Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. (Jonah 3:1-3 NIV)
The story of Jonah is familiar to most of us. God called him to go and preach to the city of Nineveh. But Jonah did not want to go. Instead, he went in the opposite direction and ended up in the belly of a great fish for three days. But God was not through with Jonah. He had the fish vomit Jonah out onto dry land. And then the Lord again told him to go to Nineveh and preach to them.
God gave Jonah a second chance. It was not because God had no other options, no one else who was qualified to preach to Nineveh. God could have used a donkey to preach to them if he had wanted to (Num. 22:30). But he stuck with Jonah. He had something to teach Jonah and those who would read his story. God cares about all people, even those we consider unworthy of his love.
How often have I been on that ship to Tarshish with Jonah, heading in the opposite direction from where God wanted me to go? And how often have I spent time with him in the belly of a great fish as God worked on my attitude? More times than I care to admit. But I am so thankful that he does not give up on me. He gives me a second, third, and fourth chance to obey him. Not because he needs me. But so that I can know the growth and joy that comes from obedience.
