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NASB | Romans 1:18 ¶ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:18 ¶ For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, |
Subject: Ninevah did. |
Bible Note: Option B, with the exclusion of God "duping" Jonah. It was Jonah's prophecy (decreed by God) which was heard by Ninevah (decreed by God) that caused the city to repent (decreed by God). Any other option indicates that God was "taken by surprise" at Ninevah's repentance. Is God omniscient or not? From the human perspective, Ninevah was doomed. They repented, and God spared them. That is consistent with what we God said to Solomon: "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." --2 Chronicles 7:14 All those who repent will be spared God's wrath. The question remains, however: to whom will God grant repentance? He did in the case of Ninevah. He didn't in the case of Noah's fellow humans. He didn't in the case of Judah. Although the call to repentance was given... "If you will return, O Israel," declares the LORD, "Then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, And will not waver, And you will swear, 'As the LORD lives,' In truth, in justice and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory." --Jeremiah 3:1-2 ...it was acknowledged to Jeremiah that God's unchangeable purpose was to give them over to captivity: "You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you." --Jeremiah 7:27 He also goes so far to tell Jeremiah not even to pray for them (Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, 14:11), because God has purposed in his heart to destroy the land. Repentance was called for, but would not be granted. Therefore, Ninevah was granted repentance, and Jonah's message was the external means by which God brought it about. --Joe! |