Context No. 3276 of 4322 · Jonah

Jonah 3:1-10: in context

1The LORD’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.” 3So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. 4Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” 5The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. 6The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; 8but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?” 10God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.

The word of the LORD comes to Jonah a second time: arise, go to Nineveh, and preach. This time Jonah goes and cries out through the great city, in forty days Nineveh will be overthrown. And the people of Nineveh believe God; they proclaim a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least, the king rising from his throne to sit in ashes. God sees that they turned from their evil way, and he relents.

Two things shine here. First, the word comes to Jonah a second time; after his flight and rescue, God recommissions the runaway prophet, extending grace not only to Nineveh but to Jonah himself. God is the God of second chances for his reluctant servants. And second, a violent pagan city actually repents, from the king down to the least, and God truly responds, relenting from the disaster. The story reveals a mercy wider than Jonah wanted: no one is too far gone for God's mercy if they turn, and no failed servant is beyond his second call.

Do I believe God's mercy reaches even those I might think beyond it, and do I receive his second call when I have failed him?

Sources

Jonah 3:1: "The LORD's word came to Jonah the second time."
Jonah 3:5: "The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least."
Jonah 3:10: "God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster."