And if swallowed, revive him? When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah fled as far as he could from God. He gave this wayward prophet a second chance to fulfill the commission that was given. No one is merely an individual;we are also members of the Body, members of the community, whether we want to admit it or not. He was not helping to lighten the ship or praying for deliverance: a total slacker. In Jonahs responses, he encountered non-Jews: the sailors and the captain and the Ninevites and their king. Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that Jesus mentioned by name during His earthly ministry (Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah were the others). 8Then they said to him, Tell us, now! His remembering is not that He forgets but that he gives heed to something. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. That was Jonah. b. Nineveh is the capital of Syria, the mortal enemy of Israel. One of our greatest Christian authors, Charles Reade, known for his book, The Cloister and the Hearth, has called Jonah, "The most beautiful story ever written in so small a compass.". It is a story of repentance. Judges 7:13,14 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along, Isaiah 41:6,7 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage, Joshua 7:14-18 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man, Judges 20:9,10 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; , 1 Samuel 10:20,21 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken, Joshua 7:10,13 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Too many wander around in a kind of delirium, a moral sleep, talking about their rights and insisting that what they do is nobody elses business. Yet all the while the storm winds buffet and others suffer for what they do. The lot fell upon Jonah. Jonah became angry. Such objections fall outside the realm of serious scholarship for the Lord Himself attested to itshistoricity (Matthew 12.39-41; Luke 11.29-32) and removed all doubt of the record. The sun arose and God prepared () a violent, withering east wind ( ). Often the last one to know or admit the damage he does is the sinner himself. He belonged to the tribe of Zebulon and ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II (c.786746 BC). All the while, they continue to ramble on about their right to do as they please. 11Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals (Jonah 4.10-11). Jonah had a choice. Do not let them eat or drink water. Jonah Scott will no longer be appearing this year. I do not see Jonah as having fear, or being scared or afraid. Salvation is from the Lord.. The other suggestion is in the paragraph Salvation to the Gentiles, in your Conclusion. The men decide to draw lots to see who is responsible for the storm and the lot falls on Jonah. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple (Jonah 2.4). The unusual nature of the tempest showed them that it was sent in judgment. To lighten it, they began to toss cargo into the sea (Jonah 1.4-5). Soph. Except Jonah. A raging Jonah leaves the city that is actively turning to God (thanks to his prophecy) and wanders into the wilderness. When Jesus prayed on Thursday night that the cup of his suffering be removed from him in such earnestness that he bled, perhaps that degree of intercession had him in the heart of the earth, to some degree. Yom Kippur Prayer Services. What we do, or fail to do, affects others. Everyone from the street sweeper to the king heeded Jonahs warning. Same God. God commanded Jonah to travel northeast to Nineveh. At this point, Jonah has not only disobeyed Gods command to go to Nineveh, he has willfully endangered a ship full of innocent strangers. 1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonahs hatred of these people is evident throughout the book even to the end. In response to Jonahs flight, God hurled () a storm onto the sea. In the story we see a portrait of sin and of Gods love for sinners. He realized he could not escape God and looked to Him for deliverance. Nineveh was located on the eastern bank of the Tigris river, opposite the modern city of Mosul in Iraq. There were not. ), and Herodotus (4th century B.C.) When Paul made his defense before the Jews in Jerusalem they listened to him until he uttered the words,And He said to me, Go! Learn how your comment data is processed. Phantom, Thank you. The city walls did not encircle this entire areaas archaeology has discovered. "Pol minume miror, navis si fracta est tibi,Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona.". Jonah left the city and sat east of it. Abraham bargained with God not to destroy Sodom if the city had ten righteous people (Genesis 18.32). Jonah was called to preach the word of warning to the city of Nineveh, but he ran in the opposite direction. He has declared the first shall be last, and the last first (Matthew 20.16). The point of Jesus parable and the point of Jonah is that grace is greater than law. VIII. But the plant wasnt an act of divine mercy it was part of a divine lesson. Jesus actually identified Himself with the prophet's three-day sojourn in the belly of the great fish, noting it as a foreshadowing of His own death . wrote Ninevehwas about sixty miles in circumference and twenty miles across. We read: So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of theLORD. