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1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:1-5, 10 The Message Bible)
Happy Wednesday, Reader! Praying this midweek recharge is just what you need for your life.
The theme for this week is adventure. Today's adventure takes us to the only man in the Bible to have been swallowed by a whale, spent three days in it, and then spit up on the shore. The adventure started because the man said no to God. God sent Jonah towards Nineveth and he said, "I'll go the other way!" Try as he could, he could not hide from God, nor could he run from Him. In fact, God gave him a second chance. "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." The message, though from an Old Testament perspective, is very needed and new, "Repent." It is said that Nineveh was like an OT Las Vegas of the worst kind, and if ever any city needed to hear that word, it was Nineveh. It was a large city for the scripture says it took Jonah three days to walk through it. Each day the prophet walked the length of the city proclaiming God's message, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. (aka, "Repent."). The people of Nineveh believed God and a fast was proclaimed and all the people of the city repented of their sin, and this action pleased God and God repented of His desire to get rid of the city.
God's truth does not come as a whisper but as a thunder; to hear God command Jonah to "Go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message I give you," and Jonah finally heard it and it became a call to action, a chance to mend broken ways before it was too late.
One can only imagine the initial reaction in Nineveh to this prophet's message; disbelief, scoffs, perhaps even laughter, but as the message travel it started to penetrate homes and hearts and the unexpected shift occurred, "They believed God." That was the transformative power of God. We know that belief isn't passive; it's a turning point, a decision to embrace truth and to step into the path of change.
The entire community was transformed because the change was like a wave over the city. The proclamation of a fast showed the sincerity and commitment to this change. The fear of the coming judgment brought about needed societal changes, and we see kings and commoners stand side-by-side, united with the desire to be shown mercy by God. This reflected their inward transformation to turn away from sin and towards hope and grace.
The most powerful lesson lies in the final verse: "When God saw what they did and how they turned away from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened." This is grace amidst repentance, an unfurling of divine compassion in response to sincere change. God as righteous judge, offers a chance for a fresh start, proving that even the darkest path can be illuminated by the light of repentance and grace.
What can we apply to our lives from this passage? First, we should heed the urgent voice of God. God's call to repentance can come at any time and in different forms, but the clarity of the message is always for us to listen with an open heart and to be ready to respond. Second, we should believe and turn. Faith is not just a matter of intellectual assent; it is a turning point, a commitment to change. We must be willing to break free from our old lives and embrace a new one. We should also realize that change isn't always just a matter of individuals changing; sometimes change can come to communities and societies. We must become a force of change with hopes of inspiring others walk in the light of Jesus. Finally, we should know that no matter how far we might have strayed, God's grace is always available. We must embrace the path of repentance and we can be witnesses of the unfolding mystery of God's love and forgiveness.
PRAYER: Loving God, help us open our ears to hear Your urgent call, granting us with the courage to believe, the humility to turn, and the strength to inspire others to walk in Your light; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be a voice of hope and a witness to what God can do.
Receive my love for you and thankfulness to God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
