Jonah - 11
The Great Commission
For this study we are looking at the third chapter of the Old Testament prophecy of Jonah. Jonah has been rebellious, he's been disciplined and he's been chastened. The book begins with the word of the Lord coming to Jonah. As we have already discovered in this series, God has dealt very powerfully with his servant, but as we come to chapter 3 verse 1 we see how gracious the Lord is: "Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time."
Jonah is not only pardoned for his disobedience and restored to favour, but he is also recommissioned to his office as prophet. Jonah's prayer had been heard from inside the great fish that swallowed him. This verse in Jonah chapter 3 gives hope and encouragement to all believers who have failed God. God is very gracious and very merciful. He is unchanging and we see this in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ to Peter. Peter who had denied his Lord three times with oaths and curses, was graciously recommissioned as the Lord said to him, "Feed my sheep."
Both Jonah and Peter were brought to the place of true repentance for their sin and both were forgiven and their fellowship with God restored. Listening friend, if you have failed the Lord in some way and feel that there is no way back, look at the example of God's dealings with Jonah and learn that He is always willing to pardon and restore those who return to Him in true repentance.
And then, in verse 2, we see that Jonah's commission is renewed, but we note that it is slightly different to that in chapter 1 and verse 2. On the first occasion he was told to "preach AGAINST the city and its wickedness.” This time he is told to preach TO the city. God says to him, "Proclaim TO it the message I give you.” God has not changed his mind, but something has happened. Jonah's own experience had taught him the possibility of forgiveness and restoration. This was something that he would not previously accept as possible or even desirable for the Ninevites. Now Jonah cannot proclaim any other message. His very experience cries out "Look at me! Look what has happened to me!” Jonah WAS the message, he was a living testimony to the grace of God towards those who repent of their sin.
If you are a believer, if you are one whose sins have been forgiven through faith in Christ's death for you, then the same is true of you. You are a living evidence of God's mercy to repentant sinners. This is what Paul was saying when he wrote these words to the Christians at Ephesus: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might show his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.” (Ephesians 1 verses 15 and 16)
Jonah's experiences are a sign pointing to the gracious ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was for three days enclosed by death, but who was raised by God on the third day a conqueror over the grave. After his resurrection the disciples were given that great commission to go into all the world to proclaim his death and rising again and that forgiveness of sins is possible for all who repent and believe.
One of the first signs of a true willingness to turn back to God is that we are willing once again to be obedient to his word and command. In verse 3 of Jonah 3 we are told: "Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.” He is no longer running away but going.
Here was a very large city both in area and population. It was a notorious place, known throughout the region for its wickedness and cruelty. Was Jonah beginning to realise just how much God cared about the people of that city? Why else would God send him again to take the message warning them of impending judgement?
So, in verse 4 we see this message of warning as Jonah proclaimed "Forty more days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” As Christians we have a message of warning and judgement for a sinful world, and yet a message of mercy and grace. God was speaking to those people through his servant. It was an earnest and a serious message, a life and death message. And so is the message of the Gospel; it is serious; it is not to be trivialised in its presentation by the methods used. It is God's message and it is to be communicated in ways that honour Him recognising that the weapons of our warfare are spiritual and not of this world.
Note that Jonah said "Forty MORE days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” The day of grace was being extended to give the people the opportunity to repent of their evil ways. We are living in God's Day of Grace. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to salvation in Christ. Jonah knew how long the people had - they had forty days. We do not know how long this Day of Grace will last, and so how much more the urgency to make the Gospel known!
In verse 5 we see the response of the Ninevites to the message Jonah brought. It says, "The Ninevites believed God.” It was not the messenger they believed, but the one who had sent the message, God Himself. This was God's powerful word at work and there is evidence that they genuinely repented of their wickedness and sin. We read that they "declared a fast and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” Even the king joined in this expression of mourning for this was a contrite city under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
What was the result of this great and genuine response to the preaching of God's Word? We read in verse 10: "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."
We have already discovered God's infinite patience and compassion towards his disobedient servant Jonah. Now we see his compassion towards this ungodly but repentant city. How gracious and loving is our God! In the New Testament God is described as "Rich in mercy” and having "Great love towards us.” In his mercy and love God sent his one and only Son into the world to die on a cross. He did this so that sins could be punished in Christ, Who was sinless, and so that those who repent and believe can be forgiven.
The Ninevites knew that they were under the judgement of God, but they cast themselves upon his mercy. They said: "God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Verse 9)
If you are not a Christian - not trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Saviour - then do not be lulled into a false sense of security for you stand condemned before God. Here is what John says in chapter 3 of his Gospel, verses 17 and 18: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever puts their trust in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe (put their trust) stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son."
If you are not a believer; if you have not yet realised the danger you are in, then like those Ninevites respond to God's love and turn to him in repentance, accepting Christ as your Saviour and Lord.
So clearly, this third chapter of Jonah has two major lessons for us to learn. The first is that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is under a great commission. It is a very serious and earnest commission. We must be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel to a world that is under the judgement of God. The second lesson is that if we do not know Christ as our Saviour and are still in our sins, then we need to repent and to turn to God with all of our hearts.