Jonah 3

If the first two chapters of Jonah are a detour, chapter three details God's original purpose for Ninevah - a message of judgment and an opportunity for repentance.

First, notice the use of numbers in Jonah. Three days comes up continually. Forty days is also a Biblical time frame: Noah (Genesis 7-8 - although the flood lasted 150 days total), Moses (Exodus 24), and Jesus' tempation in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Mark 1.12, Luke 4), to name a few. Lent lasts forty days and begins with the same sign of ashes. 40 days is a time for meditation, reflection and intentional repentance.

How many days would it take you to walk across Forest or Lynchburg? while talking?

Also, notice the interaction of the people with their livestock. It is not enough to repent on their own; their animals, the people's possessions and livelihoods, are part of the problem and the solution. Our lives are not neatly divided into our stuff and God's stuff; we cannot spiritually repent and continue to live as we have. And God loves creation, including animals.

Next week: people and much cattle.