Who can tell?

Jonah 3:9

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

An amazing thing happened in the days of Jonah. After that the Lord had spoken to the fish to spit Jonah onto the dry land, the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. Although Jonah had run from Him the first time, the Lord in his mercy and grace spoke to him again! And the Lord is ever merciful. The very reason that Jonah did not want to preach to Nineveh, and the very reason he would be angry, would be the same thing that saved him from death—the mercy and second chance that God would give! He gave Jonah a second chance and He gave Nineveh a second chance. Here, we see that He tells Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh the preaching that I bid thee. He did not have to give him the message again. Jonah already had it, and now only had to relay it to the people. “Yet forty days,” he proclaimed, “and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” This is a simple, yet forceful message. It is indubitable and stern. No one would have a second thought as to its meaning. And the amazing thing that happened was that all of Nineveh repented. From the king to the servant in the dungeon they all put on sackcloth, from the least to the greatest. The king caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh that everyone was to fast and cry mightily unto God.

Now why did they do this? Did they actually think they could get God’s attention? Did they actually think that God would change His mind and save a dissolute and debauched city that had descended into the deepest degradation? They said, “Who can tell if God will turn and repent?” Who can tell? Why not try? You never know if God will show abundant mercy! This was their hope and their stay. Maybe—just maybe God will change His mind if we change our ways. And the Word of God tells us that God saw their works, and repented of the evil that He had said that He would do unto them. He saw the change of heart and the change of mind and the change of action. True change affects action. A change of heart will effect a change in lifestyle and in doings. Therefore, the external deeds are an evidence of the internal change. And God saw the deeds, and spared the city.

And now, let me ask you this morning: who can tell? Who can tell if God will show mercy on the one who has wandered and seemingly apostatized? Who can tell if He will spare from utter destruction the young man or young woman who seems to live in ignorance of God and His ways? The husband, the wife, the relative, the one who has lived in sin for many a decade—cannot God save them? Yes, He can save them! But they might need a stark and stern message to alert them to the need of their soul and the end to which they are heading. God can do this, and He can send us to speak the message. How about a nation? Cannot God spare our beloved and great nation? Cannot He send you or me to give forth a message of truth and soberness to a people bent on iniquity? Yes, He can! Who can tell? Don’t stop praying! Don’t stop speaking! Don’t stop living as a godly man or woman should live, warning a people that they must turn to the Lord. Who can tell what God will do in these days? But it doesn’t start with the evil and the wicked, it will start with the people of God obeying the Word of God, and faithfully speaking the truth of God. Pray even now! Speak and work even now! Who can tell?

“Father, we thank you for the consolation we find this morning that when a person or a people or a place seems beyond repair and without hope, you delight to give a second chance. None of us can tell the length, breadth, and height of your great mercy. You are a God that delighteth in mercy. May we seek your face for our loved ones and for our nation, and speak as Jonah did in your name. For who can tell what God will do? And we shall praise you for all things that you will do. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”