Lessons from Nineveh

I always have a full heart when observing God working in the hearts of people who seek him. I once led a few young women in discipleship and I knew God had orchestrated it all. In God’s perfect timing, the relationships we shared and the growth we experienced were nothing we could have formed on our own.

Over time, I grew discouraged as one of my friends decided to pursue her desires over the Lord. She received Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized in front of the church. We studied God’s Word together and prayed for each other. And now, she decided to walk away from her faith completely. I was discouraged, but never lost hope; the Holy Spirit dwells in her and she could never be too far gone. But was all of her spiritual growth wasted? 

Scripture doesn’t say much about the people of Nineveh, but from what I learned, I see a similar pattern in their story. They went through revival, only to end up backsliding into their old ways.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. God sent the prophet Jonah to this city for their salvation. Jonah knew they were evil and resisted, but ultimately made it to Nineveh. When he prophesied over them, all of Nineveh fervently turned their hearts towards God, including their rulers. Every. Single. Person. God even relented from punishing them because of their heart change.

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3:10, NIV).

We learn from Jonah’s experience that nobody is superior to God and we are all worthy of salvation. And we can expect greater because God’s ways are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Nahum 3 is the only other time we hear about Nineveh. This time, they fell back into their evil, despite having turned their hearts to God. They chose their ways over His ways, and because of their disobedience, the city would face destruction and the Ninevites would flee.

God is a just God who will allow punishment for sin. They put their trust in the city, their people, and their possessions, and it all went up in flames; it was all meaningless without God being first.

Was Jonah’s work meaningless if Nineveh fell back to their sin? Not at all. Jonah’s eventual obedience led Nineveh to God; they had a choice to follow God and willingly did. They turned towards God, but ultimately chose disobedience, yet the seed was still planted. 

We see God’s justice in this situation. We see the incredible impact one act of faith has on others, such as stepping out in obedience. We also see the unfortunate effects of sin. And we can be confident that, even though we all fall short of God’s glory, we all are redeemed (Romans 3:23, Romans 5). We have a choice. We can be like the prodigal son coming home, or we can be like the Ninevites and fall to our own pleasures. I realize that it’s not just my friend who could have been Nineveh; I am too. How many times do I choose my prideful ways instead of following what the Lord asks of me?

Start each day with a prayer of surrender. Don’t let temptation or sin have any say in your story. God wants to guide you today. He wants your heart and he wants to be your priority. Disobedience leads to destruction. Obedience leads to greater blessings.

I am encouraged. My friend’s spiritual growth is not wasted. There is always hope for her to return to her faith. God is just and he is loving. My choice for today is to obey the Lord and trust him with the outcome. No matter how things go, nothing is wasted in the hands of God.

Reflection: Where do you find yourself today? Do you feel more spiritually vibrant or like you have fallen back into sin?

Think about a time God’s justice prevailed in your life. What is a result of obedience or disobedience?

What do you need to surrender to the Lord today? Use this prayer of surrender: Lord, I give you full control. Today I surrender ____ to You. I let go of control and receive your direction. I receive your grace. Help me to obey You in all circumstances. Give me the strength to overcome temptation and conviction to go where You lead me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.