Grassroots Repentance

Jonah is finally delivering the Word from the Lord. This great Assyrian city, described as a 3-days’ journey wide, can either laugh at the Jewish prophet of the God they barely recognize, or they can listen. The Assyrian people were unGodly, pagan, and brutal—as history will reveal a few decades later. Why should they care?

Like politics today, there is a separation between the people and the legislators. In our American experience, the delegated representatives are regularly upper class and unfamiliar with persecution or prejudice, though that is thankfully changing. How much more of a separation was there between the people of Nineveh and their king? In those days, kings often assigned themselves divine attributes. Why would a god-king worry about what the Jews’ God said of him?

If the message had been delivered first to the king, who knows how this would have unfolded? Perhaps Jonah would have been executed in the secrecy of the palace. Yet, the people heard and responded. This impending doom mattered to the people. Word had spread for centuries that Isreal’s God was powerful, and their own history rang familiar with Jonah’s warnings.

While the ancient Hebrews wandered the desert, the Moabite king, Balak, tried getting Balaam to curse the Israelites.

In the earliest days of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, Rahab admitted

The book of Judges is riddled with pagan acknowledgments of God’s superiority, especially in Gideon’s story. Even David declares the Lord’s fame in his epic battle with Goliath.

In a pagan world where gods were presumed to live and die, many cultures knew of God, but each generation thought of themselves as bigger than God. So, as Jonah declares Nineveh’s coming destruction, the people have no choice but to believe.

A king of the people

Once word reached the king, enough of the population had already submitted. What else was there for a king to do? He puts on his sackcloth, he declares a fast nationwide, and he hopes that the God of Israel will turn His fury away.

That’s precisely what happens. The king’s example set the course for salvation for the entire city.

The city deserved destruction.

The Israelites deserved justice against the Assyrians.

God deserved praise.

Yet, He spared the crooked people as the leader, and those who started the movement turned their hearts back toward Him.

A message for our time

As a leader in your workplace, whether directly or spiritually, the ball is in your court to speak honestly to the people. In your organization, who will stand up in humility and lead others toward salvation? I pray it is you.

If you are an employee, know there is power in a movement. Just as we’ve seen in our modern times (for good and bad reasons), power still resides with the people. Use it to stand up for truth, love, and God.

If you are a boss or manager, set the tone. Your example ripples to those who follow you. Leaders are last in humility but first in action. Lead them towards truth, respect, and faith.

God watches what we all do. If we lead those around us visibly and significantly toward God, perhaps He will take mercy upon the pagans and sinners again. He is unchanging, so it’s a safe bet.

Prayer

“Father, You hold all of creation in Your hand. You own it all, especially me. Help me to repent of my errant ways and turn towards you. Help me to be the example You need in my workplace. Show me how to show who You are to those who are ignorant, indifferent, or indignant towards You. For You, and You above all. Amen.”