Our God Is Unchanging
Opening Prayer
God, you are so much more worthy of any amount of praise that we could ever give. Because of who you are, how you made your creation, and how you made us, Lord, all of this speaks to your glory. We join in with creation in proclaiming your greatness, declaring your praise, of which you are more than worthy. Be glorified, Lord. Receive our worship with gladness. Thank you for inviting us into a relationship with you. A relationship that could only be done through the work of your Son, your perfect Son, who lived as one of us, died in our place, and was raised, and is now seated at your right hand, interceding for us. Lord, you are so good. We thank you for the change to nature that you have blessed us with through the redemption afforded to us by your Son. And now, Lord, as we turn our attention to your Word, the words which you inspired, help us. We need your help because we can only rightly understand your Word through the power of your Spirit who dwells within us. So, Spirit, we ask for your help today. We ask for your emboldening work upon Pastor Steve as he brings forth the message. Help us to hear and to apply what you would have for us this morning. Thank you for this time. Be glorified in it. Continue to speak to us. Continue to be glorified in this time. We love you. It is in the name of the Son, Jesus, that we pray. Amen. Amen.
Pastor’s Key Points in the Sermon
God is unchanging in the midst of our rebellion.
God gives Jonah a second call: “The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time…”
Same prophet, same mission, same target—“He didn’t change the target… He just gave him another swing at it.”
God still intends to reach Nineveh and still uses Jonah, despite his previous attempt to flee 2,500+ miles in the opposite direction.
Application: We often act like Jonah—pushing conviction aside, delaying obedience, trying to outrun God’s purposes—yet God’s mission and will do not change.
God is unchanging in the midst of our repentance.
The people of Nineveh “believed God” and responded with fasting and sackcloth from the greatest to the least.
The king himself leaves his throne, humbles himself, and calls the whole city to cry out to God and turn from evil.
He recognizes they still deserve judgment: “Who knows? God may turn and relent…”
God relents of disaster, not because He changed His nature, but because His unchanging nature includes mercy for the repentant (Jeremiah 18:7–10).
Later, when Nineveh rejects God again, He does not relent of judgment (Nahum 1:14–15). God’s response is always consistent with His character and their response.
All Key Bible Verses Used
Primary text read and expounded:
Jonah 3:1–10 – Jonah’s second call, his preaching in Nineveh, Nineveh’s repentance, and God relenting of disaster.
Referenced passages:
Jonah 4:2 – Jonah’s complaint: God is “a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”
Exodus 34:6–7 – The LORD’s self-description: “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” (quoted as the source Jonah is citing).
Exodus 32:11–14 – Moses intercedes after the golden calf; God relents from destroying Israel.
Jeremiah 18:7–10 – If a nation repents, God relents of disaster; if it turns to evil, He relents of the good intended.
Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind…”
1 Samuel 15:29 – God does not lie or change His mind (referenced to show God’s unchanging nature).
Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Mark 1:15 – “Repent and believe in the gospel.” (referenced as Jesus’ call to us.)
Nahum 1:14–15 – Prophecy of Nineveh’s final destruction and comfort for Judah: their wicked oppressors will be completely destroyed.
Ending Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you. Thank you for your word. Thank you for this book of Jonah that we've been able to study through. Thank you for the message of repentance, of mercy, and that we can know that you are unchanging. You are who you say you are. You're powerful, you're loving, you're merciful, you're just. God, in this time of communion, will we reflect on the sacrifice of your son, of what you've done for us on the cross? Will we turn our lives to you in repentance? For the first time, we'll repent of sins that have come up in our lives. We know you are faithful to forgive. I'll be with us this morning in your holy name, amen.