Rerouted: 30 Days Through the Book of JonahSample

When We Repent, God Will Relent

Lisa Alvin-Meyer

Jonah 3:10

A.W. Tozer once said, “God’s justice and God’s mercy do not quarrel with each other.” At first glance, justice and mercy might seem at odds — fairness versus grace. But in God’s character, these qualities coexist in perfect harmony. While He punishes sin justly, He also shows mercy to repentant sinners, upholding righteousness while extending compassion.

In Jonah 3, we see this balance on display. Jonah proclaimed God’s judgment to Nineveh: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). The city, known for its wickedness, responded by believing God, fasting and turning from evil (Jonah 3:5-9). Because their repentance was genuine, God relented from the destruction He had threatened (Jonah 3:10).

The Hebrew word for "God" in this passage is Elohim, meaning “strong One,” emphasizing His sovereignty. When Jonah 3:10 says God "relented," it doesn’t mean He changed His sovereign nature. Scripture is clear that God’s character is unchanging (1 Samuel 15:29; Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Rather, His response was consistent with His mercy. He sent Jonah not to condemn but to call Nineveh to repentance, desiring to extend His grace (Exodus 34:6-7; Joel 2:13; Jeremiah 18:7-8).

Yes, God is perfectly just, and because of this, He deals justly with sin. Our Lord also sovereignly chooses to bestow His grace and mercy on us even when we don't deserve it — and all the more so when He discerns a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). He longs for all people to repent (Luke 15:7), offering forgiveness to those who turn to Him (Psalm 51:17). So great is His desire that He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, for us (1 John 2:1-2). In Christ, God’s justice and mercy meet — sin is judged, and sinners are forgiven.

Like Nineveh, we’ve all sinned and deserve judgment. But when we trust in Jesus, we experience the fullness of God’s mercy and love. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Today, let’s lift up our praise to our compassionate Savior. May we never stop rejoicing in His promise that when we repent, God will relent!