After his graduation from Whale University, “Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” Jonah 3:3–4
What happened next is surprising, and just as surprising is the way the events are described, beginning with, “The Ninevites believed God.”
Now, wait a minute. Believed God? God wasn’t physically present, was He? The words were spoken by Jonah directly, and not from Heaven, as in a miraculous audible display. Still, they “believed God,” the text says, and not “believed Jonah,” as we might expect.
What shall we make of this? What does it imply? Very simply, and primarily, to hear God’s Word, or to read it, is to hear the very voice of God Himself. We need not expect a Theophany, nor even an angel, and certainly not an audible voice. God’s message is sufficient.
God’s Word is sufficient for our encouragement, enlightenment, and comfort. God’s Word is sufficient for our repentance when change is needed, and power to change. God’s Word is sufficient for guidance, for moral and ethical choices.
For the Ninevites, God’s Word was sufficient.
Do we believe God?
“All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17