The Second Time

When Jonah found himself in peril because he had evaded his mission to Nineveh, he prayed to God “out of the belly of hell,” pleading that he had observed “lying vanities” and “forsaken his own mercy.” The Lord hearkened, and shortly afterwards Jonah found himself upon dry land. In view of his cowardice, the prophet must have wondered whether God had any further use for him. The answer to his thoughts was “The word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time saying, “Arise, go unto Nineveh.”

Other servants of God were granted the means to show that past mistakes really were mistakes. The apostle Peter, who was brought into such gall by his denials, was soon invited to be converted and to strengthen his brethren. John Mark, who forsook Paul and Barnabas and thus broke up their partnership, came to write the first of the Gospel records.

Those men are our comforters. We also have failed, sometimes miserably, to heed the word of God: but none of us need despair. The experiences of Jonah, Peter and Mark, teach us that God is not looking for our failures. When, in our folly, we run away from our responsibilities, He understands our weaknesses, and although sorrows may befall us, He does not forsake us. His work comes to us “the second time”, recalling us to the task we shirked, He says, gently, “Go again!” In refusing the bidding of God, we “forsake our own mercy,” and when we fail in this manner, let us recover ourselves, for He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Look up

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around faith looks up

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2 NASB