Evidently the fish didn’t enjoy those three days with Jonah any more than Jonah did, for at the LORD’s word, it “vomited Jonah out upon the dry land” (2:10). I’m sure it was a rather undignified landing, but the prophet has a new lease on life. In chapter 1, he was running from God. In chapter, he was running to God. Now in chapter 3, Jonah will start running with God. The chapter opens with a new commissioning of the prophet. It’s almost like the book is starting all over again. Nineveh is still on God’s heart, and Jonah is going to get his job back! When we fail, we may feel we could never again be useful to God. But Jonah is given another chance. As God’s ambassador, he is not to insert his own views, but to simply deliver the message God tells him. Our witness must also be bound to God’s authoritative Word, even if it means confronting the culture about what the Creator calls sin and evil (v 1-2). Imagine this Jewish prophet standing on foreign soil, speaking out against the sins of their nation in the name of a God they do not know. Who would listen to him? Amazingly, everyone! Jonah marched into the center of town, calling out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And contrary to what he must have expected, Jonah is not mocked or persecuted. Instead, the Ninevites believed God and repented of their sin. At every level of society, people were turning to God. This was a supernatural work of God’s grace, a miracle even greater than surviving three days inside of a fish! (v 3-5). Even the king was convicted by Jonah’s message, trading his royal robe for sackcloth, and stepping down from his lofty throne to sit in the ashes. By royal decree, strict fasting was to be observed by everyone, even the livestock. And all were to be covered in sackcloth. These symbolic actions were intended to express self-humiliation and sacrifice. With humble mourning over sin, the Ninevites accepted the fact that they deserved the punishment that was threatened, and they did not doubt that God had the power to carry it out. The response called for by the king extended beyond outward rituals. He also urged the people to “call out mightily to God” and to turn from their evil and violence. It would not b enough to utter some vague or superficial confession of sin. It had to be accompanied by specific changes of behavior (v 6-8). True repentance doesn’t presume upon grace, but the king was hopeful that God would show mercy. And God did relent of the disaster He had planned (v 9-10). A holy and just God must condemn sinners. But someone “greater than Jonah” died and rose for sinners. Repent and believe, lest you perish. For further meditation: