When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Jonah 3:10
God responded to the people of Nineveh by relenting from the calamity that was to befall them. Simply put, “He did not do it.” This is not the only place in scripture in which we see God changing His mind and acting accordingly. Consider Moses’ entreaty for the people of Israel after they had built a golden calf:
Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people.”
Exodus 32:11-12
And consider God’s response to Moses’ plea:
So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.
Exodus 32:14
Likewise, we see a bad report being brought to the house of King Hezekiah. Consider the words of the Lord:
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Isaiah 38:1-3
Compare that with God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer:
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’
Isaiah 38:4-6
So we see a loving God responding to the earnest pleas and prayers of His people. So why is that important for us today? The ultimate in God relenting from His judgment is found in the new covenant. Consider the following summary of this wonderful covenant:
But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 8:6
As believers, God has promised to “remember our sins no more” and to “cast them as far as the east is from the west” (Hebrews 8:12, Psalm 103:12). This covenant that God has made with “all who will call on Him” is found in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus has established a better covenant because it is based, not on our adherence to the Law rather His obedience to fulfill the Law and take our place on the cross. That is why the writer of Hebrews tells us that the gospel is enacted on better promises. In Christ, God promises to remember our sins no more. For Christians, condemnation for sin is gone and salvation and spiritual life has come. This is the ultimate in God relenting from His righteous judgment.
God could have judged the people of Israel for their idolatry, but He didn’t. God could have brought about the end to Hezekiah’s life, but He didn’t. God could have left Nineveh to their destruction, but He didn’t. And God could have left us in our sinful state, rightfully judging us for our transgressions, but again, He did not!
Are you enjoying fellowship with God through the new and better covenant enacted on better promises? Call on Him today!
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