“Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” (KJV, Jon. 3:9).
Up to this point in the book of Jonah, there have been many twists and turns. The story is packed with excitement, and each verse builds upon another.
The narrative began with the words, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jon. 1:1-2).
God took note of the wickedness of the people of Nineveh and called upon His prophet to preach repentance to them.
However, there was a significant problem along the way. The problem was not with God. Instead, the problem lay deep in the heart of Jonah. Jonah knew God well enough to know that God is merciful and gracious and abounds in steadfast love.
But why would such an understanding of God bring about an issue with Jonah?
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were enemies of the Jews rather than allies. Jonah realized that the people of Nineveh were on the path to destruction in God’s eyes. Thus, Jonah wanted them to experience God’s wrath, not God’s mercy.
Jonah knew that if he was to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh and they chose to turn from their sin, God would relent of the destruction that was bound to come upon the city.
Another glaring matter that was at the forefront of Jonah’s eyes had to do with his reception by his own people. The Jews often despised prophets.
When Jesus came to the earth and spoke about Jerusalem, he lamented and declared, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, and ye would not” (Matt. 23:37).
Sure, there were exceptions to Jesus’ words, but the words of Christ can be thought of as a summary evaluation of the prophet’s reception by the Jews.
As a result, Jonah knew if he went to the people of Nineveh and they repented, he would receive harsh treatment from his fellow Jews. It was not so much the distance of the journey that bothered Jonah, for one can see he was willing to travel even further to run from the will of God.
It was not the cost of the voyage, for he paid the price to board the ship. It was not many of the other challenges he would have faced along the way, for he chose to be hurled into the bottom of the sea rather than embrace the will of God. He did not want the people to repent and receive mercy.
Nevertheless, God persisted with His prophet, and the Scriptures declare, “And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jon. 3:1-2).
The Word of God remained the same. It was Jonah’s heart that needed to change. This time Jonah went to the people of Nineveh.
But what was the response of the people? Did they repent, or did they persist?
“Who can tell if God will turn and repent”
The thoughts of the king of Nineveh have been captured in this verse. He looked to God and realized the greatness of God, but at the same time, he knew very little about the God of the Hebrews.
Scripture has said, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Is. 55:7-8).
The king of Assyria had likely been basing his beliefs on worldly examples. He may have looked at himself and his reactions to people who submitted to him. He may have looked to other kings and their dealings with people who had bowed the knee. In all of these worldly situations, there is a lot of variation.
Mercy can be shown one day, and murder can take place the next. As a result, David could say, “…I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man” (2 Sam. 24:14).
David knew of the mercy of God. Jonah also knew that God was merciful, and if the people repented, they would be forgiven.
On the other hand, the king of Assyria did not know the God of the Bible. He was unschooled in the ways of Scripture. He was far from the heart of God. Nevertheless, he hoped that if he and the people of Nineveh turned from their sins, God would also turn and repent.
“and turn away from his fierce anger”
Clearly, the king had been listening to the message of Jonah. His words were not based upon a deep understanding of the Word of God but rather the message of the prophet.
The Bible had already stated, “And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jon. 3:4). If one is not careful, one may miss what this verse states. Jonah was still reluctant to warn the people.
The Bible says Jonah did not start to warn them until he had gone a day’s journey into the city. However, eventually, the words came forth.
He told them that in forty days, the city would be overthrown. Even the time given was a display of the mercy of God. The message was not “Turn today, or wrath will come.” It was “forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
It is essential not to take this as a proof text for delaying responding to God with faith and repentance. Nevertheless, the mercy of God is on display.
God gets angry. It is important to realize this fact. He is angry every day about sin. However, it is also important to know that God’s anger is different from man’s.
Therefore, man’s anger should not be used as a positive illustration of God’s anger in the vast majority of situations. Nevertheless, God determined to overthrow the people of Nineveh if they did not turn from their sins.
As a result, the king was right in hoping that God would turn from His anger if the people of Nineveh turned from their iniquity.
“that we perish not?” (KJV, Jon. 3:9).
The ultimate conclusion of the king was not misguided either. He feared that he and the people would perish if God did not relent of His wrath.
However, once again, the king was also ignorant of God’s ways. The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New. God has always been merciful toward repentant people. He has always been kind and forgiving when there is genuine repentance and confession of sin.
Josiah was a remarkable king that restored the nation of Israel. The example of the king of Nineveh and Josiah shows the importance of godly leadership.
Scripture says, “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord” (2 Ki. 22:19).
God has displayed several times in His Word that He is quick to forgive the repentant sinner.
He forgave the people of Nineveh and will forgive the one who genuinely turns to Him.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your mercy. You were overwhelmingly merciful to the people of Nineveh, and You are a God Who does not change. You have been good to me and have forgiven me for many sins. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.