2nd chances

2nd chances are sometimes hard to come by, and often have many strings attached. That isn't how God works!

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Jonah 3:1-5

God gives Jonah a true 2nd chance. He has chased him across the seas, given him some time to think in the belly of a great fish, heard his prayer of repentance and now he circles right back and once again asks him to go on a preaching assignment in Nineveh.

There are no strings attached. There is no benching him for a while. God has wiped the slate clean, and says, Jonah, goto Nineveh.

That's grace. Grace that give us true motivation to obey. And this time Jonah does.

Then we see another picture of the breadth of God's grace. It isn't quite a second chance, though one may argue it is a 34792nd chance! The people in Nineveh have been living in disobedience to God. In fairness, they didn't know. God in his grace sent Jonah, and when they hear, they too repent.

That's grace too.

Our God is a gracious God. He gives us time. He speaks his word.

And as we repent, he forgives.

Praise him! Believe him! Obey him! Follow him!