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It helps that Jonah changed his mind first!
From Jonah 3:15, 10: The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Good morning, dear friends. Yesterday found me in a place with no wifi, and this morning's wifi is very limited and slow! God bless you all with a great day!
This is a beloved story of many, perhaps because of the intrigue of the whale (or big fish) that for many, is the star of this story. But the real star of course, is God and God's love for the people of this great city Nineveh. God saw this great city had fallen into sin and called Jonah to go and preach to them. Jonah decided it was not in his best interest to move to this great city and tried hiding from God. He ended up in the belly of this great fish and from the depths of the ocean and despair, cried out to God, God heard his voice and delivered him. Jonah then does preach and it is a simple yet difficult message to preach: Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" The people heard that and "believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth." The people not only heard the word of God, they believed it, and acted on it. The sackcloth was a sign of their faith in God to take away their sin. The response was so pleasing to God, God changed His mind about what He planned to do, and "He did not do it."
Of the human characters in the story, we can either be Jonah, called by God to do something, and we can be that person ready to preach. We could also be the person called by God to do something and we're still looking for a place to hide. And if this is the case, imagine four and five year olds in a small house trying to find a place to hide where God will not find you. Or, we could be the ones who have heard the message calling us to change our ways and become believers and doers of God's word. Whichever one you are, in the way the story says God changed His mind, we can change our mind and become obedient to God.
PRAYER: Lord, whichever role I am trying to play today, preacher, hider, receiver, let me do it to accomplish Your will and plan for my life. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
