Jonah Chapter Three – Outlined: God renewed His charge to Jonah, 3:1-2. Jonah Preached to the people of Nineveh, 3:3-4. The Response of “the people of Nineveh” to Jonah’s Preaching, Jonah 3:5-9. God Spared the people of Nineveh, Jonah 3:10.

God Renewed His Charge to Jonah, Jonah 3:1-2. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…,” Jonah 3:1-2. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city,” 3:2. “Great” with respect to age, Genesis 10:6-11. “Great” with respect to population, Jonah 4:11. “Great” with respect to size, Jonah 3:3. “And preach to it the message that I tell you,” Jonah 3:2.

Jonah Preached to the People of Nineveh, Jonah 3:3-4. “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh..” 3:3a. “Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three day journey in extent,” 3:3b. “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk..,” 3:4a. “Then he cried out and said, ‘yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown,’” 3:4b. A respite of 40 days, during which they had opportunity to repent. Cf. Matthew 12:41.

The Number “Forty” appears Often in the Bible. Rained 40 days and 40 nights, Genesis 7:4,12. Moses on the mount 40 days and 40 nights, Exodus 24:18. Jesus remained on the earth 40 days after His resurrection, Acts 1:3. Elijah sustained 40 days and nights, I Kings 19:5-8. Jesus sustained in the wilderness 40 days and 40 nights, Matthew 4:1-2.

The Response of “the people of Nineveh” to Jonah’s Preaching, 3:5-9. “The people of Nineveh believed God,” 3:5. They “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them,” 3:5b. The king “arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and ashes,” 3:6. A sign of deep mourning. I Kings 21:27; Job 2:8; Joel 2:12-13

The Response of “the people of Nineveh,” continued. The King issued a decree that was to be published “throughout Nineveh,” Jonah 3:7. “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water,” Jonah 3:7. “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God..” 3:8a. “Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence …in his hands,” 3:8b. “Who can tell if God will turn and relent..” 3:9.

God Spared the People of Nineveh, Jonah 3:10 “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,” Jonah 3:10.

Some Practical Lessons to be Gleaned from this Chapter: God often gives people a second chance. One person’s misery can redound to the blessing of countless others. - Jonah had to be miserable inside the “great fish.” Later he obeyed God’s instructions; he preached to the Ninevites; He became “a sign to the Ninevites,” Luke 11:30. - Jesus was crucified for us; but through His death we can be saved!

Practical Lessons Continued Converted runaways can become powerful preachers! Matthew 12:41. Preachers are limited in what they can preach, Jonah 3:2. Repentance is based on faith, and it involves turning from one’s evil ways, Jonah 3:5,10. God relents when people repent, Jonah 3:5; Jeremiah 18:8-10.

Conclusion: You may have had opportunity in the past to obey God, but like Jonah you went in the opposite direction. You now have another opportunity to obey God! 2 Corinthians 6:1. But there is no guarantee that you will have another opportunity to do what God wants you to do now! Proverbs 27:1; James 4:14. Come to Jesus! Matthew 11:28-30.