1. A Second Time (v.1)
Last time, we thought about the great grace of God that is seen in his pursuit and rescue of Jonah. That grace is seen again in the opening verse of this 3rd chapter: "the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time".
Here is the God who doesn't bear grudges. He told his people through Malachi that "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed". When we are faithless, he yet remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself and his purposes.
Maybe we sometimes find it hard to forgive others, perhaps especially our brothers and sisters ('they should know better!'). Maybe we have an even greater problem at times forgiving ourselves and insist on dragging up the past and beating ourselves with our sins. Sometimes the devil is very active using our past to hinder our present and future - and we can all too easily help him.
God forgives and forgets; we must forgive and forget too.
2. Same Message, Same Purpose (v.2)
The rebellion of Jonah has not changed or deflected the purpose of the LORD. There is still a work to do, as verse 2 shows us. And this 2nd commission to Jonah is couched in the same words as the 1st (v.2 & cf. 1:2).
We are reminded of the Lord's dealings with Peter after his resurrection as he restored Peter into his service with the same words he had called with "Follow me" (see Jn 21:19; Mk 1:17).
But there is a slight change in the wording of the commission. Jonah was originally sent to preach 'against' Ninevah, a phrase that brought to mind the whole notion of judgement. Now he is told to go and preach 'to' Ninevah.
It is a small change yet significant in the light of Jonah's experience in the sea. This God is not just a God of judgement but also of mercy; the act of sending Jonah to Ninevah is not simply with the threat of judgement but also with the implied offer of mercy (see v.4 - 'Forty more days' gives them time to repent).
Now, Jonah should have been changed by his experience of grace. It should have been, from here on in, the defining aspect of his ministry. It should have radiated from his life. And if that is so of Jonah, how much more should it be true of us! We've been blessed by the most wonderful grace - does it show?
3. A Willing Servant? (v.3a)
Having been re-commissioned, verse 3 finds Jonah obeying the word of the LORD. He is now as compliant to the will of God as were the wind, the sea and the great fish.
There is something immensely encouraging in these words at first sight (and we must try to put ourselves in the place of the first hearers of this book). But this book is going to challenge us about our learning of the lessons the Lord teaches us: is Jonah truly a willing servant?
Much has been made of Jonah's change of heart but in many ways the question is still open and won't be answered until the final chapter of the book (although we know answer being familiar with the story).
What this should do is give us pause for thought and reflection. A right response to the grace of God is not always forthcoming; it is sadly all too possible for us to be mixed in our response and for our motives to be much too selfish as we grasp hold of the grace that is offered to us.
I don't want to elaborate on that now (we must follow the book through!) but it is important to register the possibility here of a less than thoroughgoing response to God's grace.
4. Ninevah: A Significant City (v.3b)
Having been taken up with Jonah and his story, we are now in v.3 brought to think again about the focus of his ministry, the city (and district?) of Ninevah.
We are told here that Ninevah was a great city and that a visit required three days. Quite what that means we're not sure of: 3 days to go round it? To go through its streets and alleys? To cover the area of greater Ninevah? To arrive, preach and them leave?
But quite what it exactly means is not as important as the description that is given of it as 'a great city'. Is that just telling us that is was big or important in its day? We've already seen that in some ways its fortunes were on the slide.
The phrase used here actually translates as 'a great city of/to God'. Putting that together with the rest of the book, especially chapter 4, it is clear that God is concerned for Ninevah (eventually it fell under his just judgement - see Nahum & Zephaniah). But here the point is being made that, whatever its ultimate destiny, it matters greatly to God - enough for him to pursue Jonah as he did.
Now, that is also true of all the world: there is no limitation in the Bible on the work of mission. Although strategies are used to reach the world (for example, going first to the large centres of population, as Paul did, except where the Lord overruled) that is no justification for saying that other places are insignificant to him.
You see, people matter to the Lord - enough for him to spare not his only Son but to freely give him up for us all. The fact that Ninevah is significant to God will contrast greatly with how Jonah feels about it (more of that when we get there!). Does it also contrast with the way we see the world around us?