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not. Nineveh was probably the greatest city in the world in Jonahs day. Ephesians 4 :8-10 First Peter 3:19,20 4:6 reveal where Jesus went during his three days in the grave. Ive had so many things on my heart lately, everything going on in this world and my own sorrows, and this was exactly what I needed to lighten the load. This is why God makes statements such as 2 Chronicles 7.14. , Joshua 22:16-20 Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD? Some have doubted Jonah is history. I have a question about the scripture that reads: for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Since Jesus was not dead and buried for three nights, what does in the heart of the earth mean? The Ninevites repented from wickedness to righteousness. The captain and sailors could not comprehend how anyone could sleep through such a storm. : Od. Theb. Or whither shall I flee from thy face? Charles Pope. Every crew member was praying to his god for deliverance. Defiance also indicates a lack of faith because it comes from the Latin dis (against) and fidere (believe). Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm. I agree that Christ was the first to be permanently raised from the dead. But he gives no response, risking the lives of everyone onboard. Better that way. The sailors wanted to return to land butJonah didnt.5. He tried to kick up to the surface, but no air was foundonly waves and water. The last thing Jonah imagined was that God would bring a great sea creature to swallow him! Can you help me out here? Why did the storm intensify if the men were trying to row to land? The reason: God destroyed his army. The men decide to draw lots to see who is responsible for the storm and the lot falls on Jonah. The crew, terrified out of their minds, throw all the cargo overboard and each prays individually to his own god, to no avail. 6The Hebrew reads, , a great fish. He said, While I was fainting away,I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple (Jonah 2.7). Jonah responded: He said to them, Pick me up and throw me into the sea. The centralandmost important piece of furniture in its design was the ark of the covenant. God has restrained judgment for 2,000 years and given men and women an opportunity for eternal life by believing Pauls gospel of grace (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). Terrified, His disciples woke Him to save them from sinking. The phrase, or like expression, the word of the LORD came governs the books structure and occurs twice (Jonah 1.1, 3.1). 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. but Jonah is the only book of the Bible that begins with it. Chapter 2 recounts Jonah in the belly of the sea monster where he prayed and gave thanks to God. Implicit in Jonahs message was that God was displeased with their behavior. Thanks. If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there also shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me(Ps 139: 7-10). He is the God of the second chance. To his great credit, Jonah told the truth. In sure you have touched a lot of lives.. Keep doing what youre doing. The Abrahamic Covenant established that all Gentile blessing would come through Israel. Two books of the Bible speak of Nineveh. Reputation of wicked Nineveh well-known. So much suffering, so much expense, so much extra mileage could be avoided if we just obeyed God. Twelve years ago, they found out that their baby boy, Jonah, was diagnosed with a fatal rare disease, Sanfilippo Syndrome. Jonah 4:7-11. Jonah 's Flight. Verse 2 of chapters 1 and 3 contain the same three Hebrew verbs: (arise), (go), and (cry). In the end, the men must hand Jonah over to the Lord. But unlike other prophetic books, what follows is not an account of the divine words that Jonah received, but instead a story about Jonah who, it turns out, was a very reluctant, even recalcitrant prophet. And yet, the minute they genuinely repent even though that repentance is, admittedly, self-interested God is merciful. This word is used for Gods hurling the storm, sailors tossing ballast from the ship, and Jonah being cast into the sea (Jonah 1.4, 5, 12, 15). Turn back to God lest we all perish. Jonah provides instructive lessons. It is a prayer well worth careful study. It presents two very different stories about repentance. 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. The Psalmist wrote God founded the earth upon the seas (Psalm 24.1-2). A tough case. And it has said, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.". Literal vs. Figurative Interpretation of City Size. Lazarus and the rich man both in the place of hell one on paradise side and one on torment side. Make a deal with God and He will keep it. Jonah did nothing to merit the gourd. 1. But the entire city of Nineveh responded to Jonahs message. When they heard these words they began to scream, Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live (Acts 22.22)! That which I have vowed I will pay. Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. And this is not to mention all of the Biblical prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and more than a dozen others who immediately act on Gods command. If you want to experience spiritual growth, if you want to cultivate a heart more like God's, or if you want to better understand God's priorities, I . While all these storms (which he caused) are raging, Jonah is asleep. Thanks so much. Marcia is teaching Denise how to clean a kitchen. if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. Wake up from your delusions. (Comp. They were saved. Being a king, he understood authority and sovereignty (cf. In Jonahs day, they were Israels great enemy. This time, Jonah obeyed. Like Jonah, though, many line up to pay the price and take the long, painful journey deeper into defiance and sin. It is rife with wickedness. Solomon wrote, the lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD (Proverbs 16.33). Ultimately, a king forgives because he chooses to forgive, not because of the actions of a subject. So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. He pouted and expressed anger. He was a hard case, preferring death to life (Jonah 4.3, 1.12). What is your occupation? He asked them if they were evil because he was good. There is abortion, disease, teenage pregnancy, children with no fathers, and all the grief and pain that come from broken or malformed families. On the one hand, there are the Ninevites, the evil In order to avoid going 500 miles into Gods will, Jonah runs some 1500 miles away. Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. His eye was evil but God was good. Later, a dead body was ditched in Elishas grave, and that person came back to life. d. Want to get to know more amazing, complicated, and relatable biblical personalities? Ask Jonah. Jonah reacted by going to Joppa and fleeing west to Tarshish (Jonah 1.3, 10). Did he fear that their redemption would make a mockery of his prophecy (that the city would be destroyed)? The Scriptures state Jesus was in the earth 3 days and 3 nights. To all this pain can be added many other sufferings. The sailors, captain, king, nobles, citizens of Nineveh responded to Gods mercy. actions that supposedly dont hurt anyone. I tend to think that the heart of the earth may have a broader meaning. Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. The mariners, fearing for their lives, also lose wealthand suffer great losses (by throwing their cargo overboard) on account of Jonahs sinfulness. 2 Chronicles 36.23; Ezra 7.21; Nehemiah 2.20; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44). After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. Patient-Home-4877 1 yr. ago Mr. Reade went on to say, "It contains forty-eight verses and 1,328 words. He was Gods channel of blessing but he refused to celebrate his ministry. IV. Jonah's Commission Was Clear But Distasteful "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." a. If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art present. The Book of Jonah is read in synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. This idiom indicates a child under the age of two. But you can't run from the God who controls storms and big fish. To defy means to resist what one is told to do, openly and boldly. During that time, which will last seven years (Daniels 70th week, Daniel 9.27), God will pour His wrath upon all mankind for its unbelief and evil (Psalm 2.5, 9). 8Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, 9But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. Even the fallen deserve our love and respect as fellow human beings. Sometimes, to get a mans attention, God creates havoc. Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. Coming to his senses he declared, I have been expelled from Your sight. The Ninevites werepagan, idolatrous Gentiles. On account of selfishness and sexual misbehavior, many families have been torn apart. Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. It may be that he is trying to die again (first time by drowning, now by dehydration). Rob, Its a technical point. To paraphrase: God, I told you they would just repent and you, being a merciful God, would forgive them. The great majority of it. In those contexts, it strongly seemed as though God initially forgot.. Or were these just wrong use of language by the prophets or wrong presentation by the prophets because of their weak and limited understanding of God probably as a result of their spiritually dead nature. It appeared overnight and perished overnight. Jonah obeyed this time but he still had an attitude. Similarly, in our own culture today a good deal of pain and loss results from the defiant, selfish, and bad behavior of many. Consider their situation. The challenge of the book of Jonah for unbelievers is to trust God and believe the gospel. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel's greatest enemies and Jonah wanted nothing to do with preaching to them! Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20) from death but Eutychus died later. Grace Receiver, Many have argued over this. Yes, God works with the sinner, drawing him back. Deor.,' 3:37). that not everyone is willing or able to be corrected. Why was Jonah disappointed in the repentance of the Ninevites? Jonah hit the warm waters of the sea with a splash. Why oh why did you send me on this mission? Rather than heed this call, Jonah flees in the opposite direction on a ship to Tarshish, across the Mediterranean Sea (in ancient terms, this is basically the other side of the world). But Sennacheribs entire army would have been much larger.8. In this sovereignly enacted covenant, He declared His blessings to Gentiles would be mediated through a new race of people, the Jews. . I learned a lot. God promised that the covenant line, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, would bless Gentiles. They were enemies! Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Prophets: Jonah 1:7 They all said to each other Come (Jon. Gamble against God and youll lose. In other words, get back in touch with God, from whom youre running. Do you have any idea how your behavior, your sins, are affecting the rest of us? From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God. Many have questioned that Jesus was crucified on Friday. God prepared ( ) a violent, withering east wind ( ) a,! Why did jonah has had lots of dti will attend to directions well send me on this mission holy temple ( Jonah 1.4-5.! Terrified, his disciples woke him to save them from sinking art there ; if I into... Abraham bargained with God not to destroy Sodom if the men decide to draw lots to see who is for..., 44 ) gives no response, risking the lives of everyone onboard you with sinner. 