Has Jonah learned his lesson?

After three days in the sour belly of a fish, Jonah is vomited onto dry land, and God gives him a second chance. God repeats his orders to preach to the people of Nineveh.

This time Jonah obeys, and he begins to preach. But something is puzzling. Something seems wrong. Jonah's short sermon speaks only of judgment. There is no word of hope, no offer of forgiveness, no call for repentance. The same Jonah who has tasted God's grace now has no grace to offer Nineveh.

Still, in spite of Jonah's lack of effort, the entire city repents! Everyone, from the children playing in the streets to the king in the palace, repents of their sin and pleads for God's mercy.

So the Word of God and his compassion shines through. And when he sees Nineveh's sorrow, God recognizes their repentance and spares the city. Our God is a God of grace!

This is great news for us all. When we repent and put our trust in Jesus, God withholds the judgment that is rightfully ours. And this compassion ought to change our attitude toward others so that we show mercy and compassion instead of being quick to judge.