(1) 3:5a The people of Nineveh believed in God
(NET) The people of Nineveh believed in God.… Verse 5 provides a summary of the response in Nineveh; the people of all ranks believed and gave evidence of contrition by fasting and wearing sackcloth (2 Sam 12:16, 19–23; 1 Kgs 21:27–29; Neh 9:1–2). Then vv. 6–9 provide specific details, focusing on the king’s reaction. The Ninevites’ response parallels the response of the pagan sailors in 1:6 and 13–16.
The sailor, the captains and now the people in Nineveh surprises the reader. The pagan all turned to God when they faced the challenge of death. All of them respond right the way when the message just hit them.
a. the message of Jonah was very simple
v.4b “At the end of forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
b. the proclamation only covered 1/3 of the city
v.3b-4a Now Nineveh was an enormous city—it required three days to walk through it!)3:4 When Jonah began to enter the city one day’s walk, he announced,
c. the result was a total change of the whole city
v.5 The people of Nineveh believed in God, and they declared a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them
3:8 Every person and animal must put on sackcloth and must cry earnestly to God, and everyone must turn from their evil way of living and from the violence that they do.
(2) Jonah was a total opposite to the pagans. God had to send him miracles after miracles until he obeyed and went to Nineveh
v.1-2a The LORD said to Jonah a second time, “Go immediately to Nineveh...
3:3 So Jonah went immediately to Nineveh, as the LORD had said
Reflection: As the people of God read the book of Jonah we felt ashamed. Even the pagans responded to God better than we are. Do we listen right the way when God's word conformed us? Do we serve Him with gladness when you do more than others?
(3) God judged Nineveh because their wickedness has come to His attention 1:2. Now,
3:10 When God saw their actions—they turned from their evil way of living!—God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.
Reflection: God knows us very well. Our wickedness has come to His attention. He also knew who has real repentance-He saw our actions and knew who turned from the evil way of living. No one can cheat God or escape from His attention.
(4) God changes His mind and relents
v.9 Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die
The message to the Nineveh did not include any way out. Jonah did not tell them to repent so that the destruction would not come. Therefore, it is a long shot for the king to try to change the mind of God.
(NET) The king expresses his uncertainty whether Jonah’s message constituted a conditional announcement or an unconditional decree
Reflection: We are thankful that God gave us our salvation, as well as the forgiveness of our sins when we confess 1 John 1:9. We do not need to guess if God may forgive us. He has already given us the promise.
Audrey
Comments