CRY MIGHTILY UNTO GOD

Thus far in the history of Jonah we have seen God’s awesome power.

In chapter 1 He prepares a man, v. 1; He commands the storm, v. 4; and He prepares a great fish, v. 17. In chapter 4 He prepares a gourd, v. 6, a worm, v. 7; and an east wind, v. 8.

As sovereign Creator He holds the reins of universal dominion, and all things own His mastery.

In chapter 3 He prepares a way of salvation, vv. 2, 4, a message of judgement leading to pardon on the ground of repentance. Jonah is recommissioned as Jehovah’s spokesman, and boldly prophesies the fall of the city, and with it the whole proud Assyrian empire. What courage Jonah now shows, and what dread power God has over the nations, Isa. 40. 17.

Beyond this we see God’s amazing pity toward Gentiles. In sending Jonah to Nineveh we learn God’s scrutiny of, interest in, and authority over, the Gentile nations, and that equally His word is for them as it is for Israel. This is seen today, during the present gospel age, in the universal commission of the gospel, Matt. 28. 19, 20. How beautiful to see God’s love and compassion for these distant Gentiles, even the worst of them. He sends a message of judgement to warn them in perfect consistency with His compassionate and merciful nature, 4. 2, so that they may come to repentance and be pardoned.

Again, we observe that unbelieving Gentiles can be influenced by the word of God, and won for Him! Even the most hardened and unlikeliest of men may be saved. Who would have thought that high and lofty Nineveh would sit in sackcloth and ashes, and repent and ‘cry mightily unto God‘, vv. 5-9, but they did! Oh, dear fellow believer, discouraged because of the immorality, violence, and unbelief of the Gentile society among which we live - it is but a reflection of Nineveh of old. In Nineveh we see that the hardest mission-field yields the most impressive response! Hallelujah!

What a marvellous illustration of God’s pardoning mercy upon the most defiant of sinners when they humble themselves, tremble at His word, repent, and turn to Him. It is always true as David found, ‘A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise’, Ps. 51. 17.