Going To Nineveh
Jonah 3:3-9 (NLT)
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:
“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
In this part of the story, Jonah finally obeys God’s command to preach to the city of Nineveh. We hear that it was ‘so large that it took three days to see it all’. An interesting detail, showing us that this was no small task for a single person to preach to a city of this size. Jonah’s message is not easy: the city will be destroyed if God’s ways are not followed. Miraculously, the people believed Jonah. It is astounding that a single person was able to preach to so many and have them believe the message so readily. Anyone who has lived in large cities, will know that there are so many people who want to bring messages that it's easy to get lost in the noise - especially if the message is challenging. Not only that, but the passage tells us that the king of Nineveh was converted which would have been no small feat.
Drawing a parallel to our own lives, God may have put tasks on our hearts that seem daunting, if not impossible. But if it is his will, God can use little to accomplish much, if we are obedient. It is easy to doubt or dismiss a calling from God because of the scale of the task (I am sure Jonah might have found the task of preaching to Nineveh daunting!). However, one good guiding principle is to listen to the heart of God. Did God want Nineveh to repent? Absolutely! In the same way, it is worth considering - is there something in your life you feel called to do that you are inclined to dismiss as impossible, but is something that would be in God’s heart to do? Is there a step you can take towards that calling - even if you feel it might not work?
Prayer - Lord help us to hear your calling to us and to follow your will to bring your kingdom here. Help us to know that our single contributions may just be the very thing that is needed to accomplish your will.