God Relented
Jonah witnessed a miracle when he finally got to Nineveh and proclaimed God's destruction would come on them in 40 days. God relented of the disaster that He said He would bring upon them. (Jonah 3:5,10) God's mercy came into play, because the people of Nineveh truly repented of their sins and cried out to God for Him to spare them. We need this type of miracle today in America, so we need to understand what they did that led God to relent.
The people of Nineveh believed God. They took Him at His word, which Jonah spoke to them. A lot of people today, do not listen to the Bible or to God's messengers. Nineveh was the most wicked and violent city in the world at that time, but they were more open to the Lord's Word than people today seem to be. Then, they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth or burlap. This was their way of showing God that they were willing to suffer to show God the sincerity of their hearts in crying out to Him. They were not kidding with God. The took away their pleasures to seek the Lord's favor. How many are willing to do that kind of thing today?
When God saw what they were doing, He relented. He did not bring disaster. Did God change His mind? Not really. The people changed, so that changed everything. There was not any reason to destroy them, since they repented and prayed to Him. The same would be true today, if we in America would believe God and show Him how serious we are about needing His forgiveness and mercy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 3-6.
The people of Nineveh believed God. They took Him at His word, which Jonah spoke to them. A lot of people today, do not listen to the Bible or to God's messengers. Nineveh was the most wicked and violent city in the world at that time, but they were more open to the Lord's Word than people today seem to be. Then, they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth or burlap. This was their way of showing God that they were willing to suffer to show God the sincerity of their hearts in crying out to Him. They were not kidding with God. The took away their pleasures to seek the Lord's favor. How many are willing to do that kind of thing today?
When God saw what they were doing, He relented. He did not bring disaster. Did God change His mind? Not really. The people changed, so that changed everything. There was not any reason to destroy them, since they repented and prayed to Him. The same would be true today, if we in America would believe God and show Him how serious we are about needing His forgiveness and mercy.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 3-6.