1. God told Jonah what He wanted Jonah to do. God's Interest in All People Did he leap for joy and shouted hooray? God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fishs belly. God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. This post may contain affiliate links. God Bless 2) That there's no point in striving to achieve something that isn't God's will. Read Jonah 4:1-11. God gave Jonah a job to do, and he ran away. Here is part of the prayer in Jonah 2. Whatever the case, he did not rejoice over the peoples repentance or over Jehovahs mercy. He values human life and the potential that each individual has for repenting and learning to do what is right. Sometimes God will ask us to step out or step up. Are we there yet? God have mercy! Jonah prophesied in the mid-700s BC, a time when Assyria was not as powerful as they had been in recent years. God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. Even if Jonah obeyed God from the start, it would still have been easier to send an angel or to appear as a pillar of cloud. Then, God asks a question to Jonah, which echoes through the ages down to our own lives: Jonah 4:10-11 (ESV): And the Lord said, You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. You could really see the clear intent of Jonah here that he really didnt want to do the job he was called to do. Jonah was a prophet who supported Israel at a time when Israel was threatened by Nineveh. As we know it didnt really work too well for him. He likely had to skirt the vast Syrian Desert, ford such rivers as the mighty Euphrates, and seek shelter among foreigners in the towns and villages of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Assyria. Yes, that means precisely what it says: Jonah was preferring death over the advance of Gods grace to Nineveh. He would have very likely carried PTSD and claustrophobia with him for the rest of his life. Rich and poor, strong and weak, young and old were all caught up in the same repentant spirit. Jonah was under God's observation all along. Obedience is the key to receivingGods benefits! Three days later, Jonah was vomited out alive onto a beach, an awed and more compliant man.Jonah, chaps. He wants to show His love to everyone. Some may believe that Jehovah should have prevented a tragedy or that he should have executed swift judgment against the wicked or even that he should have brought an end to this whole world system of things before now. We cannot know all that went through his mind, but we do know that Jonah had proclaimed doom to Nineveh before all those people. The Book of Jonah is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Nevi'im ("Prophets") in the Hebrew Bible, and as a book in its own right in the Christian Old Testament.The book tells of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah, son of Amittai, who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh, but tries to escape this divine mission.. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. We must realize we dont see it all, we dont understand it all. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me;All Your billows and your waves passed over me (Jonah 2:1-3 NKJV). 16. Why did Jehovah refer to Nineveh as the great city, and what does that teach us about him? 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). Had Jonah gone to Nineveh just as an enemy Israelite, he would have most likely been ignored, maybe even killed. Jonah flat out doesnt want to go to Nineveh. He asked him to go somewhere Jonah would NEVER want to go. Read More, 3 Important Ways to Pray for Your Future Husband. We need to learn from him and his mistakes. Sometimes when we read Jonah we shake our heads and go seesh really? He gets tossed around by a storm and swallowed by a whale (or big fishwhatever floats your boat). In the book of Jonah God uses a roaring sea, wayward pagan sailors who, by the way, were saved by God during their experience with the renegade prophet as well as, a pagan king, a weed, a worm, and even a hardheaded preacher. An encyclopedia hit the nail on the head as it described the lesson that God taught Jonah through the worm destroying the plant that gave him such delight in an emotional and tiring time in his life. by Leanne Guenther. 9 Some critics express doubt that such a change of heart could have occurred so quickly among the Ninevites. But did He? It was vast, a metropolitan region that evidently included several other cities, requiring a man three days to walk from one end to the other. Prophet Jonah disobeyed God and attempted to escape, but God caught him red-handedly. After all, he felt sorry for the plant only because it had benefited him personally. Based on what happened to Jonah's life, we can simply conclude that there's no point in trying to run away from God, from running away from His purposes, and in trying to achieve our own will and not His. Then he sent a parching east wind until Jonah began swooning away because of the heat. When God speaks to our heart to do something we should take intitive. Jonah's men threw him overboard because they didn't want to be punished for what Jonah had done. I hope these 5 keys have made you hungry to dive more into Gods word. PlusFULL access to my printables vault! When he determines to bring punishment on the wicked, he first uses his representatives on earth to issue warnings, for he is eager to see the wicked do what the Ninevites didrepent and change their ways. Learn More. And now, no doom was coming. from the presence of the LORD. 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. Though we run away from Him, He patiently waits for us. Tell them that they better start believing in Me and doing the right things I want them to do or else I'm going to send fire down from Heaven to destroy their city and burn them up." But Jonah didn't want to go preach to the people of Nineveh. The word Lord means someone or something having power, authority, or influence; master or ruler. But then they did repent. He will rescue them during trouble and provide for their needs. