It remains a mystery how the people of Nineveh would believe in God at the preaching of Jonah. Like many other books of the Bible, such as Genesis, the book of Jonah simply tells us what has happened but did not explain how it happened. Genesis tells us that God created heaven and earth but does not tell us how God did it. Similarly, the book of Jonah simply tells us that the people of Nineveh believed in the preaching of Jonah but does not tell us what made them believe. There was nothing to back up the preaching of Jonah, no signs, no miracles, nor any eloquence on the part of Jonah.
Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he cried, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them (Jonah 3:4-5).
So, it just happened and there is no hope to find out how.
Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he cried, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them (Jonah 3:4-5).
So, it just happened and there is no hope to find out how.
When the Jews demanded a miracle from Jesus to back up his claims, obviously Jesus was annoyed. He quoted the story of Jonah.
The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here (Matthew 12:41, Luke 11:32).
The men of Nineveh believed without witnessing any miracles from Jonah. Therefore, they will arise and condemn the contemporary of Jesus because they (the men of Nineveh) had not demanded miracles in order to believe.
The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here (Matthew 12:41, Luke 11:32).
The men of Nineveh believed without witnessing any miracles from Jonah. Therefore, they will arise and condemn the contemporary of Jesus because they (the men of Nineveh) had not demanded miracles in order to believe.
What do we learn from them?
Firstly, God wants all to be saved. Therefore modern evangelists should not lose heart even if they anticipate great obstacles ahead of their preaching. It was God who initiated the chain of events leading to the repentance of the people of Nineveh. They were wicked yet they were not irredeemable in God's eyes. That was why God sent Jonah to preach to the people in Nineveh in the first place. Had God wanted to destroy Nineveh, He would not have sent Jonah.
After lesson this evening, we took the shuttle bus as usual. Today, we had a guest of honour ---- Cardinal Zen who sat next to me. He had a very busy schedule after retirement. In fact, he would fly to Rome to attend the canonization celebration of the Mother Foundress of the Little Sister of the Poor, Blessed Jeanne Jugan. The Cardinal was very amiable and chatted with me. Our topic shifted to the Church in China. Though we have met many difficulties and obstacles in trying to give assistance to the Church in China, Cardinal Zen remained optimistic. Even though he was denied entry into China, he thanked many unsung heroes for bringing assistance back. He was not easily discouraged.
Secondly, God works in His own way. He does not need to work miracles in order to get things done. He instructed Jonah simply to proclaim the message He told him.
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you (Jonah 3:2)
Why then do we always want God to work miracles to entertain us, like the Pharisees?
Lastly, nothing is die-cast. Even God would change His mind.
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it(Jonah 3:10).
Firstly, God wants all to be saved. Therefore modern evangelists should not lose heart even if they anticipate great obstacles ahead of their preaching. It was God who initiated the chain of events leading to the repentance of the people of Nineveh. They were wicked yet they were not irredeemable in God's eyes. That was why God sent Jonah to preach to the people in Nineveh in the first place. Had God wanted to destroy Nineveh, He would not have sent Jonah.
After lesson this evening, we took the shuttle bus as usual. Today, we had a guest of honour ---- Cardinal Zen who sat next to me. He had a very busy schedule after retirement. In fact, he would fly to Rome to attend the canonization celebration of the Mother Foundress of the Little Sister of the Poor, Blessed Jeanne Jugan. The Cardinal was very amiable and chatted with me. Our topic shifted to the Church in China. Though we have met many difficulties and obstacles in trying to give assistance to the Church in China, Cardinal Zen remained optimistic. Even though he was denied entry into China, he thanked many unsung heroes for bringing assistance back. He was not easily discouraged.
Secondly, God works in His own way. He does not need to work miracles in order to get things done. He instructed Jonah simply to proclaim the message He told him.
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you (Jonah 3:2)
Why then do we always want God to work miracles to entertain us, like the Pharisees?
Lastly, nothing is die-cast. Even God would change His mind.
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it(Jonah 3:10).
Dear Lord, Your plan is for life, not for death. You are merciful and do not want to see sinners perish. I pray for myself, my children and my students that we may partake in Your eternal life. Amen.
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