Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Jonah 3: God Sends A Prophet

Can you believe that Jonah, the rebellious prophet, had one of the most successful ministries of all time?  His gloom-and-doom, "The End Is Near!" preaching converted a huge city destined for destruction!  The repentance of his audience resulted in a stay of execution.  "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it" (vs. 10).

God appointed Jonah the prophet to play a part in His plan of redemption.  God did not want to destroy Nineveh, but wanted her people to repent and change their ways.  That is why He sent Jonah in the first place.

God worked through the witness of Jonah to accomplish His ends of mercy and deliverance.  Some have wondered how Jonah's ministry could have been so effective.  Perhaps his account of being swallowed by a fish was persuasive?  Maybe he was even bleached from being in its belly for three days and three nights?  I would imagine that that experience leaves its mark.

However he did it, the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah.  There was a massive, citywide repentance, and then God Himself repented of the destruction that He planned to bring upon them.  Everyone should be happy, right?  Well, not quite.  Jonah is gravely disappointed in God's mercy, as we will see in chapter 4.

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