A
Second Time
Then
the word of the Lord came to Jonah
a second time:—Jonah
3:1
Jonah didn't like the assignment God gave him. God directed him to leave his
homeland and go to the enemy city of Nineveh, a hostile and evil center of idol
worship. There Jonah was to warn the people of God's impending judgment and urge
them to repent. The Hebrews hated the people of Nineveh, so the rebellious
prophet fled in the opposite direction, hoping for a different word from God
that was more to his liking. Instead, God was determined that his word to Jonah
would be obeyed (Isa. 55:11). He
spoke to Jonah again. His second message was the same as the first. However,
during the interval, Jonah had been buffeted by storms and had traveled in the
stomach of a fish for three days. This time, he was prepared to hear God again
and do His bidding.
God also spoke to the prophet Jeremiah two times (Jer. 33:1–3).
But Jeremiah accepted God's word to him the first time. The second time God
spoke to him was to give him a fuller revelation of what He had first told
him.
What God says to us next will depend on how we responded to His previous word
to us. If, like Jonah, we disobeyed His earlier instructions, God will give them
a second time. If we obeyed His first directive, as Jeremiah did, He will give
us a fresh and deeper expression of His will (Matt. 25:23).
If you have not received a fresh word from God, return to the last thing God
told you and examine your obedience. Is the Lord still waiting for your
obedience? Seek to be like Jeremiah, and properly respond to your Lord's
instructions the first time. —Experiencing God Day by Day
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