The Sovereignty of God

By Jasmine Britto, Kerala, India

Day 11

Jonah 3:6-10
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the
proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

In verse six, the king of Nineveh rose from his throne and removed his robe. ‘Throne’
and ‘robe’ are symbols of a king’s authority. So, rising from his throne and removing his robe means the king is removing his authority and humbling himself before the God of Israel.

He also covers himself with sackcloth and ashes and he issues a proclamation that the entire nation, including all people and the animals should fast.

Verse eight: “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.” He calls everyone to an urgent mass repentance. The Ninevites didn’t wait until 39 days to repent. Their repentance was immediate.

Thirty to fifty years later, after Jonah’s days, Assyria (Nineveh was the capital of Assyria) would invade and conquer the Northern Kingdom of Israel. So, we know that though they repent now it’s would not last. We see from history that the Ninevites turn back to their evil ways again.

So, even after a genuine repentance, we know that we may stumble again and again. That’s why we needed another King who humbled himself, who took the judgment on himself.

He is Jesus.

We cannot save ourselves and we need someone who pays for our sins once and for all. God’s love requires that he punishes evil. So, sin is always paid for, but it’s your choice whether it is paid for by you or by Jesus.

The Ninevite were not told about the option of repentance. They were only told that they were going to be overturned in 40 days. But they do come to repentance and the king of Ninevites says in verse nine, “who knows? God may relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish”.

Verse ten says that God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways. He had compassion on them and did not bring upon them the destruction he had
threatened.

Repentance starts with believing in God and His word.

Prayer Focus

Are we responding to the Word of God and striving to change, or are we striving to change only because of the possible bad consequences of our sins? Let’s ponder about this and pray.