Jonah 3:6-10
6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust.
7 And he issued a proclamation, and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: No person, animal, herd, or flock is to taste anything. They are not to eat, or drink water.
8 But every person and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and people are to call on God vehemently, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands.
9 Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it.
The Conversion of Nineveh
The proclamation of the king
Not only the citizens of Nineveh were converted, but the king as well. The king sincerely accepted the word of God proclaimed by Jonah and took the lead in expressing repentance. As it is written, “He got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust.” Next, the king issued a decree of repentance to the people, commanding that even the animals and livestock repent in the same manner as the people. The king’s repentance was thorough to this extent. Why was the king able to repent to such an extent? The reason is that he discerned a certain condition hidden within the words of Jonah’s prophecy. Although Jonah spoke only a brief message, what God intended was as follows. “(If there is no repentance,) in forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The words in parentheses were hidden, but that was the condition. Because the king understood this, he urged the people of Nineveh to thorough repentance. In every age, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7).
God’s mercy
God saw that the people of Nineveh were making sincere efforts to turn from their evil ways, and He relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring upon the city. (1) The word “relented” is a human expression describing God’s action at that time. God does not repent or change His mind as humans do. (2) God has determined that if people repent, He will remove judgment. Because Nineveh met that divine condition, it was spared from judgment. Outwardly, it appeared as though God had changed His mind. (3) The same principle is found in Jeremiah 18:7-10: “At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot it, to tear it down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will relent of the good with which I said that I would bless it.” God is waiting for sinners to repent and return to Him. It is the same as the father waiting for the prodigal son. Let us cling to the love and grace of God.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, today once again I rely on Your love and grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.