Part IV “Jonah – The Declaring Prophet” Chapter 3

In Chapter 1, we were introduced to a disobedient prophet, yet in Chapter 2, we witnessed to a devotional prophet.  Now, in Chapter 3, we will notice a declaring prophet.  After Jonah’s encounter of almost facing death in Chapter 2, the Lord directs him again to accomplish His will (1:1-2).  The Lord gives Jonah a second chance.  Thanks be unto Him that He is always patient with His callous and disobedient children, often exhibiting His undying faithfulness despite our unfaithfulness to His revealed will.

Upon Jonah’s arrival in the city, he began to preach, proclaiming a message of judgment, in that the people had forty days to repent before God demolished the city (3:3-4).  The message that Jonah faithfully proclaimed had such an effect upon the people, for the people believed the message and demonstrated humble contrition (v.5).  Through Jonah’s preaching, there was a great city-wide revival.  Have you ever heard of a city-wide revival wherein everybody repented?  Such a revival took place in the notorious city of Nineveh.  Even the king at the time, some scholars feel that Ashurdan III was king, repented and issued a decree calling for a city-wide fast, with man and beast (3:6-7).  God, who had threatened to judge Nineveh (3:4), now relented in judging them, sparing them because of their repentance (v.10).

Our God can demonstrate His mercy also to the countless number of unsaved people today, if they would only believe.  Like Nineveh, God wants to spare the many unsaved people of our day from going to hell.   God has made it possible that every man can experience salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, without respect to any merit on the part of man.  Jesus came so that every man after the offspring of Adam might experience life eternal, for John 5:24 says:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  In conclusion, Jonah, who at one time ran from the will of God, found himself in God’s will, and a great revival happened.  You can always experience a revival when you are in God’s will.  If obedient, you can have a revival everyday!