Jonah 3 is one of the most fascinating chapters of all the Bible. You see, we have a great city named Nineveh who was very wicked in all their ways. However, all they needed was a servant of God to come unto them and preach about their destruction lest they repent. Then, they responded in a big way, even that I have seen before. We will read what happened together, for it is absolutely amazing. As an evangelist myself, what I am reading here is one of the biggest revivals in history. So without further ado, let’s study this chapter together. It starts off by saying, 1“and the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:1-4) So we learn that God spoke to Jonah and gave words to speak to the people. And please be aware of something important, which still applies today. God said to him, 1“preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” (Jonah 3:2) Only by witnessing what God desires and not our own selves, can people be converted and come to Jesus. This happens by way of God moving in our lives and instructing us what to say through the Holy Spirit. Because Jonah did just that, the entire city, including the king, repented of their wicked ways and turned to God. This is absolutely incredible. Praise God that Jonah did go forth, in order to be used by God. We need more people who are willing servants for God.
Now, let’s see what happened after the preaching ended from Jonah. It is said that 1“the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3:5-10) Wow! This is absolutely incredible. Praise God that the people and the king listened. Therefore, they were convicted of all their sins before God. I love it when the king said, 1“but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” (Jonah 3:8,9) It was because of his sincere heart that God did change his mind and they were saved. Fasting is a wonderful thing to do when we have fallen into sin and desire to repent and come to God. We then pray for God’s mercy.
Please pray with me this Sinner’s Prayer:
Oh Lord, I am sorry for my sins. I know that You can see my life, and nothing is done in secret. Therefore, I am filthy in Your sight and weighed down by my sins. I feel terrible for betraying You and going after the lusts of my flesh, instead of standing strong. Will You forgive a wretch like me? I know that I have strayed from Your presence, but I am here now in order to be changed and led from the darkness I have been in and be led into Your light. I bend my knee before You and plead for Your mercy. It is my true desire to start looking to You in faith and not be led by the enemy any longer. All I ask of You is to give me clean hands, that I may not fall victim to the same evil things as before. Cast out of my life anything that is still clinging to the addictions, and bad habits I have been under. Take every evil influence away from my life. I don’t want any part of it, even these wicked people I have been hanging around with, I want nothing more of what they offer. All I desire is that You cleanse me through Your blood. Make me whole again, Jesus. Sanctify me and place me on Your righteous path. I will pray more often and start reading the Bible daily, for I need Your wisdom. Know that I am ready to follow You now, even every step of the way. You are my Lord and my God. The king of my life. I trust in You. Please forgive me. I pray that You will take me in. I am waiting on You, Lord. I want to be used by You now. I love You, Jesus. May my life also showcase this love in all that I say and do. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.