How did Jehovah use his prophets to teach his people the importance of repentance? (See also picture.)Jehovah often used his prophets to warn and correct his people. For example, God said through Jeremiah: “Return, O renegade Israel . . . I will not look down angrily on you, for I am loyal . . . I will not stay resentful forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, for you have rebelled against Jehovah.” (Jer. 3:12, 13) By means of Joel, Jehovah said: “Return to me with all your hearts.” (Joel 2:12, 13) He had Isaiah declare: “Make yourselves clean; remove your evil deeds from my sight; stop doing bad.” (Isa. 1:16-19) And by means of Ezekiel, Jehovah asked: “Do I take any pleasure at all in the death of a wicked person? . . . Do I not prefer that he turn away from his ways and keep living? I do not take any pleasure in the death of anyone, . . . so turn back and live.” (Ezek. 18:23, 32) Jehovah takes delight in seeing people repent because he wants them to keep living​—forever! So Jehovah does not just wait passively for sinful people to change before he offers them help. Let us see some other examples of this.

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Jehovah used his prophets to emphasize the importance of repentance by calling his people to return to him and turn away from their sins. Through Jeremiah, he offered reassurance of his loyalty and a path to forgiveness (Jer. 3:12-13). Joel urged a heartfelt return to God (Joel 2:12-13), while Isaiah encouraged purification from wrongdoing (Isa. 1:16-19). Additionally, Ezekiel highlighted God's desire for people to live, illustrating that he takes no pleasure in their destruction but rather wishes for their repentance and life (Ezek. 18:23, 32). These messages show Jehovah's persistent loving invitation for his people to change and seek a relationship with him.

Shorter

Jehovah used his prophets to stress repentance by inviting his people to return to him and turn from their sins. Jeremiah reassured them of his loyalty (Jer. 3:12-13), Joel called for heartfelt repentance (Joel 2:12-13), Isaiah urged them to stop wrongdoing (Isa. 1:16-19), and Ezekiel emphasized God's desire for them to live, not to perish (Ezek. 18:23, 32). These messages show God's loving invitation for change and restoration.

Shorterr

Jehovah used his prophets to stress repentance by inviting people to return to him. Jeremiah conveyed God’s loyalty (Jer. 3:12-13), Joel urged heartfelt return (Joel 2:12-13), Isaiah called for purging of sins (Isa. 1:16-19), and Ezekiel highlighted God's desire for them to live (Ezek. 18:23, 32). These messages reflect God's loving invitation for change.