Jonah 3
Jonah 3 describes the prophet Jonah’s eventual obedience to God’s command to go to Nineveh and proclaim a message of repentance. After initially fleeing, Jonah is now ready to fulfill his mission. He delivers a warning to Nineveh, leading to an extraordinary citywide repentance, including the king's decree for everyone to fast and seek forgiveness. God, in His mercy, chooses to relent from the destruction He had planned for Nineveh because of their genuine repentance.
Jonah 3:1 (NKJV)
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,
After Jonah’s initial disobedience and subsequent experiences, God graciously gives him another chance to fulfill his calling. This verse highlights God’s patience and readiness to use Jonah again, showing that despite past failures, there is opportunity for redemption and a chance to fulfill God’s purpose.
Jonah 3:2 (NKJV)
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
God’s command is clear: Jonah is to go to Nineveh, a significant and large city, and deliver the specific message God has given. This directive underscores God’s authority and control over the message Jonah will deliver, emphasizing that it is God’s words, not Jonah’s, that need to be heard.
Jonah 3:3 (NKJV)
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.
Jonah’s response this time is one of obedience, and he heads to Nineveh as instructed. The verse describes Nineveh’s size, underscoring the scope of Jonah’s task. This willingness to obey after prior reluctance marks Jonah’s growth and the seriousness of God’s call for Nineveh.
Jonah 3:4 (NKJV)
4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
Jonah delivers a prophecy to Nineveh, declaring, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” This prophecy is understood as conditional, meaning its fulfillment depends on the response of the people. Though Jonah does not explicitly state a condition, the implied message is that if the people of Nineveh repent, the impending destruction can be averted. This understanding of conditional prophecy aligns with God’s character, as seen elsewhere in Scripture, where He withholds judgment when people turn from their wicked ways (e.g., Jeremiah 18:7-8). When the Ninevites genuinely repent, God shows mercy and relents from bringing the prophesied disaster, demonstrating that His desire is ultimately for repentance and restoration rather than punishment.
Jonah 3:5 (NKJV)
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
Remarkably, the people of Nineveh immediately respond with faith and humility, acknowledging Jonah’s message as God’s word. Their actions of fasting and wearing sackcloth demonstrate genuine repentance and sorrow over their actions, regardless of social status. This collective response shows a deep awareness of the need to seek mercy.
Jonah 3:6 (NKJV)
6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.
When the message reaches the king, he humbles himself in an extraordinary act by removing his royal robe and donning sackcloth, sitting in ashes as a sign of contrition. The king’s actions demonstrate leadership in repentance, influencing the entire city to follow suit.
Jonah 3:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.”
The king’s decree is comprehensive, extending even to animals, showing the depth of their repentance. The call to “cry mightily to God” and turn from evil indicates a full acknowledgment of their wrongdoings and a desire to change. This repentance is not only symbolic but a call for actual transformation of behavior.
Jonah 3:9 (NKJV)
9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
The king expresses hope that, despite their sins, God may show mercy if they genuinely repent. His question “Who can tell” reflects a humble acknowledgment of their dependence on God’s grace and an understanding that they cannot presume upon it but must sincerely seek forgiveness.
Jonah 3:10 (NKJV)
10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
God responds to Nineveh’s repentance by withholding the punishment He had planned, demonstrating His compassion and readiness to forgive those who sincerely repent. This mercy shown to Nineveh emphasizes the theme of divine forgiveness and highlights God’s desire for people to turn from evil rather than face destruction.