God had been very merciful to the Prophet Jonah by sparing his life but also by giving Jonah another chance to fulfill the mission of God. It is clear that Jonah did not deserve to get a 2nd chance but God graciously extended another opportunity for Jonah to be an instrument of mercy for the city of Nineveh, with the mercy he himself had received. Jonah ran from God and experienced divine discipline through a great storm & a great fish which God appointed. He spent three days and nights in the belly of that great fish and “then he prayed” and cried out to God. The Lord spoke to that fish and it vomited Jonah out on dry land. “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…” (Jonah 3:1 ESV).

Notice that God used a man who was significantly flawed and underserving to accomplish His mission. God used his life to bring one of the greatest revivals ever recorded. God granted him a 2nd chance and entrusted Jonah with His message to speak to the Ninevites. Jonah had been humbled by the merciful discipline of God and expressed gratitude to God for sparing his life. God is the God of the second chance. Throughout the Bible there are instances of God granting mercy and grace to his servants who had failed to obey Him perfectly. Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul … God’s ability to redeem & restore is greater than our ability to mess things up. Rest in God’s grace that He grants you and respond in obedience to His will by His grace.