LEARNING DAILY

Jonah 3:5, So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

The response from the people – “the greatest to the least of them” – was to believe God’s warning. Putting on sackcloth was a visual sign they acknowledged their sinful ways and their “repentance”. The term is not written in this account. Repentance is the action that comes when one has sincere regret, remorse or sorrow for their actions. These people believed the words of God’s judgment, took them seriously and revival took place. These people did not seem to be just concerned about judgment, they believed God.

Did Jonah preach more than just judgment? Was putting on sackcloth and fasting saying that the people believed in God? God did relent because the people turned from their evil ways. This certainly shows that God does not want any person to perish; He wants them to turn from their sinful lives, turn to Him for their salvation through Jesus Christ and be changed by Him.

Here comes the questions. Did Jonah preach more to the people? These people did not need to be told about their evil, sinful way of life. They already knew it. The people living in our day do not really need to have clarification about what God considers to be sin. What the people of Nineveh needed was motivation to change, to repent. That still holds true for the people around us.

I find this account of Jonah and the Ninevites very interesting. No doubt Jonah had God’s protection because He sent him with the message of 40 days and Ninevah would be overthrown. There is no reason given for this quick, sincere, and what appears to be an almost total national turnaround in the Assyrian nation. Did witnesses of the great fish vomiting Jonah up on the shore get to Nineveh before him? Did the appearance of Jonah caused by being in the belly of the fish (the juices, etc., you know) give him some sort of spiritual appearance? Had God, Himself, prepared the people for Jonah’s message? Or did an eclipse around this time have some sort of spiritual message ahead of Jonah?

I have a keen sense for the obvious! There is a need for such a revival in our nation today! The question might be asked about how badly the people of this nation want to see revival happen. The research, I have seen at times, would indicate that desire to be very low. Luke 17:26-30 tell us the last days will be like the days of Noah, living life without a care in the world, not understanding their way of life is evil and sinful, without God. Revival begins with “believing God” and changing from our evil ways. It must begin with the true Church and allowing the changes affect those around us.

About the eclipse that passed over this nation on April 8. There are those who have related this eclipse with an eclipse that passed over northern Iraq on June 17, 776 BC. This would fit the time frame that Jonah was sent to Nineveh. In doing some research about this, I found a writing by Donald Wiseman that stated a solar eclipse would mean to the Assyrians, “the king will be deposed and killed, a worthless fellow will seize the throne…rain from heaven will flood the land…the city walls will be destroyed.” He goes on to write that at such a time there would be solemn fasting. Could that help explain the incredible response of the Assyrian people to Jonah’s message?

As interesting as I have found this to be, there are those who have related the eclipse of April 8 to Jonah’s message of “Yet forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown!” Does it apply to the United States of America? I sure do not know. I do know there is a need for this nation of ours to repent of our ways, to believe God. Most will dismiss this eclipse as a warning of judgment coming. Few are going to change from their wicked ways because they just do not want to. Few care that their actions are sinful. Yes, we are a stiff-necked people (Acts 7:51) who have knowledge of our sinful lives and lack any motivation to change.

Judgment is coming! It might be in forty days. It might be in another time. But it is coming for those who do not believe God and do not change their ways!