A Second Time

Jonah probably wondered whether God would ever use him again. And of course, the Lord wasn’t obligated to do so. But God loved Jonah. And God gives second chances.

In Jonah 3 we read, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you’” (Jonah 3:1–2 NKJV).

God also gave Adam and Eve, our first parents, a second chance. They were strictly warned to not eat of the forbidden fruit. But they did. As a result, sin entered into the world.

God could have said, “That’s it. I’m starting over again.”

Yet what do we find in chapter 3 of Genesis? We read, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. . . . Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (verses 8–9 NKJV).

God was still longing for fellowship with His wayward son.

Also, God gave King David a second chance after David committed adultery and murder (which he did to cover up his adultery). When the prophet Nathan confronted him, he repented. And God gave him a second chance.

Samson had so much going for him. He committed incredible feats of strength like a superhero. But he fell into sin and got involved in all kinds of immorality. Ultimately, his enemies captured him and gouged out his eyes. But then the Bible gives us this detail about Samson in Judges 16:22: “But before long, his hair began to grow back” (NLT). God gave him a second chance.

This should give hope to anyone who feels like they need a second chance in life. God gives second chances.