1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. 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.

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.