(a) For the second time, God directed Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim God's punishment for their wickedness. He went and declared to them that they had only forty days and Nineveh would be overthrown for their wickedness had come before God. The people believed him and proclaimed a fast. They put on sack cloth and sent words to the king. The king also put on sack cloth and sat in ashes. He declared fasting for both men and beasts for the people to cry to God for forgiveness and abandon their evil ways so as to make God repent and not bring destruction to the people

(b) Lessons which can be learnt from the above are:
(i) God saw the genuineness of their repentance and forgave them.
(ii) God's providence is universal, even non Israelites who turn to Him in repentance would receive God's mercy and forgiveness.
(iii) It is futile to disobey God as it may lead to severe punishment or eternal death.
(iv) Fasting and prayer may make God to forgive men of their sin.