Rerouting
August 3, 2024

The God of Second Chances

Main Point: It’s great to get it right the first time, but when we don’t, God doesn’t give up on us.

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 3:1-2

  • God is exceedingly patient and merciful, offering new beginnings and second chances.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9

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 began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. —Jonah 3:3-4

  • We must speak the truth, but it must always be with love as our foundation and motivation.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. —Ephesians 4:15

The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. —Jonah 3:5

  • Never underestimate what God can do or who he can change.

When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” —Jonah 3:6-9

  • The true hope of repentance is in God’s mercy and compassion.

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

  • God honors true repentance even though it’s not what we deserve. That’s grace.

If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. —Jeremiah 18:7-8

Takeaway: God’s expectation is faithfulness, not perfection.

Discussion Questions

  1. How does Jonah’s story in Jonah 3:1-2 illustrate God’s willingness to give second chances? Can you share a time when you experienced a second chance from God?

  2. Reflecting on 2 Peter 3:9, how do you see God’s patience in your own life? What does this patience teach us about God’s character?

  3. How do we balance speaking the truth with love as described in Ephesians 4:15? Can you think of a situation where you had to speak the truth in love, and how did it go?

  4. Reflecting on Jonah 3:6-9, why is it important not to underestimate God’s ability to change hearts and lives? Can you share a story where you saw a significant transformation in someone’s life?

Table Discussion Question: Considering the takeaway that God’s expectation is faithfulness, not perfection, how can we focus on being faithful in our daily lives? What are some practical ways to live out faithfulness?