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.” Jonah 3:10 (NIV)
Just to recap, God allows Jonah a second chance at obedience. Jonah preaches the shortest sermon ever, 5 words in the Hebrew language, “40 more days, Nineveh done!” And the strangest thing happened….the Ninevites believed God. The people repented, The King repented, even the animals went through the motions of repentance. Nineveh did a 180. They turned from their evil ways, with zero guarantee this God they had just met, might have mercy on them.
Here’s what gets me. God was watching.
For years, I’ve watched my four sons play hours upon hours of volleyball, football, baseball and basketball games. I watched a lot, but I missed some games here and there, I missed some plays, some hits, some serves, especially if my kid wasn’t on the field.
God watched these Ninevites, these awful, sinful, despicable, bloodthirsty, far from God people…and God didn’t take his eye off of them. He saw everything they did, and what they did mattered to God. He saw their reaction to Jonah’s words, he saw their sorrow, their fasting and sackcloth, he heard their urgent calls to him, begging for mercy. He saw their broken, repentant hearts and watched them change their ways from evil to good.
It must have brought the biggest smile to his face. What God saw that day in Nineveh is what God longs to see every day.
In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells 3 parables about lost things: a sheep, a coin, and a son. In verse 7, a lost sheep is finally found. The finder rejoices, celebrating with neighbors. Jesus says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” One sinner repenting causes a celestial party. Imagine the incredible celebration in heaven when the entire city of Nineveh repented!
John 3:16 says “God so loved the world….” God loved the world before a baby was born in a manger. God loved the world he created from the beginning. He loved prophets, like Jonah, he loved scared to death sailors with small gods, and he loved the vile and very lost people of Nineveh— And because he loved them, he kept his eye on them, watching them and longing for them to turn away from evil ways and turn towards Him.
That same God loves you, created you and has his eye constantly on you. Turn towards his love today.
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member