The Lord has won over Jonah’s obedience. God says, “Go,” and he goes. He had probably learned by this point that there was no choice. He was either going to suffer God’s tribulation to turn him to repentance and obedience, or he would suffer God’s wrath. You want the tribulation, not the wrath. Well, you don’t want the tribulation. You want the obedience without needing the tribulation.

Jonah has only one sentence he needs to proclaim. He tells people that in forty days their city will be overthrown. It won’t be. God will relent. The message wasn’t that if you repent, God will relent. It was just that this is God’s plan for your city.

God does change His plans.

God’s purposes will never change. His will, which is His heart’s desire, does not change. His plans do change. Moses prays and the plan changes.

The people humble themselves. Even the animals are humbled. They not only go on a complete fast including not drinking water, but they cry out “mightily” to God. They believe in God. They believe His word. They call on Him for rescue.

There’s one more thing they do. They make the choice to repent, to change their ways.

It turns out they only needed one sentence. They knew they were evil and violent. That had been their choice. They knew it was wrong. No one had to point out what was wrong, though it seems like the Holy Spirit would be at work at such a mass repentance.

The threat of punishment, of God’s wrath, was enough for them to stop. It would seem that fire and brimstone preaching has a place. They feared God.

Psalm 130:4 says, “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”

The fact that He offers forgiveness is a reason to fear God. He’s not some evil tyrant who will just punish anyone and everyone, so what’s the point of pleasing him. He offers forgiveness to those who turn to His ways. There’s a reason to listen. There’s a reason to run to Him. The right fear of God sends us running to God, not away.

May your nation recognize its sin and repent and avoid any planned disaster.