Rich and poor, strong and weak, young and old were all caught up in the same repentant spirit. How does that show through the story? They are the same people who have killed a lot of Israelites. This is a great Jonah and the whale lesson. (a)What object lesson did Jehovah teach Jonah? 15. Amen. 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 must learn that God's love is greater and wider than he had ever imagined. Under King Jeroboam II, the nation expanded its borders and enjoyed an age of splendour that . "He Delighteth in Mercy". Notice, Nineveh is northeast of Israel and Tarshish is in the west. If I go up to the heavens,you are there;if I make my bedin the depths, you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn,if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right handwill hold me fast.If I say, Surely the darkness will hide meand the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be darkto you;the night will shine like the day,for darkness is as light to you. 1) God gave Jonah a job, but Jonah didn't want to do it. Jonah, of course, tells God, it aint going to happen! and runs away in the polar opposite direction of Ninevah. Jonah couldnt make himself go to Nineveh. Icried out to theLordbecause of my affliction,And He answered me. 3) That obedience to God will always bring God-sized results. Three days later, Jonah was vomited out alive onto a beach, an awed and more compliant man.Jonah, chaps. Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. *. He tried to run away from the presence of God, and enjoy himself. The Lord provided a gourd or plant that protected Jonah. If you want to learn more about Jonahcheck out Priscilla Shirer Jonah Bible Study. Of course, we know that you and I cant flee from God. God would use Israel to reach the entire world with His love and grace and forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. Is it true that it never rained before Noah? A gourd, an easterly winder, and even a worm, all over the Lord without any protests. However, had he allowed Jehovahs discipline to work a thorough change in him? Im having trouble understanding the story. When God speaks to our heart to do something we should take intitive. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. Its like what my pastor says, Earthly obedience, brings forth spiritual release. In what ways might some find themselves disagreeing with God, and what lesson can we learn from Jonahs example? Learn More. 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. 21. Don't just take the Ninevites words for it; listen to the Apostle Paul: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hathenabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 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. God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. But thankfully brethren, God is not like that. These are only 5 thingsthere are more! When they did throw him into the sea, the storm stopped. His mercy isnt just limited to His people, but He also extends it to those outside of Israel. And is the founder of Think About Such Things. I dont select the ads displayed here but generated by advertising software. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? ^ par. God Bless The people of Nineveh, from the king to the poorest, repented and held a fast. As he sank deeper and deeper into the sea, he prayed to Jehovah. Long story short they toss him overboard, but before doing so they ask God to forgive them. When thinking about this book as a whole, and what God is trying to teach Jonah, what does this mean for us. Jonah's response is joy, great joy. What does it mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High (Psalms 91:1)? Jonah's ordeal inside the belly of the whale certainly evokes Christ's death and resurrection over the same time period. How does that show through the story? Would you like to read this article in %%? Just imagine that prophet, once again safe in his homeland, writing this account. It is important to note that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was at odds with Assyria and Ninevah was a great city in Assyria. News of this popular movement soon reached the ears of the king. Lesson 48, November 21-27. So when the Lord told Jonah that Nineveh was wicked and ripe for destruction, it would be easy to see why Jonah would be pleased by this; and why he would be less pleased to be called by the Lord to call the city of Nineveh to repentance. 3 When Jehovah ordered Jonah to Nineveh the second time, the prophet obediently headed east on this long journey. Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forgetlest we forget! It is the book itself. How would Jehovah teach this hardheaded man to be merciful? The story of Jonah was a popular tale in Jesus' time. So, grab your Bible and let's go on an adventure in God's Word! PlusFULL access to my printables vault! We can come to think that we are blessed to be in the family of God because of something of value or usefulness that impresses God. God rates his favorite children by their obedience. After they threw him overboard, the waves grew calm. Jonah was a prophet and the Lord told Him to go and preach against Nineveh, which was the capital of the Assyrian empire. God's command to him remained the same; he was still to preach repentance to Nineveh (see Jonah 2:10-3:4). The Lord called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah fled and was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. These people were extremely cruel towards Israel and caused a lot of problem in the past. Jonah wanted to see Nineveh destroyed. There are treasures to be learned and applied in every chapter. (Luke 9:62), 20 Most Surprising Lessons from Psalm 91 You Probably Never Heard Of, 12 Awesome Lessons We Learn from the Healing of the Man Blind from Birth (John 9:1-41), 12 Important Lessons We Learn from the Temptation of Jesus Christ, 10 Little-Known Lessons from the life of Tabitha (Dorcas) in Acts 9:36-43, The Plain Truth About Tithing [YouTube Shorts compilation], 3 types of heaven in the Bible [1-minute video]. