Jonah 3 – The Chapter of Second Chances

I got my Reader’s Hebrew Bible (Amazon) a few days ago. I’ve been reading Jonah (slowly). Over the last few days I noticed that Jonah 3 is the chapter of second chances.

It’s obvious in English, but it’s especially obvious in Hebrew that Jon 3:1 is virtually identical to Jonah 1:1. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time…”. Despite Jonah’s rebellion in ch1 and in line with his repentence in ch2 God gives Jonah a second chance. 3:1 is like a second commissioning for Jonah. Same word from God, same instrcution to go to Ninevah.

But that’s not all – the end of ch3 also has a second chance – this time for the people of Ninevah. 3:7-10 narrate how Jonah’s message reaches to the Kind of Ninevah and he calls upon his whole kindgom (animals included) to mourn and repent; to leave their ways of wickedness and to follow the LORD. And God gives them a second chance. God relents of his anger against them and they are saved.

Praise God for his second, third…millionth changes that he gives to those to repent and believe.