The Ninevites believed God.
They declared a fast, and all off them from the greatest to the least,
put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:5
Editor’s note: For Laura’s complete teaching on this passage, please watch Friday’s video devotional from Cross My Heart (see bottom of post).
Wouldn’t we all love to see this response when we deliver a message from God?
Clearly, the warning from God was not only heard, but also acted upon by the recipients. While we might expect the one who delivered the message to be thrilled by that outcome, Jonah was anything but happy when the Ninevites repented and God relented.
When God directed Jonah to deliver a message of coming judgment to the Ninevites, Jonah set off immediately – in the exact opposite direction!
What we often overlook in the story is why he ran. It wasn’t so much the message itself, but rather who he was to deliver it to. Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria. And if you were a Jew in Jonah’s time, Assyria was the arch enemy. Jonah did not want to deliver the message because he was afraid the Ninevites would repent … and knowing God’s character, he knew God would show compassion and mercy!
Do you and I hold out on sharing the gospel because in our heart of hearts we really don’t want certain people to receive compassion and mercy? Do we hesitate, somehow convincing ourselves that others are especially deserving of God’s judgment?
When we truly grasp how much we have been forgiven (and how little we deserve God’s mercy), our response to the gospel will be the same as that of the Ninevites: mourning and humility. They received the message, and their response proves they took it to heart.
The gospel is a simple message, but it changes everything.
Awareness of the true depth and depravity of our sin will prompt a self-awareness that leads to profound mourning. That mourning brings us to a place of repentance and readiness to believe.
The message is consistent: repent and believe. It was true for the Ninevites then, and it is true for us now.
In our faith journey, repentance and belief will bring on a desire to share this good news with others so they, too, can repent and believe. We worship – and invite others to worship – our great God of compassion and mercy, who has forgiven our sins even though we deserve condemnation.
Jonah’s reluctant obedience marks him as an immature believer. A selfish believer. And later, a whiny believer. But as we point a finger at him, we must simultaneously examine our own hearts and our own behavior.
Perhaps Jonah’s story can prompt some self-examination:
- Have I acknowledged the depth of my sin?
- Have I mourned my sin?
- Is my faith in God self-centered and shallow?
- Do I see myself as a starving person who has found the bread of life?
- If so, do I delight in pointing others to find that same bread?
- Am I harboring resentment towards any specific person or group?
- Do I intentionally share the gospel?
- Do I celebrate when others repent and come to Him?
- How am I choosing this day to believe God?
Today’s verse is found on the Write the Word bookmark for August, as this month we are examining verses that include the word, believe. You can download your own copy here on the Downloads page, and begin reading and writing the Word with us!
And don’t miss my full teaching on today’s verse from Jonah:
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