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A Second Time

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. Jonah 3:1

Jonah didn't like the assignment God gave him. God directed him to leave his homeland and go to the enemy city Ninevah. It was a hostile and evil center of idol worship. There Jonah was supposed to warn the people of God's impending judgment and urge them to repent. The Hebrews hated the people of Ninevah, so the rebellious prophet fled in the opposite direction. He was hoping for a different word from God that was more to his liking. Instead, God was determined that His word be obeyed by Jonah.

(Isa 55:11) so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

He spoke to Jonah again, and His second message was the same as the first. However, during that time span between the two messages, Jonah had been buffeted by storms and traveled three days in the belly of a large fish for three days. This time he was prepared to hear God again and to do what he was told to do. God also spoke to the prophet Jeremiah two times

(Jer 33:1-3). While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

But Jeremiah accepted God's word to him the first time. The second time God spoke to him, was to give him a fuller revelation of what He had first told him.

What God says to us next will depend on how we responded to His previous word to us.

If, like Jonah, we disobeyed His earlier instructions, God will give them a second time. If we obeyed His first directive, as Jeremiah did, He will give us a fresh and deeper expression of His will.

(Matt 25:23) "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

If you have not received a fresh word from God, return to the last thing God told you and examine for your obedience. Is the Lord still waiting for your obedience? Seek to be like Jeremiah, and properly respond to your Lord's instructions the first time!

I don't know about you, but I can look back over my life and see when I had to go into the "belly" of an experience so I would listen to God the second time! Oh, I pray to be obedient so that won't be necessary!

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