And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time saying, Arise and 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
Jonah is known as the reluctant evangelist. We are given a wonderful picture of God’s long suffering not only with Jonah but with the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh. Jonah tried to run from the will of God and yes God dealt with Jonah in a powerful way (I suggest that you read this wonderful book) and in doing so displayed great mercy and grace. The Assyrians were a violent and brutal people who tortured and showed no mercy on their enemies. Yet God sent a preacher with His message to the people, “Forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
Have you ever considered that God looked down from heaven seeing the Assyrians and all their vile, violent and ungodly practices and still sent His man to preach to them? The Bible says, “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8). Let’s break down this wonderful Biblical truth about God.
1. God is Gracious- Speaks of His kindness.
2. God is full of Compassion- Says He is sympathetic.
3. God is slow to Anger- Shows He is long suffering.
4. God is of great Mercy- Speaks of Him not giving us what we deserve.
What effect did God’s message have on the people of Nineveh? The Bible says, “So 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” (Verse5). There was conviction and with conviction came repentance (Verse 8). Verse ten is a halleluiah verse, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” That is God’s compassion for sinful man!
Jonah is known as the reluctant evangelist. We are given a wonderful picture of God’s long suffering not only with Jonah but with the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh. Jonah tried to run from the will of God and yes God dealt with Jonah in a powerful way (I suggest that you read this wonderful book) and in doing so displayed great mercy and grace. The Assyrians were a violent and brutal people who tortured and showed no mercy on their enemies. Yet God sent a preacher with His message to the people, “Forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
Have you ever considered that God looked down from heaven seeing the Assyrians and all their vile, violent and ungodly practices and still sent His man to preach to them? The Bible says, “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8). Let’s break down this wonderful Biblical truth about God.
1. God is Gracious- Speaks of His kindness.
2. God is full of Compassion- Says He is sympathetic.
3. God is slow to Anger- Shows He is long suffering.
4. God is of great Mercy- Speaks of Him not giving us what we deserve.
What effect did God’s message have on the people of Nineveh? The Bible says, “So 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” (Verse5). There was conviction and with conviction came repentance (Verse 8). Verse ten is a halleluiah verse, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” That is God’s compassion for sinful man!
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