Has God Asked You To Do Something That Goes Against Everything Your Flesh Wants To Do?

By Pastor Matthew

The Obedience of the Prophet Jonah When God Said Speak to Nineveh!  And the Stunning Results!

 Nineveh was located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in northeastern Mesopotamia (Iraq).  It flourished from about 800 to 610 B.C. as the capital of the Assyrian empire.  It is first mentioned in the Bible back in Genesis as being founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:9-12).

During its time of power, the Assyrian empire conquered the northern Israelite kingdom of Israel, with their capital at Samaria, and transported them away into captivity.  Unlike the southern Israelite kingdom of Judah, with their capital at Jerusalem, they never returned, and became known as the “Lost Ten Tribes” of Israel.  The Assyrians themselves eventually were lost, although some identify their descendants as being in central Europe today.

Nineveh was the city that the reluctant prophet Jonah was sent to by God.  Jonah did not want to go, so he ran away.  However, after a famous adventure with a whale at sea he accepted what he was to do – get the people of Nineveh to repent of their evil.  He went, and was successful.  However, Jonah was still not happy because he did not like the Assyrians because of all of the harm that they had inflicted upon Israel.  He had hoped that they would refuse to repent and in turn God would have to destroy them.  He may well have been the only prophet in history that hoped that his ministry would fail!

Eventually, the Assyrian empire declined and fell.  It was overtaken by the Persian and Babylonian empires that were just then beginning to grow.  Today, Nineveh is just a vast stretch of ancient ruins.  Giving this backdrop as a history lesson, there is a question that I would like you to think about:  Does Jonah’s message to Nineveh regarding its being destroyed in 40 days and not taking place make Jonah a false prophet?

Some use Jonah as an example that prophets can be wrong.  The word of God tells us if they speak and it does not come to pass, they are a false prophet (Deut.18).  Why?  Because a prophet speaks the word that God tells them to speak.  God first told Jonah “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it.”  It should be obvious that what Jonah spoke was a conditional proclamation to give them a chance to repent (Jonah 1:2).  Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah was disobedient, going as far away in the opposite direction as he could. “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“ (Jonah 3:1-2).  When Jonah finally arrived in Nineveh, Scripture says he spoke what God told him to (3:2).  He cried out and said: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”  So the people of Nineveh believed God” (3:4-5).

Jonah really wanted to see Nineveh’s destruction; he was anticipating judgment not their repentance.  God did not tell Jonah everyone would be saved, and he does not tell this to people today, despite their prophesying that cities and nations will come to Christ.  His message was simple, “yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”  The anticipation of Nineveh’s destruction delighted Jonah when he proclaimed the message God gave him.  The people did not know if God would be merciful to them so they did the right thing anyway.  In the book of Jonah Chapter 3, verse 5 it states, “And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them“.  God honored their repentance!  In Matthew 12:41, Jesus also tells us that they repented. 

Before Jonah went to Nineveh He knew God was merciful, one who relents from doing harm (4:2), the Ninevites did not.  Jonah knew that if he preached to the Ninevites they would have a chance to survive.  This was why he was being disobedient in the first place, not because he was afraid.  The Bible is clear that God told Jonah to speak a very clear and precise message that God revealed to him to speak. If one were to find fault in the message not coming to pass, it would have to be with God.  So it is not Jonah who would be wrong, but God.  The message, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!” destroyed!

The fact is that their repentance was God’s desired result, He gave them 40 days.  We already know God’s heart in these matters, through the prophet Jeremiah 18:7-10:  ”At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” This principle is based on God’s character of mercy to the repentant.  Judgment was sure to come unless Nineveh repented.  God gave them a chance to repent by sending Jonah with a message of judgment a second time.  It was God’s plan for Nineveh.  We cannot turn to God from our evil way unless God first turns to us.  He initiates and we are to respond.  God had a purpose for saving the entire city of Nineveh.  He did this to spare Israel and also give them time to repent as well.  Isaiah and Amos prophesied that because of their disobedience they would be taken captive.  Jonah knew it would have probably been through these people, if they survived.

This was a conditional prophecy.  If they repent God will relent.  This is a remarkable display of faith, as they had to immediately give up their idols to seek the Lord.  The only ground which their faith rested on was the fact of God sending the prophet to warn them, instead of destroying them at once; this suggested the possibility of a pardon.  Jonah 3:9-10 states, “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.“

The fulfillment of the threat of judgment was contingent on the Ninevites response.  Again we must remember- Scripture says Jonah spoke what God told him to (3:2).  What this shows us is that God loves to give mercy instead of judgment.  Repentance appeals to God’s mercy.

To those of you that this message speaks to I hope and pray that you too, will hear the voice of the prophet Jonah, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown”.  However, more importantly, I hope you will see Jesus and his heart of mercy towards you, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.“  Jesus Christ loves Mercy and grace more than judgment.  This is a very comforting thought when you really think about it!

Continue to be blessed this summer as you spend time with family and friends!

Pastor Matthew