“The People Of Nineveh Believed God” -- 2/19/25

 

When Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh, he began preaching “the preaching I bid thee” (Jonah 3:2). What struck me was the transformative power of God’s word. After Jonah had preached for a day (v. 4), the Bible says that the people “believed God” (v. 5)! It is not that they believed Jonah, but believed God and then the people changed. We see a similar response by the people of Sychar when they met Jesus and heard Him preach. They told the woman who first spoke to Jesus, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (Jn. 4:41-42).

 

While preaching God’s word demands a person to speak the truth, the power of the gospel is not in the men speaking. I think we forget this fact at times. Men tend to think that if we get the “right” speaker with the “right voice” who can charm the people, the world will beat a path to our door. Friend, we must remember that the power to convert people is not in man. The power is in the word (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 1:18-21)! This fact is made clear in Jonah 3. Remember, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh and preach. He was satisfied to let these people die in their sins! More will be seen in Jonah 4, but it is evident that Jonah knew of God’s patience, love, and forgiveness and did not want the Ninevites to experience that (Jonah 4:1-2)! Yet, they experienced it when Jonah faithfully preached the word (Jonah 3:6-10). When Jonah preached God’s word, the people “believed God”!

 

It is no different today. The power to convert and save is found in the word! It is not in man’s words. We see this emphasized by the apostle Paul when he told the Corinthians, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (I Cor. 2:2-5). This reiterates the power of God’s word, providing reassurance and confidence in our faith.

 

Friends, what are we listening to? Do we demand sound doctrine be preached (Titus 2:1, 7-8), or are we fascinated by the “enticing words” of men? These “enticing words” appeal to our desires rather than our need for repentance. Look around and observe others closely. While most would deny they want the “enticing words” or, as was said in Romans 16:17, “good words and fair speeches,” their actions say something different. Remember, behavior is a language, just as our speech is a language! What are you declaring in your actions?

 

Looking back at the Ninevites, we see their behavior reflected that they believed God. It is seen in the repentance of the city (Jonah 3:6-10). What are you declaring in your actions? Do you declare to the world that you believe God?

– Jarrod M. Jacobs