"The God of Second Chances"

Jonah 3:10 NKJV

10 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.

Let us pray…

This is the fifth part of our series, "Running with Jonah," and y’all, Jonah is a man on a mission! A man who tried to run from God, but today we see him heading straight toward his purpose.

Just to recap for those who need to catch up. Jonah received a mission from God to go to Nineveh and he said, “no.” Either he did feel equipped to do it, or just didn’t want to do it.

He tried to run from the presence of God and ran into a storm, a storm that do not just effect him, but also those connected to him.

He was thrown from the ship in the storm into the sea and was swallowed by a great fish that God had prepared for him.

It was while he was in the belly of the fish that he repented for not doing as God told him to do. It took him just like it does some of us to get to rock bottom to admit, “I messed up God and I need your forgiveness.”

I want to tag this episode, "The God of Second Chances"

I. God’s Word Still Has Your Name On It

Verse 1: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time..." Ooooh, that’s a shout right there! The second time! That’s grace, family. Somebody ought to get excited right here because if we’re honest, a whole lot of us didn’t get it right the first time! You didn’t say “yes” when God called the first time. You were too scared. You were too distracted. You thought you knew better.

But here’s the power of God: He’s not done with you just because you messed up. The Word came back! Even after Jonah’s rebellion, after the detour, after the fish, after the storm—God said, “I’m still calling you! I still want you! The assignment hasn’t changed!”

II. The Assignment Is Yours, Whether You Like It or Not

Now check this: Verse 2 says, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."

Wait a minute, God! You mean to tell me that after everything Jonah went through, you’re sending him back to the same place? You didn’t change the assignment just because he didn’t like it?

See, some of y’all are praying for God to change the assignment, but God is saying, “No, I’m going to change you!” You may not like the mission, but that doesn’t mean God is going to change it! Some of y’all have been wrestling with God’s call because it doesn’t look like what you wanted, but let me tell you something—you’re going to Nineveh whether you like it or not!

Jonah had to come to terms with this: His purpose wasn’t about his preferences. And you’re going to have to come to terms with it too! The reason God called you to that job, that family, that ministry—it’s because there’s something you’ve got that they need! You’ve got a Word in you for Nineveh!

III. Your Obedience Is Bigger Than You

Verse 4: "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!’"

Here’s what hits me right here: When Jonah finally got to Nineveh, he didn’t waste time! He didn’t play games! The Bible says he started preaching on the first day. He had learned the hard way that delayed obedience is still disobedience. So he hit the ground running!

When Jonah opened his mouth, the city started changing. Did y’all catch that? One word from Jonah caused an entire city to move! You think your little “yes” won’t make a difference, but I came to tell you that your obedience is bigger than you! Your obedience is the key to somebody else’s breakthrough!

IV. The Power of True Repentance

But here’s the turning point. Verse 5: "So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them."

You’ve got to see this: An entire city repented! The Word hit the streets of Nineveh, and the people responded! From the king down to the commoner, they turned from their wicked ways and started fasting and praying!

Now, here’s the kicker: Nineveh was one of the most wicked cities on earth. This wasn’t some small sin problem—this was a whole culture of corruption. But when Jonah preached the Word, they believed God! Don’t miss that—the Bible doesn’t say they believed Jonah, it says they believed God.

Family, that’s what repentance is—when people hear the Word and say, “I believe God!” And when you believe God, it’s not just about feeling bad for what you did; it’s about turning from your ways!

V. The God of Mercy Is Always Ready to Respond

Now, let’s bring it home: Verse 10: "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."

Now if you’re really paying attention, this ought to blow your mind. The same God who was ready to wipe Nineveh off the map—when He saw their hearts change, He changed His mind!

You see, repentance will move the heart of God! When we turn, God turns! Don’t you let anybody tell you that your city is too far gone, your family is too broken, your mistakes are too big—God is still in the business of showing mercy! But He’s waiting for you to turn!

It doesn’t matter how deep the sin, how dark the past—when you turn, God turns! Somebody say, “God, turn it around!”

VI. Your Nineveh Still Needs You

As I close, I need you to understand this: There is a Nineveh that still needs your obedience. Jonah ran, but God chased him down because there was a city at stake.

Some of you have been running from God, running from your assignment, but let me tell you something—Nineveh is waiting on you! There are people waiting to hear the Word in your mouth! There’s a generation waiting for somebody to speak life, to preach truth, to bring hope. Will you be the one?

This is your moment to say yes. This is your time to stop running. You don’t have to end up in a fish to get it right—just surrender now!

Look at Jonah. He messed up, but God gave him a second chance. God is ready to use you—are you ready to say yes? Your city needs you.