[1-minute video]. Jonah didn't want to go there because the Ninevites were wicked people (see Jonah 1:2), and Jonah knew that when he came there to preach to the people, they'd repent and be spared from God's impending wrath (see Jonah 4:2). We are all sinners who are worthy of death. The sign of Jonah was an expression used by Jesus to refer to Jonah's three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17). Critics have expressed what doubt regarding the Ninevites, but how do we know that the critics are mistaken? To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. (a)How does Jehovah show that he is reasonable, adaptable, and merciful? God rates his favorite children by their obedience. It is not that Jonah hesitated and, then, refused to go to Nineveh because the task would be difficult (although that is an argument from silence). He tried to run away from the presence of God, and enjoy himself. But what happened, did Jonah obey God with zeal and passion? In this article When we look at Jonah in the Bible you will discover incredible life lessons that can be applied to our daily walk with God. The Lord provided a gourd or plant that protected Jonah. Meanwhile, as soon as Jonah was thrown from the ship, the storm stopped and the water became calm again. Clearly, Jonah did learn a vital lesson from Jehovahs wise instruction. I enjoy the Bible study and I want to be a blessing to others. And Jonah has good earthly reasons why, but God looks beyond the earthly and looks through His spiritual eyes. I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. God Bless So, grab your Bible and let's go on an adventure in God's Word! Jonah suggested that he should have stayed home, on his own ground. God's command to him remained the same; he was still to preach repentance to Nineveh (see Jonah 2:10-3:4). (Read Jonah 3:1-3.) The story of Jonah demonstrates how Almighty God has sovereign control over every creature on earth. In addition to founding three churches, and the call as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Dr. Milton is a retired Army Chaplain (Colonel). The book is historical and refers to what became one of the greatest revivals in the history of humankind. i. Now that we had a short summarylets get down to business! When God speaks to our heart to do something we should take intitive. What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . The story has a long interpretive history and has become well . And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, 'Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. Im having trouble understanding the story. Could we be like that brethren? The story is probably written between the 8th and 3th century BC. Im having trouble understanding the story. These results are in verse three, that is, one verse before the one that tells of God's special intervention in sending the storm . During this time Jonah humbled himself to do what the Lord wanted. His mercy isnt just limited to His people, but He also extends it to those outside of Israel. Did he leap for joy and shouted hooray? 1:17; 4:6, 7). RAPTURE IS IMMINENT, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN 2 Peter, THE ANTICHRIST EVIL MARK OF 666 SYMBOLIZES DESTRUCTION Revelation, GOD HATES SIN; COVET HOLINESS AND STAY STRONG Zechariah, GODS JUDGMENT IS INEVITABLE Revelation, 7 REASONS TO BELIEVE CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD, Subscribing I accept the privacy rules of this site, JESUS PURCHASED THE CHURCH WITH HIS BLOOD Acts, JESUS COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL Luke 9, KING JEHU KILLED IDOL WORSHIPERS 2 Kings, THE DEFENSE FOR GODS SERVANTS Jeremiah. Jonah sits in the heat of Northern Iraq and is so outdone with Gods grace to his enemy, seething that he has lost a gourd with its leaves to shade him, that he despairs unto death. Whenever we come to think that someone is beyond Gods love, or they have committed acts so vile as to be forever separated from God, then it is time for us to return to the book of Jonah. Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forgetlest we forget! God takes the time to teach Jonah a lesson about love through the example of . Get a focused-Bible-teaching on various subjects as they may apply to our today's lives. This is why its great to do a Bible study on these types of books in the Bible. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament that God flat out told to preach to a Gentile city and not just any gentiles but the people of Nineveh (The Assyrians). (see Jonah 3:4) Such a preaching could sound pretty condemning and scary, and it is: it's a message of judgment. These are only 5 thingsthere are more! Notice, out of the four chapters of Jonah, the words of his preaching was only one sentence. God is eager to see the wicked repent and change their ways, as the Ninevites did. The commandment to Jonah was to "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me" (Jonah 1:2). Jonah later wrote: The true God got to see their works, that they had turned back from their bad way; and so the true God felt regret over the calamity that he had spoken of causing to them; and he did not cause it.Jonah 3:10. Now there is potential for a bit of Irony here. So, it shows that the Ninevites are even better than the Israelites at some point! We know as a fact for Jonah records his prayer, not a petition that flatters its supplicant: So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? God's compassion easily surpasses our love for others. Expressing hope that the true God would soften upon seeing their repentance, the king said: God may . The stubborn servant felt the heat of hell until he repented. Did that solve Jonahs attitude? God begins to have mercy upon us while we are still in willful disobedience; and, like Nineveh, characterized by infamous sin and evil. Bible stories and audio Bible listening also come in handy! All people will one day glorify God - Psalms 86:9. As Jonah said, God is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.. "Jonah & the Whale" Unit: Splash Into Summer LESSON PURPOSE: The story of Jonah & the Whale teaches us about listening to God's Words and how he is always there to guide us and take care of us. 21. He sovereignly orchestrates creation by appointing it to do his will. PRIVACY POLICY However, Bible scholars have noted that a movement of that kind was not out of keeping with the superstitious and volatile nature of people of such cultures in ancient times. The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of Gods Mercy. Jonah was quite content with God's grace and God's love over Israel and over his own life. In this sermon, Jerry Gifford deals with how the book of Jonah ends abruptly with a question. So, Yahweh "sent out a great wind on the sea." As a result, Jonah was thrown to the sea and God saved him. Then I said, I have been cast out of Your sight;Yet I will look againtoward Your holy temple.Thewaters surrounded me,evento my soul;The deep closed around me;Weeds were wrapped around my head. . However, anyone who willingly obeys God has the advantage of receiving greater benefits than a person who was coerced into obedience. But the plant wasn't an act of divine mercy it was part of a divine lesson. