Jonah 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Jonah 3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Great care has to be exercised whenever a pardon is offered up front, because, the recipients in so many cases may view it as a sort of loophole, so that they will plan to sin, and then utter all the right words so that they could obtain pardon. It is worthy of note that God did not offer pardon up front to Adam and Eve before they sinned, He offers it only after they have sinned, and thus, His word to them was, if you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will certainly die.
In fact, pardon was a last resort, for if it was offered up front, there would be no deterrent to sin. Persons who preach that God’s law has been nailed to the cross, and that it is no longer binding upon persons, because of the blood of Jesus, are offering pardon up front, and thus, the flood gates of sin are opened…. Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!