Sometimes, God gives us a second chance. After Jonah ran from God and was swallowed by a great fish, he repented. In Chapter 3, we see Jonah get back on track, obeying God and preaching to Nineveh. It’s a reminder that even when we’ve failed, God can still use us to do great things.
Jonah’s Second Chance
The chapter begins with these words: “And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jonah 3:1-2).
What a blessing to hear that God came to Jonah “the second time.” God could have left Jonah in the fish’s belly, but instead, He gave him another chance to obey. Not everyone gets a second chance, and we should never take God’s patience for granted. But when He gives us another opportunity, we need to take it.
For Jonah, obeying meant going to Nineveh, the very place he tried to avoid.
Jonah’s Preaching
When Jonah arrived in Nineveh, he got straight to the point. Verse 4 says, “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’s message wasn’t sugar-coated. It was simple, direct, and serious. He proclaimed that Nineveh had forty days to repent, or they’d be destroyed.
Jonah’s preaching reminds us that God’s Word doesn’t need to be fancy—it needs to be faithful. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Preaching is about delivering God’s truth, not our opinions.
Nineveh’s Repentance
What happened next was nothing short of amazing. Verse 5 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.”
Even the king repented. Verse 6 tells us, “For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.” The whole city turned from their evil ways and begged for God’s mercy.
God saw their repentance and spared them. Verse 10 says, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
Lessons for Us
Jonah’s story shows us that God can use anyone to accomplish His will—even a rebellious prophet. When Jonah finally obeyed, God used him to bring an entire city to repentance.
We also see the power of preaching. Jonah didn’t bring an elaborate message; he simply delivered what God told him to say. It’s a reminder that when we share the truth of God’s Word, He does the work in people’s hearts.
Finally, we learn that repentance moves God’s heart. The people of Nineveh were wicked, but when they turned from their sin, God showed mercy. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
God is still calling us to share His message. Like Jonah, we might feel unworthy or hesitant, but if we obey, we’ll see that God can do amazing things through us.
