Awe and worship is the reasonable response to God’s love for humans. God is personal and intensely desires to engage in a friendship relationship with us.
God gives His servant Jonah personal guidance that is intended to rescue a ruthless nation from their sinful behavior.
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” (Jonah 3.1-2).
God used a big fish to deliver Jonah to the capital city of the Assyrians after the prophet had defied His clear directions. Now, Jonah has a second chance to obey the Lord.
I would need a very good calculator to record the number of second chances I have received from our gracious God. Praise God, He doesn’t give up on us, even when we are filled with self-will and selfishness.
Jonah obeyed God’s guidance and walked through the city with this message: “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3.4).
His warning was well received by the people and their king.
And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth (Jonah 3.5).
The king made a dramatic show of repentance and proclaimed: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. . . All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands” (Jonah 3.7-8).
Even though the king was an idolatrous pagan, he believed that God loves people and is willing to respond to genuine repentance.
He said, “Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish” (Jonah 3.9).
God’s purpose in sending Jonah to Nineveh was to save the nation from the consequences of their horrific behavior. The Bible records God’s actions in response to the repentance of the people.
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 (Jonah 3.10).
Why Pray?
Jesus gave His followers seven promises related to answered prayer in the Gospel of John. Below are two of them.
I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it (John 14.13-14).
To add “in Jesus’ name” to a prayer is not what Jesus meant when he told us to pray in His name. To pray “in Jesus’ name” is to pray according to His character.
The other day, I wrote about dynamic Christian leaders who prayed during World War II. It is worth noting what these remarkable humans did in solidarity with each other and God.
(1) They traveled the nation at their own expense and only took public transportation. At times, the trains on which they traveled we so full that these leaders had to sit and sleep on the floor.
(2) When they arrived at a place of prayer, they spent several days making sure they were aligned with God’s character and purpose for humanity.
This is the praying “in Jesus’ name” portion of what they did. They fully believed Jesus’ prayer promises, but they also knew their part of the equation was to be in full accord with God.
(3) When they felt they were ready to intercede, they joined in group prayer on behalf of what they believed was God’s will in accordance with His character.
World War II spurred these Christian leaders to action. I believe that what is taking place in our current era is worthy of our prayers.
Please give serious consideration to discovering God’s will at this time in history. Align your life with the character of Jesus. Then, pray for God’s purposes to be accomplished on the earth.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 