Jonah 3:1-3 NKJV
“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD…”
As observed by the Psalmist, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psa 103:8 NKJV). Consequently, “He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs” (Psa 103:10 GNT). Indeed, had the LORD given us a taste of our own medicine for the things we’ve done in this life, certainly, all of us would be consumed by now. Thankfully, “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lam 3:22 NIV). History testifies and stands in awe of God’s deeds in preserving mankind.
In light of the foregoing, reflect for a moment on what our text of reference says: “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.'” In speaking to Jonah “the second time”, clearly, the LORD gave the prophet a second chance. Hallelujah! Given the preceding narrative on the prophet’s conduct, there was nothing on Jonah’s part to deserve the holy and righteous God to act with such patience and kindness towards him. However, whereas the LORD showed great mercy to Jonah, His heart was more on the salvation of the people of Nineveh, who were lost in wickedness.
In a loose and humbling parallel, unlike Jonah who initially resisted God’s directive, the Lord Jesus willingly heeded the Father’s call to come demonstrate His love to a lost world. Christ would say to His hearers, “In the same way that Jonah spent three days and nights in the big fish, so will the Son of Man spend three days and nights in the depths of the earth” (Mat 12:40 GNT). Whereas disobedience landed Jonah in the belly of the fish, obedience took the Lord Jesus to the grave for our salvation! And, unlike Jonah, who ‘rose’ from the belly of hell and still died again physically, Jesus Christ rose from the grave and He is still alive, “…NEVER again to die” (Rom 6:9 CEV)! In Him alone, our salvation is complete, safe, and secure.
Pst. Emmanuel