Jonah 3:1-10 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Jonah 3:1-10. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Jonah 3:1–3 (NIV)
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh…
On verses 1-3: The first time the word of the Lord came to Jonah, Jonah ran away. But praise God that in His mercy God decided to let His Word come to Jonah a second time (v1). Likewise, you and I may not have always responded with obedience the first time God called us, but thank God for those times when, even after we have rejected Him, God calls us a second time, or a hundredth time. I’m so glad that in His mercy God has decided that “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29). Thank You Lord for being the God of second chances. Thank You for Your patience with me.
Jonah 3:3-9 (NIV)
3 …Now Nineveh was a very important city–a visit required three days.
4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.”
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.
9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
On verses 3-9: Jonah preaches to the Ninevites the message God gave him, and the Ninevites respond by the masses (v5), mostly notably the king who declares a city-wide fast and calls his people to pray and repent (v6-9). I learn a couple lessons from this:
1. Notice the chain reaction: Because Jonah responded in obedience to God’s Word, it allowed the people of Nineveh to hear and respond in obedience to God’s Word. What can we learn from this? Your obedience to God’s Word directly impacts those in your care and how much they get to hear and potentially respond to God’s Word. So for the sake of your family, your friends, and the people around you, respond quickly and obediently to God’s Word.
2. Have a heart that is soft and responsive to the Word of God. Remember that the condition of your heart is your choice. That’s why Hebrews 3:15 says, “…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Jonah 3:10 (NIV)
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
On verse 10: God watches the way we respond to His Word. Notice that nothing is said here about how well or how eloquently Jonah preached. The focus is on the people’s response.
What can we learn from this? When God’s Word is preached, let your number one concern not be how well or how poorly you thought the preacher preached. Instead, make your number one concern how well and how quickly you personally respond in obedience to God’s Word, regardless of how well or poorly the message may have been delivered. Don’t let the delivery of the message distract you from responding to the message itself.
Father, thank You for being the God of second chances and 77th chances, how in Your mercy You give us Your Word not just once but repeatedly. I pray that I would have a soft, responsive heart toward Your Word, knowing that when I obey Your Word, it opens the door for others to obey Your Word too. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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