3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” – Jonah 3:1-2
This shows the amazing love of God to His wayward people. Though Jonah did everything he could to resist the first call of God, after Jonah repented God called him again – though God was under no obligation to do it. He did it out of mercy and grace. This parallels the book’s opening remarks, almost verbatim, God is graciously offering Jonah a new beginning.
How many of us Christians would still be proclaiming the goodness of the Gospel without the everlasting grace we receive from God when we mess up? Not many of us I would guess. The story of Jonah’s second call is a glorious story of rebirth. From scared to faithful, Jonah delivers the message of the Lord.
Many of us are scared to answer God’s call. Many times we have had that nudge from the holy spirit to speak the name of God. Many times we do not speak the name of God. This does not make you a failure. This makes you just like Jonah. We will see in the future verses that Jonah’s time in Nineveh led to the salvation of the city. God did not bring harm to the city.
God was determined to do the work through Jonah, so He did not give up on the reluctant prophet. Jonah attempted to fill in the rest of the story. This is why he ran. The story of Jonah demonstrates why God so often leads us one step at a time without telling us more. If God had told Jonah, “you will be surely successful.” Would Jonah have ran away? God gives us one step at a time because one step with faith is more powerful than a step in assurance. Our lives should not be about guarantees. Our life is about faith.
So take that step today. Take that one small step towards God. Take it in faith knowing that God’s plan is greatere than you know.