Jonahs prayer was bitter: I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. I knew it. K. M. Craig, Jr. stated it was enormously varied, rich, and complex (A Poetics of Jonah: Art in the Service of Ideology). A raging Jonah leaves the city that is actively turning to God (thanks to his prophecy) and wanders into the wilderness. Does God repent? Waves roiled the ship, smashing into its sides and onto the deck. And where do you come from? Perhapsyour god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish (Jonah 1.6). In fact, he is furiously angryand directs his outburst at God. The mariners () salts were seasoned sailors. VIII. Jonah is a scientist who becomes a business theorist and helps Alex save his plant. Jonah 1.12, 4.3, 9). 7Charles Halton. What is important is they believed God. No, I am not a pastor. Jonahs defiance sends him and others headlong into a stormthat grows ever deeper. We read: So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of theLORD. Online and in the booth, he has done voice work with studios in Tokyo and across LA. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple. 5Water encompassed me to the point of death. God demonstrated His ultimate mercy and grace in sending His Son to die for our sins and rising from the dead so we might have life and enjoy His fellowship forever. Here is a video of a performance of the Peccavimus (we have sinned) from the oratorio Jonas, by Giacomo Carissimi. Each response was internal (were afraid, believed), spoken (cried to god, proclaimed a fast), and active (cast wares, put on sackcloth). Indeed, many people spend lots of money and go miles out of their way in order to be able to stay in sin. When Godquestioned Jonah over his anger about the loss of the gourd he responded: My anger is justifiedeven to death(Jonah 4.9). What is your occupation? 2The book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it literary artistry. Read Jonah for Spiritual Growth. Water, whale, withering wind: Jonah wished to die (Jonah 4.8 cf. And it has said, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.". He tried to kick up to the surface, but no air was foundonly waves and water. It turns out that for wicked bad guys, the Ninevites are awfully good at repentance. Ant. Ask Jonah. When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. Defiance also indicates a lack of faith because it comes from the Latin . Every crew member was praying to his god for deliverance. The Book of Jonah is read in synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. 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). God's Lesson in Compassion. 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.". From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God. This is another important lesson: in our sin, our defiance, we often bring storms not only into our own life but also into the lives of others. One of the greatest prophets during the time of Jeroboam II was Jonah the son of Amitai, who, as a prophet disciple, had anointed Jehu and who, therefore, enjoyed the king's benevolence. Suggestions for Teaching Be attentive to students' behavior and respond appropriately Hence Jonah is not just insubordinate; he is unbelieving and untrusting. The city walls did not encircle this entire areaas archaeology has discovered. He was at such peace he was sleeping through a storm that had everyone else petrified with fear. One of the great cities of the ancient world, it was finally destroyed by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Chaldeans, Scythians and Cimmerians in 612 B.C. ), and Herodotus (4th century B.C.) God was gracious and Jonah peevish. and a cause of grief to others around him. His words revealed his change of attitude: That which I have vowed I will pay. God sends a giant fish to swallow Jonah. The sun arose and God prepared () a violent, withering east wind ( ). Jonah had wanted to die rather than face his mistakes and complete his mission, but God wont permit it. To all this pain can be added many other sufferings. Here, Jonah a prophet who likely understood what was happening might, indeed should have taken responsibility for the storm and prayed to his God to save the innocent sailors. God not only plays dice, His dice are loadedand invisible. A story about prophecy and repentancebut not in the way you think. Three days later, in a figurative rebirth, the fish spits Jonah up onto the land. He went down into the heart of the earth as in Matthew 12 and brought back those saints that had died and took Paradise to heaven. Big difference. Jonah is a story of contrasts. Exceptions are Rahab, the harlot, Naaman, the Syrian general, Ruth, the Moabitess, and Nebuchadnezzar. book of Jonah is the old outline which accents the word running. In effect, Jonah says to them, Kill me. No worries. Jonah 's Flight. This is what every sinner, whether outside the Church or inside, needs to hear: wake up and look at what youre doing; see how youre affecting yourself and all of us. that not everyone is willing or able to be corrected. What a change! Jonah 3 God gave His commission to Jonah a second timeand this time, Jonah was ready to obey. It would be an interesting study to see what the heart of the earth actually means. I. Defiance-This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai: Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me. But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. 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)! 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 . Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. Want to get to know more amazing, complicated, and relatable biblical personalities? In the end, the men must hand Jonah over to the Lord. We are currently reading Jonahs story in daily Mass. Some things must ultimately be left to God. What are your thoughts on this? Comp. Struck with great fear of the LORD, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him. To defy means to resist what one is told to do, openly and boldly. 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). Thanks again for providing greater understanding to this book With appreciation, John. iii. VI. The other suggestion is in the paragraph Salvation to the Gentiles, in your Conclusion. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. The Lord was the first to be resurrected. Jonah is a dangerand a cause of grief to others around him. and less costly as well. The sailors were noble. Ask Nebuchadnezzar. To paraphrase: God, I told you they would just repent and you, being a merciful God, would forgive them. Deor.,' 3:37). Through Jonah, the Ninevites received salvation. 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. Jonah said to them, Pick me up and throw me into the sea, that it may quiet down for you; since I know it is because of me that this violent storm has come upon you.. 6The Hebrew reads, , a great fish. Marcia is teaching Denise how to clean a kitchen. I cannot see where the text states Jonah actually died or not. Jonahis a story of contrasts. To his great credit, Jonah told the truth. Jonahs problem was he could not see beyond his hatred of the Assyrians and his patriotism. II. Somehow, they sense His just verdict yet they fear their own judgment and ask for His mercy. If we had Jonah's faith, our evangelistic efforts might be multiplied exponentially. After having dealt with the entire human race for 2,000 years, God established a new program with Abraham, known as the Abrahamic Covenant. 1 Samuel 10:20, etc. In the second section, chapters 2 and 4, Jonah was alone with God. The waves quickly enveloped him and overpowered his body. 1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. Jonah 1.1-2 should arrest ones attention. They were threats! Where do you come from? Jonah became angry. Jonah will go finally to Nineveh and there proclaim a message that will be heeded by those who are so lost in sin that they do not know their right hand from their left (see Jonah 4:11). The Bible has no shortage of characters who heed divine calls. Did he fear that their redemption would make a mockery of his prophecy (that the city would be destroyed)? His prophecy has been believed, the city has responded magnificently to his words, and the people are turning their lives around. Such was the case of Peter who reluctantly went to Cornelius house (Acts 10.28). Grace Receiver, Many have argued over this. 5This raises interesting questions about the nature of reality. Jesus told the Jews the Ninevites would judge them because they had repented because of Jonahs preaching and that He was greater than Jonah. How much of our trouble comes from our sin? May Bob Pierece's prayer also be ours: "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." Great work Sir Samdahl! I tend to think that the heart of the earth may have a broader meaning. Now, with a quick divine reminder, the reluctant prophet heads straight for Nineveh and delivers the intended prophecy: Nineveh is wicked and will be destroyed in 40 days. 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 . Thanks be to God! He pouted and expressed anger. One does not get far in an English novel of 1,328 words. Some have doubted Jonah is history. Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.". Many people today talk about victimless sins,actions that supposedly dont hurt anyone. 3Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.. 16Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. The Psalmist wrote God founded the earth upon the seas (Psalm 24.1-2). There were not. What is certain at this point is that Jonah is in need of more repentance himself. He was Gods channel of blessing but he refused to celebrate his ministry. If you wont do it for your own sake, then do it for oursbut call on the Lord! It is of course the children who suffer the most pain and injustice as a result of so much bad adult behavior. This is mercys abode. Such objections impress only the weak minded. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. At the opening of his story, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, one of the largest cities in ancient Mesopotamia, and the capital of Israels most dangerous enemy, the Assyrian empire. In the 20th century, we often like to doctor up the word of God. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. After He calmed the storm, they had declared, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? Same power. It is a luscious, heartfelt piece depicting the repentance of the Ninevites. 6I descended to the roots of the mountains. They tried to turn the ship to land but the storm only worsened. God prefers mercy to judgment. Throughout the story, Jonah uses the Socratic method . 11While given star billing, the sea creature was a prop, not an essential player in the drama. The Ninevites repented from wickedness to righteousness. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. The belief that temporal calamities are often connected with the . His scoffing and defiance likely result from hatred or excessive nationalism. He then asked the laborers if he did not have the right to do what he wanted with his own money. Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Your email address will not be published. Deliverance-Then they cried to the LORD, We beseech you, O LORD, let us not perish for taking this mans life; do not charge us with shedding innocent blood, for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit. Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the seas raging abated. In order to avoid going 500 miles into Gods will, Jonah runs some 1500 miles away. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. Jonah. Hi John just a few verses about the heart of the earth. Jonah responded: He said to them, Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Deor. Salvation is from the Lord (Jonah 2.9). Perhaps because he cannot see a way out of this hole of wrongdoing, and perhaps because he would probably die anyway, Jonah tells the crew that their only option is to throw him overboard an act that will supposedly appease God and save the ship from the storm. I understand much more of this book now than previously. Nineveh is the capital of Syria, the mortal enemy of Israel. Similarly, in our own culture today a good deal of pain and loss results from the defiant, selfish, and bad behavior of many. actions that supposedly dont hurt anyone. Despite his rebellion, Jonah kept his testimony and spoke the truth: I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. God honors His word. God repeated his command to Jonah. A gigantic storm was raging. He did nothing. Bren, Your email address will not be published. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you (Jonah 1.12). The captain and sailors could not comprehend how anyone could sleep through such a storm. wrote Ninevehwas about sixty miles in circumference and twenty miles across. Jonah was part of that. Like the laborers who complained, Jonah could not accept God blessing the Ninevites. What they feared is unimportant. Nineveh was probably the greatest city in the world in Jonahs day. 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. Yes, God works with the sinner, drawing him back. They question Jonah more closely and though Jonahs responses are minimal and cagey, eventually the sailors are able to pull from him the whole story of how he has run away from a divine directive. He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. 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 could not understand Gods mercy to Israels enemies. Jonahs defiance sends him and others headlong into a storm. Obviously, from their superstitious perspective, some god or gods are angry with somebody, and they are all suffering because of what this person has done. Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (comp. The lot fell upon Jonah. They refused Jonahs solution and rowed with greater intensity. Jonah would rather die than go to Nineveh. It may be that he is trying to die again (first time by drowning, now by dehydration). I knew You would find a way to spare and bless these pagans. John, God set aside the Gentiles in terms of His direct contact and blessing. The men recognized they were in the grip of a different kind of God, an all-powerful GodJonahs Godthe one true God. He proclaimed the message that God gave him, " Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!" (3:4). 9The message was certainly longer, but this was the central message. And boats are wrecked; true men and thieves, HOR. I do not see Jonah as having fear, or being scared or afraid. That Jonah thought he could run from God shows his foolishness, typifying mans foolishness in thinking he can escape God (Jeremiah 23.24). The Bible is replete with examples. God does the unexpected. He did not care for the hundreds of thousands of Ninevites, their children, or their animals. The men decide to draw lots to see who is responsible for the storm and the lot falls on Jonah. Despite his sin, Jonah does not lose his dignity. With in-depth features, Expatica brings the international community closer together. Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore. In many American courtrooms, upon the pronouncement of a death sentence, the judge says. Its a pretty bad day for a prophet when those whom he is supposed to address, must turn and call him to conversion. What is your country? Psalm 139 says, beautifully. Jonah reacted by going to Joppa and fleeing west to Tarshish (Jonah 1.3, 10). The Lord upbraided their lack of faith (Mark 4.40; Luke 8.25) but Jonahs sailors became believers. Jonah could not win. Or whither shall I flee from thy face? Kerry Malakosky, Weatherford, OK I also pastor Liberty Heights Chapel, Lawton, OK. LHC is listed as a Grace Church, How Big Was Nineveh? In chapter 4, Jonah was in Nineveh and in the desert. In Jonahs day, they were Israels great enemy. The challenge for believers is to rejoice in Gods salvation and His goodness. The angel of the Lord killed his expeditionary force of 185,000 soldiers (2 Kings 19.32-6; Isaiah 37.36-37). 372. . The challenge of the book of Jonah for unbelievers is to trust God and believe the gospel. Thanks again for sharing your study and research with us. The earth with its bars was around me forever, but You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. Luke 16:19- reveals Abrahams bosom. The arks lid was called the mercy seat (Exodus 25.17-22; cf. Now, God had blessed themand used him to do it. It reveals Gods greatness and mans pettiness. The Scriptures state Jesus was in the earth 3 days and 3 nights. Responding to Gods grace begins by believing Pauls gospel of grace (Acts 20.24): that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). He could feel seaweed wrapping around his head as the waves swept over him. And should not I care about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons?!. The Ninevites werepagan, idolatrous Gentiles.
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