Nineveh

Jonah chapter 3.

Today we look at what is next for Jonah

after the running, after the storm after the sea and after the fish.

So we begin to see what is next here in chapter 3 starting in verse 1

The New International Version Chapter 3

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

So, now God brings forth the same command to Jonah

a couple of things we can point out here.

first, we can recognize that the plan did not change

After Jonah failed

after he showed weakness and fear

God did not require any less of him than He originally requested.

Serving God requires all of ourselves, no matter how much we may or may not fail.

second, Jonah still had to make a choice

The fish did not spit him up in Nineveh.

God did not force Nineveh upon him

Jonah still has to make the choice to obey or not

so, what was Jonah’s response?

vs. 3

The New International Version Chapter 3

Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

So Jonah obeys this time

he goes to Nineveh and took 3 days going through it and proclaim the warnings from God

letting them know who was really in charge

vs. 5

The New International Version Chapter 3

The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

The Ninevites hear the warning and respond by repenting and believing.

Not only did they start believing, but they took action as well.

Sackcloth's were often used as a sign of mourning, but also a sign of humility.

They were humbling themselves before God

from the richest to the most poor

Even the King, not only took notice and changed, but He issued a decree

urging them to give up their evil ways

It is also important to note that he didn’t do this knowing whether God would relent or not

in verse 9 he stresses the possibility, but obviously recognizes the Power of God.

vs. 10

The New International Version Chapter 3

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened

Though we serve a God who never changes, He is still a God who will adjust situations to the changes in us.

His standards don’t change.

So we see, not only did God show grace to the sailors

not only did He show grace to Jonah

but He showed grace to Nineveh as well.

Now let’s think about this

Because of Jonah’s own selfish desires and fear

he almost missed out on this great evangelistic event.

Recognize, if you run from God’s will, you are saying no to the one who has the power to turn everything around.

Even if we cannot see His plan, we must walk by faith in obedience to Him, to be able to reach others for Him.

I don’t want to get things mixed up here

Recognize, God sparred them, but this was not as a reward for repentance

Repentance is not a work that is to be rewarded.

it doesn’t lead to prosperity and pleasure

Nineveh survived for another 150 years or so

This means, another two generations of people may have been able to hear about the creator

and 2 generations of people had an opportunity to follow and believe as a result of their repentance.

Are you ready to obey?