JONAH 1:1-3 – “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.”

JONAH 3:1-4 – “Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!””

THEME OF THE DAY: OUR GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.  The “big fish story” about Jonah is familiar.  Our children learn of him in Sunday school, and many sermons are preached about the reluctant sailor, the merciful God, and the lengths God may go to get His servants in line with His will. There is another lesson from Jonah that takes us to the heights of encouragement.

It all starts in chapter one; the first scripture of today. Jonah is given an assignment from the Lord.  It isn’t easy. In fact, it would be scary, but the life of obedience to the Lord often is because it takes us out of our comfort zones.  Jonah is told to go preach to a wicked nation the evil they are committing before God.  He doesn’t want to go and does something that is insane. He tries to hide from God.  That’s what disobedience does. That’s what sin does. It produces irrational thought like thinking one can run from God.   Well, we know what unfolds. Enter the “big fish story”.  Hard to grasp what Jonah endured in the belly of this fish.  Gross? No doubt. Instructive to Jonah? For sure.  Restorative?  Yes, God got Jonah’s attention, and the fish vomited him upon the beach (Jonah 2:10).

Now the encouraging part.  It is in the second scripture of the day.  Jonah gets a second chance to obey God. Same order – “Arise and go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the message that I tell you”.  This time, Jonah obeys.  He seized the second chance given him by God; a second chance Jonah did not deserve.

Friends, our God is our God of second, third, fourth, fifth and it keeps going chances.  He never gives up on us. Oh, He will chastise us when we are disobedient.  Probably won’t be a trip inside a big fish, but it won’t feel good. He will get our attention for two reasons.  He loves us, and He desires to use us in His world for the gospel of His Son.

The real lesson, however, from Jonah is be obedient the first time. But in those inevitable times of failing, remember God isn’t done with us. There will be more chances from the God of many chances to live out His will in glad obedience.

PRAYER:  Lord, I praise You for not giving up on me after so many times I have failed You.

REFLECTION:  God is not only the God of second chances, but the God of many chances.