Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them.
Repentance is not the same as conversion. Repentance is a prerequisite and a first step toward conversion, but conversion requires more. The people repented because they wanted the famine to end. They had enough faith to believe that God would stop the famine if they would stop their iniquities. They changed their actions, but they did not truly change their hearts. As we read on, we quickly see that it would not be long before they return to their old ways. As soon as the Lord lets up on them, they lose their humility and return to their former sins. When we change just to stop bad things from happening, we leave ourselves in a precarious position. We must go forward from our good start and deepen our conversion. True, lasting change must be more than skin deep. It is a gift, for which we need to work and pray. God will change our hearts if we sincerely desire it.
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