Jonah - Chapter 3

A depressed angry prophet washed ashore on the banks of Niniveh gets a call for the second time from God.

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." Jonah 3:1-2

This time he obeys but he does the bare minimum that's needed. The Bible says Nineveh is a great big city. It's three days journey by foot.

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.⁠ Jonah 3:3

The call from God to Jonah was to go throughout and warn the people inside this city. Jonah biting his teeth, went one day journey and said the minimal words he can.

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah 3:4

But what happened was the opposite ! The people repented. They listened to the guy who was just shouting 8 words walking around the city. They fasted and repented.

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Jonah 3:5,6

Salvation doesn't come from the prophet's or the priests but from the LORD. Jonah didn't want to warn the Niniveh people too much so that they would repent but God just needed a few words from his mouth to save the whole nation. In today's Christian world, there are self declaring apostles, prophet's, deliverers healing specialists who appeal to the audience with their gimmicks and shows. The Bible says clearly that no one can bring salvation to humans.

Salvation belongs to the LORD - Psalms 3:8

Growing up as pastors son, I've seen a good amount of circus tricks the so called anointed do. Jumping from chair to chair, throwing oil on people, bench press the forehead, napkin throws, long jump, high jump, beatboxing. For what ? It's not the man chosen by god who does the miracle but it's the other way around. God chooses a man and God does the miracle - in the heart, in the body, in the soul ! Period.

And if you play tricks just like Jonah did, he will still achieve what he set out for whether through you or with some other.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10

My dear reader, the God you serve is bigger than you and he knows better than you and he wants the best for you. If you would just trust in him and don't outsmart him like Jonah or like Jacob arranging his wives and kids before meeting Easy, your life will be beautiful 😍 and prosperous 😇. I've learnt this the hard way. I leave you with one beautiful verse.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight - Proverbs 3:5,6

God bless you and have a wonderful day!