“NINEVEH”

5 “And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them…8 Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands…10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”

Jonah 3:5, 8, 10

While the Bible tells us that God does not listen to those who reject Him, it does not say that unbelievers have no chance of being heard by the Almighty.

In our previous blog, we noted that our God is personally involved in our daily lives. From this point on, we will go over a few passages where God actually responded to unbelievers’ prayers.

The People of Nineveh

In some cases, God hears the prayers of unbelievers, especially when they are prayers of repentance. One good example is the passage in Jonah 3:5-10, where God saw the people of Nineveh's repentance and chose not to destroy their city.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the kingdom that conquered the northern part of Israel. It was notorious for its extreme brutality, arrogance, and crime. Assyrians were known for their war tactics, including skinning their enemies alive, impaling captives, and displaying body parts to terrorize other nations. Nineveh was also heavily involved in pagan practices like idolatry and occult rituals.

Therefore, the Lord threatened to destroy Nineveh if the city did not repent. While God’s judgment was imminent, it was also conditional. Thankfully, the people met the condition by calling for a city-wide prayer of repentance. As a result, God relented and spared the lives of some 120,000 citizens of this significant Assyrian city.

This passage is a great example of God’s mercy toward wicked people who repent of their sins. It gives us hope of a revival, especially in a godless society. It reminds us that God is extremely patient and gives people more opportunities to receive His forgiveness and deliverance.

On a personal level, God listens to those who are heartbroken over their sins. Some places in the world do not allow missionaries and evangelists preach the Gospel, but we hear about conversion stories where God intervenes and reaches out to people in supernatural ways. I am sure that spiritual revivals are taking place in war-stricken countries right now, because human history shows that such events humble people and prompt them to call on a higher power. And when people begin to seek God with all earnestness, they are promised to find Him.

How about you, my friend, have you truly found God?

Pursue the Savior today!

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