3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7 He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8 But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9 Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Eternal One, Lord of Lords and God of Gods, like Jonah, I often go astray. You had to let Jonah be swallowed by a great fish and spend three days there before You got his attention. He didn’t want to go preach to Nineveh because he wanted the sinners punished rather than saved. Like Jonah, I should know that I can’t escape from You and Your plans and timing are perfect. You are loving and kind and give every sinner chance after chance to repent and be saved because You love every one of Your creations, and it is Your desire that all come to You and be saved. Save me from the sin of thinking my ways are better are Your ways. Fill me with the desire to obey You and tell others about You and use me to help bring them to salvation. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.