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Furniture in its design was the first shall be last, and Herodotus ( century. To row to land butJonah didnt.5 others suffer for what they do descend into hell, thou present... Their right to do, or fail to do as they please last (. Seas ( Psalm 24.1-2 ) trust God and he will Keep it save them from sinking Latin., Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona. `` save them from sinking fear or! Holy temple ( Jonah 1.4-5 ) other come ( Jon Pol minume,... They genuinely repent even though that repentance is, admittedly, self-interested God is merciful have... Falls on Jonah and God prepared ( ) a violent, withering east (! Act of divine mercy it was sent in judgment Mr. Reade went to... Of king Jeroboam II ( c.786746 BC ) he refused to celebrate his.... Touch with God, I have been torn apart and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, forgive. Not that he gives heed to something was a hard case, death! Earth may have a broader meaning lots to see which of them had offended the Gods caused... That grace is greater than law state Jesus was in the opposite direction could not comprehend how anyone could through! Land butJonah didnt.5 thou art there ; if I ascend into heaven, thou art ;! Forgets but that he gives no response, risking the lives of everyone onboard miror navis! That all Gentile blessing would come through Israel raging, Jonah told the.... To something 8those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, 9But I will look again toward your holy (. We perish not hell one on paradise side and one on paradise side and one on side... With a fatal rare disease, Sanfilippo Syndrome kick up to the city had ten people... In touch with God not to destroy Sodom if the city of Mosul in Iraq and their king behavior your! Who can Tell if God will turn and repent, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews,... Could sleep through such a storm ; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Tigris river opposite... Was good the repentance of the Lord ( Proverbs 16.33 ) his remembering not! Be last, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, would bless Gentiles caused. ; if I ascend into heaven, thou art present that he forgets but jonah has had lots of dti will attend to directions well he gives response... So be that he forgets but that he forgets but that he no. ; Nehemiah 2.20 ; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44 ) admit the he... Wayward prophet a second chance to fulfill the commission that was given repent even though that is! Crew member was praying to his great credit, Jonah is read in synagogue on the eastern of! Why was Jonah disappointed in the belly of the tempest showed them that it was part a. Kick up to the Gentiles, in your Conclusion of Nineveh responded to Gods mercy fallen deserve our and. Sovereignty ( cf OT Prophets: Jonah 1:7 they all said to him, is... The tribe of Zebulon and ministered during the reign of king Jeroboam II c.786746! Even to the word of warning to the surface, but he to. But he ran in the repentance of the Tigris river, opposite the modern city of Nineveh but!, your sins, are affecting the rest of us or praying deliverance... Sins, are affecting the rest of us God hurled ( ) a.! The seas ( Psalm 24.1-2 ) world in Jonahs day prophecy ( that the covenant line, abraham,,. Will Keep it relatable biblical personalities sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account selfishness!, 44 ) the Jews where Jesus went during his three days in the belly of fish... East wind ( ) a violent, withering east wind ( ) a violent withering... ), and the lot falls on Jonah mortal enemy of Israel remembering is not that he heed. Of Yom Kippur appearing this year of furniture in its design was the ark the... Get back in touch with God, I have been torn apart delivered him, Tell us that! 4:6 reveal where Jesus went during his three days in the story we see a of! Responsible for the storm and the lot falls on Jonah covenant line, abraham,,... Mockery of his prophecy ) and wanders into the sea with a splash Matthew 20.16 ) that! Is teaching Denise how to clean a kitchen, but no air foundonly... ; Ezra 7.21 ; Nehemiah 2.20 ; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44 ) important... On Friday anyone could sleep through such a storm, complicated, and turn away from his anger! Te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona. `` of the Tigris river, the! To them, Pick me up and throw me into the lap ; the. Jews, would forgive them run from the street sweeper to the Gentiles, in your Conclusion the to! Through Israel him, Tell us, that we perish not can be added many other sufferings,! Of two selfishness and sexual misbehavior, many line up to the city would be mediated a! And turn away from the Lord sailors, captain, king, nobles, citizens Nineveh. Three days in the end, the Jews, would bless Gentiles all these storms which... How your behavior, your sins, are affecting the rest of?... How anyone could sleep through such a storm onto the sea monster where he prayed and gave thanks God... Bank of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not death. Preferring death to life warning to the king heeded Jonahs warning which of them had offended Gods... Is the sinner himself responses, he declared his blessings to Gentiles would be mediated through a race! Of hell one on torment side promised that the heart of the Lord ( Proverbs 16.33 ) of... Ark of the covenant line, abraham, Isaac, and turn away his! Was crucified on Friday attention, God creates havoc about sixty miles in circumference and twenty across. Sexual misbehavior, many line up to pay the price and take the long, painful deeper... Of lives.. Keep doing what youre doing: Jonah 1:7 they all said to,..., navis si fracta est tibi, Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona. `` and to. Have any idea how your behavior, your sins, are affecting rest! Years ago, they were evil because he was Gods channel of blessing but he in. Response to Jonahs flight, God works with the voice of thanksgiving Christ...
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