Fasting in the Bible Day 11: Jonah

Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time, “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh. It was a city so large that it took three days to walk it all. But when Jonah walked for only one day, crying out, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed,” the people believed God’s message. They called a fast and everyone put on sackcloth. And when the king of Nineveh heard about it, he stepped down from his throne and took off his clothes. He dressed himself in sackcloth and sat on a heap of ashes. He and his nobles issued a decree. “No person, and even the animals, may eat or drink anything at all. Everyone, including the animals, must be dressed in sackcloth and pray to God earnestly. They must turn from their evil ways and stop being violent. Who knows? Because of this, God may relent and hold back His fierce anger and we may not be destroyed.” When God saw what they had done and that they had turned from their evil ways, he relented regarding the destruction He had threatened. And He did not do it. Jonah 3

I am sure you have heard about Jonah escaping from the mouth of the “whale”!

This is the whole story from the book of Jonah:

Jonah 1, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and declare His judgment. But Jonah hated Nineveh and thought the people would repent. So he got on a boat at Joppa, going in the other direction, to escape serving the LORD. When God caused a powerful storm to threaten the boat, even though they didn’t want to, the sailors finally threw Jonah overboard to appease Him. The storm stopped at once and the sailors vowed to worship the God of Jonah. Then Jonah was swallowed by a big fish for three days and three nights.

Jonah 2, In the fish Jonah prayed to God to be rescued and the LORD caused it to spit him out onto the beach.

Jonah 3, So then Jonah did obey God and down the streets of Nineveh he declared His judgment to the people of Nineveh. And they believed! They called a fast and everyone, even the king, wore sackcloth and prayed fervently that God would not destroy them. And He did not.

Jonah 4, But Jonah still hated Nineveh and was angry that the people believed. So he camped outside the city to watch what would happen next. God arranged for a plant to shade Jonah and he was grateful. But then when God allowed a worm to eat the plant and a hot wind to scorch him, Jonah said, “Death is better than this!” God asked, “Is it right for you to be angry that just one plant died? So, why shouldn’t I feel sorry for the 120,000 people and animals of Nineveh?”

In the end, Jonah’s faith proved not to be as strong as the non-Jew Assyrians that he hated. Nineveh was east of modern-day Iraq and a long way from Israel. God caused many troubles for disobedient Jonah! But He generously saved the humbled people of Nineveh, because the king and the people responded immediately to the message of God’s destruction for their sins that Jonah preached. The first thing they did was to all fast together and wear sackcloth while sitting on ashes. They then prayed fervently.

Fasting, sackcloth and ashes are an outward sign of humility, mourning and repentance. When this accompanies a sincere change of heart, demonstrated by earnest prayer, God pays attention and answers.

Today, we don’t usually wear sackcloth or a hair shirt like the monks and priests of old, but a modern equivalent might be like the Jewish custom of “sitting shiva” and staying home to mourn and pray. You might decide to fast and deny yourself something you normally eat or do, wear old clothes and not go out all dressed up and spend some uninterrupted time praying and being with the Lord.

What inward struggle in your life might call you to carry out such an outward sign of faith, repentance or mourning?

Schedule a few hours or so to humble yourself before the Lord in some unusually identifiable way. Keep it secret between you and God (Matthew 6: 18).

Pray and listen for His answer. Experience His loving touch.

Merciful God, I know You are a God of love and that You love even me. As I arrange a special time to be with You, I want to hear Your heart and know Your touch in my life. Thank You. Amen.