to be able to go 40 days and 40 nights. The three examples that we see are:

Moses

Elijah

Jesus

These are the only three that were able to go the full distance of 40 days and 40 nights.

Notice with Elijah, that preparation had to be made in order for him to fast for this amount of time. The same can be said with any fast, you must prepare to fast, your mind, your body, and your spirit must be prepared.

There are other scriptures in the Bible in which some people did an absolute fast for 3 days. We see that Esther called for an absolute fast for 3 days.

Paul also fasted for 3 days and 3 nights without food or water after the road to Damascus experience:

Acts 9:8–9 KJV

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

After fasting, Paul regains his sight, is filled with the Holy Ghost, and then was baptized. So according to scripture, if we read this correctly, Paul received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized.

NOTE:

Now please understand that to do an absolute fast, you are not required to go 3 full days. There are instances in scripture that an absolute fast was carried out within a days time:

In Jonah 3:4-10, after Jonah preaches the impending judgement of God to the Ninevites. They declared a fast, everyone from the greatest to the smallest dressed themselves in burlap to show their sorrow. The king sent out a decree that not even the animals from their herds or flock were prohibited from eating or drinking anything at all and that all people and animals alike were to where garments of mourning and that everyone must pray earnestly to God and turn from their evil ways and stop all of their violence.

When God sees this, how they stopped to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. But of course, according to history......that repentance didn’t last long. They returned back to what they were doing, and history tells us that Nineveh was eventually destroyed. Don’t believe me, look it up in your history books and it will tell you.