Jonah 3:6-10 (ESV)
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
This is such a rich story. Jonah, the unwilling prophet, finally makes it to Nineveh. This is the capital city of Assyria. The Assyrians were exceptional cruel to Israel and this made Jonah hesitant to proclaim the message that if the city repented God would be spare them. They did and God did. Notice how this is legislated by the King, however. What on earth would happen in our society today if the government attempted to legislate holiness? That will happen in the end time when God sets up the Millennial Kingdom. But imagine in that day and age. The king had complete control. But, if it was just outward in nature, God would not have relented of His prophesied wrath. This was genuine repentance. The entire nation was repenting of their sins. God sent a message and they responded. The king was so moved by God’s message (even thought Jonah was not) that he even had the animals fast. This is an amazing, historical event. God spoke truth and they responded. Imagine if our leaders today would hear the message of God and act in this way. It would be an amazing scene. It would turn the world upside down. It was said of Paul when he preached the gospel. It happened in the past and it can happen in the future.
Acts 17:6 (ESV)
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
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