The People of Ninevah Believed God

It has been all the rage for a number of years, in some circles, to proclaim the judgment of God on America, for its gross wickedness. Stricken with fear, a great many Christians are living defensive lives as a result, doing apparently nothing more than attempting to prepare for disaster—which, if it came, would probably be indefensible anyway. In light of what I’ve heard so often in the past thirty years, my eyes popped open at a statement I just read.

I was reading a book that was quoting the Bible, so I thought I’d better go directly to the scriptures and read from the book of Jonah. Sure enough, it was there, too.

What I’m referring to is this: Jonah went to Ninevah at God’s instruction, for the purpose of telling them that God would destroy them in forty days. The people of Ninevah believed God.

Fascinating, don’t you think? Perhaps particularly in light of the number of times that God’s own people didn’t believe Him, it is interesting that a heathen city believed God, when He spoke. But what I want to make sure you see is what they did. Believing God didn’t inspire them to store up food and water, to invent gunpowder, or to shore up their defenses, all of which are variations of the recommended solutions to the pending doom of the United States. It inspired them to urgently seek the Lord. It inspired them to turn from their wicked ways.

So God changed His mind.

Is this not the craziest story? They believed that God would do what He said, so they repented and mourned and urgently asked the Lord to spare them. Because of that, God changed His mind and didn’t do what He said.

If you think that "God’s word is law," perhaps you should think again. The story of Ninevah is just one of many that indicate that God is extremely interested in human interaction—and even argument. He’s willing to be convinced. He’s willing to change His mind. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone. Don’t let yourself get too bogged down with trying to figure out all the minute particulars of God’s will: He’s willing for you to convince Him to spare you and/or someone you care about. Bring out your arguments, bring out your reasons, bring out your passion, and lay it all out before Him.

I’m so guilty of this myself: I get caught up in the way things are—usually bad—and slip over into the assumption that this is how God wants it to be. Uhm, no. This is only how it is until I’ve gotten into God’s face and gotten up close and personal and made it plain that the outcome of this situation matters to me, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than the best He has to give!

We could all stand to learn from the example of a heathen city. Faith can convince God to change His mind.

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