Jonah 3

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a 2nd time; 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.' Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city - a visit required 3 days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed ' 40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned. ' The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them , from the greatest to the least, put on sack cloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

'By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.'

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's obedience &

God's forgiveness

Jonah was given a second change to do God's will.

As he proclaimed the Word the Ninevites were

open to God's message and repented immediately.

God gives us opportunites every day to proclaim the Word.

We must be ready to share it with those who are

ready to listen & obey.

It was not just hearing God's word that pleased God,

but their obedience to it. God knows if our hearts are sincere!

I think of our nation today,

I wonder if President Bush gave a proclaimation

if 50% of the people in the USA would fast,

cover themselves with sackcloth and repent?

Could we give up our evil ways in order to avoid destruction??

What do you think???