Deeper ReflectionAT THE START OF CHAPTER 3, JONAH WAS BACK AT SQUARE
one, with a second chance to obey the LORD. This time he made it to
Nineveh. Interestingly, the author mentions that the city was “three days
journey in breadth” (v.3). This could have been a reference to the
time
needed to visit the city due to ancient diplomatic protocol – the first day
would be for arrival, the second for the purpose of the visit and the third
for return.
71 Given this protocol, Jonah’s preaching was extraordinarily
successful. On the first day he would not have met the king; and he would
have only been able to preach extensively on the second and third days.
Yet somehow, on the first day, as Jonah was just warming up, the Ninevites
already enthusiastically believed God
en masse (v.5)!
72 Jonah’s message even
reached the king, moving him to don sackcloth and sit in ashes (v.6)!The stunning repentance of Nineveh brought about a staggering
turnaround – God
relented from bringing disaster on them (v.10). Now,
the text does not actually indicate that the Ninevites’ repentance led them
to become full worshippers of the LORD.
73 However, the text suggests it
was genuine. The point is this –
even the cruel Ninevites
could and
did
repent! The implication is that it is not too late for people to turn back to
the LORD with all their hearts. May we experience the liberating joy of
coming back to God again and again when we do sin, for He is faithful and
just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:8-9).
71 Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, 487.
72 Ibid., 488.
73 Wiseman, Alexander, and Waltke, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, 138.
