Jonah 3

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’” (Jonah 3:1–2, NKJV)

He has been called the God of second chances. Jonah deserved to be fired as a prophet because he disobeyed a direct order. But God was merciful to Jonah just as He has been merciful to me on so many occasions. How many times have I done those things I promised myself I would never do? How many times have I not done those things I ought to do? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I think about this as the year ends.

I know many people do not believe in New Year’s resolutions, but if you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Paul exhorts us to run our race to win the prize.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27, ESV)

Jonah did not discipline his body and deserved to be disqualified, but the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” What hope there is in these words for sinners! Truly, He is not the God merely of second chances, but of third, fourth…and seven times seventy chances.

So if you’ve come to the end of 2024 and realize that you haven’t yet achieved what you purposed to do, don’t give up. God loves you and will meet you wherever you are. He waits to be gracious to you and to help you fulfill your glorious purpose. As a good Father, He wants you to win the prize. In this next chapter of Jonah’s life, God used him to bring about a very great revival in a very wicked city. His gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He doesn’t use perfect people, but sinners who are willing to keep running.