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. What's wrong with the House of Bishops' proposed same-sex prayers? DLTK's Sunday School Lessons Men of the Old Testament Pt 1: Jonah. On the contrary, he is reasonable, adaptable, and merciful. He was a prophet in a nation he is proud of. Jonah couldnt see that and sometimes, we couldnt see that as well. For You cast me into the deep,Into the heart of the seas,And the floods surrounded me;All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. This is something we all need to be careful of, not to let our own wants and desires blind us to what is truly important. Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. The issue in the book of Jonah causes each of us to reflect on this truth: those who curse Christ today could be those who preach Christ tomorrow. In what ways would you like to imitate the faith of Jonah when you receive corrective counsel? 7,8. Here is a little quick video to watch For more information please keep reading. Was the restriction of unclean foods in the Bible a commandment. In his mind, they deserve nothing but death. He will establish his abiding presence with his favorite children. Critics have expressed what doubt regarding the Ninevites, but how do we know that the critics are mistaken? The mandate to preach repentance is inexorably linked to the announcement of Gods grace and forgiveness. God's Love vs. Jonah's Anger. Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. God gave us the ability to choose - Joshua 24:15. Milton has also served as chancellor and president of seminaries and is the author of more than thirty books. | 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. I would love to hear from you! Lesson 48, November 21-27. That is exactly what happened later on.Zeph. Thank you for your patience and continued support! acquire the The Prodigal Prophet Jonah And The Mystery Of God member that we present here and check out the link. We read: Now Nineveh herself proved to be a city great to God. (Jonah 3:3) Three times, the record of Jonah quotes Jehovah as referring to Nineveh the great city. (Jonah 1:2; 3:2; 4:11) Why was this city great, or important, to Jehovah? I AM JOSHUA and Im on a mission to help fellow Christians build a closer and more intimate relationship with God. We could be studying the word of God, but our hearts are not into it. To top it off Nineveh is 800 miles away. 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? 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. Jehovahs righteous anger against Nineveh simply abated. Jonah's story is told in the short (just 48 verses) but powerful book of Jonah. The stubborn servant felt the heat of hell until he repented. Or did Jehovah grant him that ability through a miracle? God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away from God. He is the weeping God ofJonah 4in human form. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). 2. The book of Jonah is often characterized by liberal theologians as a metaphorical story to teach Israel to be more open to others. Meanwhile, as soon as Jonah was thrown from the ship, the storm stopped and the water became calm again. When we see people sinning are we quick to say, Wait until you get what you truly deserve?, Oh I cant wait for the time when you fall down!, Oh, this group has cast me out. Jonah 1:1-2 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Go to the great city of Ninevehand preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.. The story is probably written between the 8th and 3th century BC. ^ par. We read: To Jonah, though, it was highly displeasing, and he got to be hot with anger. (Jonah 4:1) Jonah even uttered a prayer that sounds like a rebuke of the Almighty! Can you elaborate? As soon as Jonah has settled gratefully into its shade, God sends a worm to chew the roots of the plant, killing it so that Jonah is left exposed once again. The people of Nineveh, from the king to the poorest, repented and held a fast. 1) That while our love for others fail, God's compassion knows no ends. In the same way, God is not quitting on us. "He Delighteth in Mercy". So what are the lessons we can learn from the book of Jonah? It states, "Yahweh scolded him for taking pity on a plant that he did not make grow, while feeling no sorrow for thousands of people in Nineveh." What sign is God giving me to trust in him? They are the archenemy of the nation of Israel. God plans to bring unity to all things under Christ - Ephesians 1:10. . The psalmist in Psalm 139 makes it pretty clear: Where can I go from your Spirit? The Lord provided a gourd or plant that protected Jonah. Under the intolerably beating sun, Jonah cries out to God in anger, and this time simply begs for death. God caused Jonah to be taken captive by the Assyrians and to fear for his life. The fast was so great that even animals fasted and cried out to God! You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16 ESV). Key Verse: I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me.He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God's grace. A person that willingly obeys God has an advantage of receiving greater benefits than someone who is coerced into obedience. Notice, Nineveh is northeast of Israel and Tarshish is in the west. I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. The result, however, was nothing short of amazing. 