In this chapter, the Lord forgives the people of Nineveh, just as Jonah expected. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message of judgment I have given you.”
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show their sorrow. (Wow! The Lord was specific with His time for the destruction of Nineveh. I wonder if that was a factor that persuaded the people’s belief in the message from Jonah.)
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in sackcloth and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals, may eat or drink anything at all. Everyone is required to wear sackcloth and pray earnestly to God. Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will have pity on us and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn’t carry out the destruction he had threatened.” (Jonah 3) (Wow! God doesn’t find pleasure in punishing us. He wants to bless us! That’s why He continually gives us grace and mercy because He doesn’t want to punish us. He keeps giving us chance, after chance, after chance…waiting on us to turn from our evil ways. Lord, you are so good!)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for continually giving us grace and mercy! Help us hear your voice and heed your guidance. Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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