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!. How well are we doing our job? These past few months I have been doing the Jonah Bible study from Priscilla Shirer with my good friend Ana. The pagan city of Nineveh, the capital of an Ancient Near Eastern Empire, Assyria, was the epicenter of antagonism toward Israel, and yet, this enemy of God became the object of God's love and grace. It rocks my world that Jonah is running away from God and causing a huge storm (ahemmess) actually got people to offer sacrifices and make vows to the Lord. Michael A. Milton (PhD, Wales) is a long-time Presbyterian minister (PCA) and a regular contributor to Salem Web Network. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away from God. For instance, Jehovah had shown him mercy, saving him from drowning, holding back punishment for his rebellion, and giving him a second chance to carry out this assignment. I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. (a)What did Jonah do after leaving Nineveh? Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. He is, now, angry that God has forgiven them. Let us go to Jonah 1:1 brethren. Meanwhile, as soon as Jonah was thrown from the ship, the storm stopped and the water became calm again. However, as the story unfolds we can see how the Lord draws him from fear . Why does God allow good people to suffer? (a)What may have led Jonah into a downward spiral? How grateful we should be that Jehovah patiently teaches us to be more selfless, more compassionate, more mercifulas he is! It has a ton of practical and fun things to print that will help you in you grow in your walk with God! Perhaps he still clung to the hope of witnessing her destruction. At this point we find our first great lessons regarding God's sovereignty. 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. To learn more visit and subscribe: https://michaelmilton.org/about/. I am so grateful for technology. 33:11) Jehovah told his prophet Jeremiah: At any moment that I may speak against a nation and against a kingdom to uproot it and to pull it down and to destroy it, and that nation actually turns back from its badness against which I spoke, I will also feel regret over the calamity that I had thought to execute upon it.Jer. PDF to print for family reading. Critics have expressed what doubt regarding the Ninevites, but how do we know that the critics are mistaken? He mentions one in particular: Far-called, our navies melt away;On dune and headland sinks the fire:Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with Nineveh and Tyre! Jonah is depressed and miserable due the the fact that the city would not be destroyed. Rudyard Kipling, the great English poet of the first part of the 20th century, considered the strengths and influence of the British Empire but warned his fellow subjects of the crown that empires are fleeting. Im sure it will bless you like it has blessed me. The record of Jonah ends there, so we dont know what happened to Jonah after that, but we can hope that he learned what the Lord wanted him to learn and that he repented of his attitude and actions. 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. He has composed and performed original music for five albums. Jonah was under God's observation all along. Short little Melissa style summary and insight: *If you are not familiar with the story of Jonahspend some time reading it. Only true repentance can happen when we acknowledge and are willing to go in Gods direction. In this post, let us take a deeper look at the Book of Jonah and its many lessons it can teach us about Gods mercy and forgiveness and the role we need to play in doing his work. A person that willingly obeys God has an advantage of receiving greater benefits than someone who is coerced into obedience. Its victim never departs. What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . 10 How did Jehovah react to the Ninevites repentance? 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. We must keep our hearts soft lest anger and bitterness come in. The book of Jonah is a short narrative book about a prophet who doesn't really act like a prophet of God at all. Yet the city of Nineveh had sixscore thousand people (Jonah 4:11) who didnt know any better and Jonah thinks their preservation is a bad thing? Long strands of briny seaweed wrapped around Jonahs neck and the distinct rankness of a creatures stomach acid digesting the prophet would remain with Jonah for the rest of his life. Sep 5, 2014 | AAAA AskGramps Website, Bible | 3 comments. Jehovahs righteous anger against Nineveh simply abated. Liberal scholars might dismiss the story of Jonahs prayer time in a fish belly as riotous rabbinical storytelling, but Jonah would surely protest. Sign up for my newsletter and you will receive the Jonah character overview. For Jonah a whole city was ready to repent, but for that to happen he would have to leave his comfort zone. 7 Jonah flat out doesnt want to go to Nineveh. The word Lord means someone or something having power, authority, or influence; master or ruler. Jonah was inside the fish for three days. (b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? The only disobedient figure in the book of Jonah is Jonah. Jonah's preaching was quite short, and he probably wasn't enthusiastic when he preached it: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" In his mind, they deserve nothing but death. God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. 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. After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. . 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. So, you know for Jonah it would be a BIG deal to travel to Nineveh. This post may contain affiliate links. This was at least part of the reason why Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh - he was afraid they would repent, when all along he wanted God to judge the Assyrian capital. S response is joy, great joy didn & # x27 ; s sovereignty judgment was in. The Northern Kingdom of Israel and caused a lot of problem in the polar opposite direction Ninevah! 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