Faith and repentance are always found together when a person studies the teachings of the Old Testament. Faith precedes and is the basis for repentance. Many ask how can that be? No one repents of his sins until he has heard the gospel concerning God's judgment against sin, and his offer of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. If he believes this, it becomes the basis or the motivation for genuine repentance. Faith is the visible evidence of the invisible. It is full of expectation. It is the faith of man that diligently seeks God. The term for repentance in the Old Testament means "to turn," that is to turn from walking in one direction and to begin walking in an opposite direction. In this case it would be from the world toward God. In the book of Jonah and the book of Psalms, evidence of the statutes of faith and repentance are found repeatedly.
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me." (Jonah 1.2) This is what God has told to Jonah who in turn chooses to disobey with this calling and repose in the opposite direction. It is apparent from the beginning of the story that Jonah did not want the Ninevites to experience God's salvation. "Is not this what I said when I was yet in my own country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil." (Jonah 4.2) In this quote not only does Jonah reveal his feelings toward the Ninevites, but he also reveals to us his knowledge of God's gospel.
Chapters 1 and 2 of the book of Jonah exposes the prophet's attempt to follow through in his disobedience by avoi ...