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Jonah thought he was going to die. Jesus knew what he was talking about, for he had been alive in heaven to witness those events as they unfolded. Instead of repenting, Jonah justified himself, saying: I have rightly become hot with anger, to the point of death. The stage was now set for Jehovah to drive the lesson home.Jonah 4:9. Jonah's Disobedience Exposed ( 1:7-10) Jonah's Punishment and Deliverance (1:11 -- 2:1; 2:10) His Prayer of Thanksgiving ( 2:2-9) Jonah Reluctantly Fulfills His Mission (chs. The people of Nineveh repented, and God spared the city. He asked him to go somewhere Jonah would NEVER want to go. At any rate, his message was simple and not likely to win him any favor: Only forty days more, and Nineveh will be overthrown. (Jonah 3:4) He spoke out boldly and repeatedly. . He will rescue them during trouble and provide for their needs. It had all the elements of a spellbinder: a reluctant prophet fleeing God, a sinking ship, a man thrown overboard into the maw of a sea. 10,11. Here is a little quick video to watch For more information please keep reading. Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Jonah wanted to see Nineveh destroyed. 17,18. Jehovah, on the other hand, was the Source of life for those Ninevites and had sustained them, as he does all creatures on earth. What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord? This would take him weeks if not months! All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. He values human life and the potential that each individual has for repenting and learning to do what is right. (a)What object lesson did Jehovah teach Jonah? Liberal scholars might dismiss the story of Jonahs prayer time in a fish belly as riotous rabbinical storytelling, but Jonah would surely protest. Image what some of the Nineveh locals would think and say if they saw Jonah get vomited up out of a fish onto the beach. They had believed him. And now, God is sending Him to them. 4,5. 3) He ends up on a ship. But without those, Jonah would have ended up fish food. Jonah was the prophet who served during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Eighth Century before Christ. Hes actually ANGRY at God. He decides the best thing to do is leave Israel and go in the polar opposite direction to Tarshish, which is said to be near Spain. Use this lesson to lead kids to respond to God's compassion and . (b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? Had Jonah gone to Nineveh just as an enemy Israelite, he would have most likely been ignored, maybe even killed. From the wind to the fishes of the sea, and even pagan sailors, all respond to God in obedience. The minor prophet, Jonah, takes place when Nineveh, that great city, was the largest city on the face of the earth. Then he sent a parching east wind until Jonah began swooning away because of the heat. Indeed, the Bible is clear: The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples (Deuteronomy 7:7 NIV). God gave Jonah a job to do, and he ran away. In the 4th chapter of Jonah, we see God's love and grace contrasted with Jonah's anger and lack of compassion. So, you know for Jonah it would be a BIG deal to travel to Nineveh. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. It is the book itself. In what ways would you like to imitate the faith of Jonah when you receive corrective counsel? Jehovah will satisfy the needs of his faithful children from this earth to heaven. Jonah (whose name means "dove") ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. Whether Jonah liked what God commanded, understood the reason for what God commanded or wanted something different than what God commanded made no difference whatsoever. God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. God has won Jonah's heart back in the right direction, so he commanded the fish to grant him bail and asked Jonah the second time to go preach in the city of Nineveh. Ive read that the Lord wanted to show Jonah that He loves all His people. A gourd, an easterly winder, and even a worm, all over the Lord without any protests. Mark Wahlberg gives lessons on fasting during Lent, Free Church of Scotland condemns 'anti-Christian intolerance' towards Kate Forbes, Ian Paul on why he won't leave the Church of England despite its support for gay blessings, How becoming a refugee host forged a friendship for life, Rate of church closures is higher in low-income neighbourhoods, 'We never stopped praying,' says kidnap for ransom survivor, Medieval Christian women voices that we need to hear. Roger J. Landry Columbia Catholic Ministry, Notre Dame Church, Manhattan Wednesday of the First Week of Lent March 1, 2023 Jonah 3:1-10, Ps 51, Lk 11:29-32 To listen to an audio recording of today's homily, please click below: [coming] The following points were attempted in the homily: We're now one week into [] The book of Jonah begins with these words: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Ammittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.". In fact, the narrator uses the same grammatical structure as in Jonah 4:1. However, as the story unfolds we can see how the Lord draws him from fear . God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. How could Jonah place more value on a single plant than he did on the lives of 120,000 humans, in addition to all their livestock? Jonah is told by God that he must go to Nineveh and tell the people living there to lead better lives or God will punish them. Despite the peoples badness, Jehovah cared about them. Under King Jeroboam II, the nation expanded its borders and enjoyed an age of splendour that . The Lords states that Jonah mourns the loss of the Gourd which came up in a day and was lost in a daya nothing and trivial thing. He is, now, angry that God has forgiven them. He and his wife, Mae, reside in Western North Carolina. He sent a worm to attack and kill the plant. That protected Jonah to be a BIG deal to travel to Nineveh Lord wanted Bible listening also come in!... 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