This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show their sorrow.
(Jonah 3:3-5 NLT)
Yesterday, we examined Jonah’s effort to do things his own way only to learn that he needed to submit obediently to God. Jonah gets a second chance, and he subsequently goes and preaches to the people of Nineveh, and the whole city repents from their sinful ways and is forgiven by the LORD. We need to bring God’s truth to the world today, just as Jonah did, because God can bring even the most rebellious people to repentance.
But the story doesn’t end there. Upon seeing the LORD’s forgiveness for the people of Nineveh, Jonah becomes disappointed and sulks. The LORD is not done with Jonah yet, however, as Jonah subsequently learns a great lesson about God’s grace. God rebukes Jonah for his disdain of the Ninevites, and shows him that he needs to align his priorities and concerns to match His priorities and concerns.
This lesson is just as true for us today – We need to align with God’s priorities and concerns.
He doles out mercy with individual kindness. He bestows grace upon grace upon grace, not just for everybody, but for each and every one.
- Andrew Greer and Ginny Owens