When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:10
At first glance, many would think that the book of Jonah is about Jonah, a man who disobeyed God and then finally obeyed. The more we study and think about the book of Jonah and learn from it, the more clearly we realize that the book of Jonah is about a great God who has a great love for people.
We left off our story of Jonah yesterday with the evil, wicked Ninevites repenting and turning to God. They fasted and put on mourning clothes. God could have ignored their cries and decided not to listen to them because of their cruelty and wicked past. Instead, He heard them and, in His great love, decided not to cause the destruction and judgment Jonah had warned about. Jonah 3 tells us that "when God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened" (verse 2). God did not "carry out the destruction He had threatened" because He wanted the Ninevites to turn to Him. In fact, He wants all people to turn to Him. He sent Jonah to Nineveh because He wanted the Ninevites to change their ways and turn back to Him.
God sending Jonah to the Ninevites was a picture of what would come hundreds of years later. You see, centuries later, God would send Jesus, His only Son, to come and rescue the world from sin. John 3:16 says, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus' willingness to rescue humanity starkly contrasts Jonah's unwillingness to go to Nineveh. Jonah was very unwilling to tell the Ninevites to repent of their sin. Jesus willingly came and not only called people to turn from sin but also paid the ultimate price for sin. That is why when Jesus came, He said, "Someone greater than Jonah is here" (Matthew 12:41). If you ever wonder how much God loves you, look to Jesus. God loves people so much that He wants everyone to turn from sin and place their faith in Him. That is the message we receive from the story of Jonah The book of Jonah tells the story of God and His great love. He goes to incredible lengths to pursue each one of us. This is the hope we have and the message we get to share with the people around us.
Just like Jonah, we are called to tell other people about God. Who has God placed in your life with whom you can share your faith? Reach out to them today. Invite them to come to one of our weekend services with you. You never know the impact your invitation can have!
Jonah 3:6-10
"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 burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:
"No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us."
10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened."
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