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). Covenantal-snobbery was, and can still be, a serious problem with Gods people. ( Jonah 3:3-4) Jonah preaches in Nineveh. ). He and his wife, Mae, reside in Western North Carolina. What can we learn from the Ninevites repentance? The story has a long interpretive history and has become well . The sign is that a place of death had become a place of deliverance. Last week we looked at the Jonah 1 & 2 and God's Mercy on a Reluctant Prophet. When thinking about this book as a whole, and what God is trying to teach Jonah, what does this mean for us. However, Jehovah wanted to do more for Jonah than simply deliver him from the heat and from his own petulant anger. Jonah needed courage and faith to preach in Nineveh. Whenever we are in a situation where we have turned our back on God its important to follow these four steps. [And]Jesus did not merely weep for us; he died for us. He observed the change in those people and saw that the punishment he had intended to bring on them would no longer be fitting. The Beginning of the story of Jonah brings us the first lesson about missionary service: 1.There are no easy calls. She has been involved in church and vocational ministry for over 18 years. Jonah's preaching was quite short, and he probably wasn't enthusiastic when he preached it: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly: Jonah was still in the belly of the fish but he knew it was enough that the LORD had heard his cry ( You heard my voice ). However, as the story unfolds we can see how the Lord draws him from fear . How well are we doing our job? - Dylan. Its easy to be triggered when things dont go the way we plan, but we need to surrender our will to His will. But those things need to bow down to Gods ways. In the same way that God's mercy to Nineveh was "exceedingly evil" (it was evil, a great evil), so God's mercy to Jonah is "exceedingly joyous" (Jonah was joyous, a great joy). (see Jonah 3:4) Such a preaching could sound pretty condemning and scary, and it is: it's a message of judgment. There are no limits to God's grace and love, and there are no limits to his ways and means of attaining His goals for salvation. Jonah 1-4. Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way because we don't always do things God's way. Digging deep and having the Holy Spirit reveal truths to us is how we start to grow and mature. It only stopped when Jonah was thrown overboard (see Jonah 1:15). It is all full of lies and robbery. The book is historical and refers to what became one of the greatest revivals in the history of humankind. If God's purpose was merely to save Nineveh, He could do it far more effectively and efficiently without Jonah. Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! The book of Jonah is remarkable for several reasons. God is eager to see the wicked repent and change their ways, as the Ninevites did. Just imagine that prophet, once again safe in his homeland, writing this account. God begins to have mercy upon us while we are still in willful disobedience; and, like Nineveh, characterized by infamous sin and evil. With this understanding, Jonahs choice to flee makes sense (in a very short-sighted kind of way) . (b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? 13 Was Jonahs prophecy a false one? Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. God let Jonah eat lavishly, then sent him to a place of famine. Yet he rebelled, and Nineveh accepted him as a messenger and quickly repented when he got there. The mans spirits plummeted, and again he asked God that he might die.Jonah 4:6-8. 8 The king too responded to Jonahs proclamation. We learned here that both Socratic teaching and rabbinical teaching (by asking questions) was used by God long before educators ever thought about such things. What does it mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High (Psalms 91:1)? In fact, the narrator uses the same grammatical structure as in Jonah 4:1. Lastly, I get commissions for purchases made through my Amazon affiliate links in this website. Jonah went outsidethe city, hoping to witness its condemnation, but Jesus Christ went outside the city to die on a cross to accomplish its salvation. . Im sure it will bless you like it has blessed me. Instead of punishing Jonah for his disrespect, Jehovah simply asked him one gentle, probing question: Have you rightly become hot with anger? (Jonah 4:4) Did Jonah even answer? How did Jonah show faith and courage as he preached in Nineveh? Jonah (whose name means "dove") ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. Now, here was Jonah, a man who perfectly knew who the Ninevites were. The book of Jonah exactly shows us the unlimited Mercy of God. Did they repent when a prophet preached to them? The Lord called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah fled and was swallowed by a great fish. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, Southern Baptists oust Rick Warren's Saddleback Church for naming a female pastor, Evangelical church pursues alternative oversight after CofE same-sex blessing vote, 'Jesus Revolution' leaves out the tough stuff but gets the music right. Clearly the Lord knew what Jonah would do, and it seems the Lord was prepared to use that to further His own ends. Jonah began to rejoice greatly over the plant, perhaps viewing its miraculous appearance as a sign of Gods blessing and approval. It may be that Jonah made his proclamation in his native Hebrew and used an interpreter to relate it to the Ninevites. So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. His mercy isnt just limited to His people, but He also extends it to those outside of Israel. And when God did not destroy Nineveh, Jonah became angry. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. Jonah Goes to Nineveh Main Point: We should share God's grace with others. i. No doubt he braced himself for a hostile and violent response. PRIVACY SETTINGS, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/1102013260/univ/art/1102013260_univ_sqr_xl.jpg, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/ia/E/wpub/ia_E_lg.jpg, Share The word of God in Psalm 139 makes it pretty clear: Where can i from. Very short-sighted kind of way ) had become a place of death had a. And when God did not destroy Nineveh, but we need to surrender our will to will! On the contrary, he did not destroy Nineveh, but we need to bow down to ways... Him that ability through a miracle the book of Jonah exactly shows us the first about. Just 48 verses ) but powerful book of Jonah is remarkable for several reasons to and. 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