How much more will God hear your prayers as you cry out for a wayward child? I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. YAHWEH has called us to do a job of preparing ourselves to meet Him and at the same time, preach the Gospel to all humanity. 10,11. Jonah's ordeal inside the belly of the whale certainly evokes Christ's death and resurrection over the same time period. Then he sent a parching east wind until Jonah began swooning away because of the heat. When the ship is threatened, he tells them to throw him over, willing to give his life to do what he thinks is best for Israel. The Lord controlled the elements of weather (Jon. I would love to hear from you! (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]. Please keep me ever worthy of your kingdom! Jonah, of course, tells God, it aint going to happen! and runs away in the polar opposite direction of Ninevah. Jonah, after receiving God's command, quickly ran away to a place far away from Nineveh: Tarshish. 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 4:2 NKJV). (b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? (a)How was Jonah evidently affected by Jehovahs wise instruction about mercy? Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?'" So, it shows that the Ninevites are even better than the Israelites at some point! His words spread like wildfire. If you are a follower of Jesus, God has given you instructions to take the message of the Good News to others ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). 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. To see what we can learn from the life of Jonah. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. Or did Jehovah grant him that ability through a miracle? Just like us, brethren, we have also been given a task by God to preach the Gospel to this morally decaying and dying world. It swallowed Jonah, but that didn't kill him. A person should aspire to obey God and receive his blessing than to disobey him and suffer terrible consequences. Milton has also served as chancellor and president of seminaries and is the author of more than thirty books. The book of Jonah is short and a lot of time we can read through it quickly. Jonah has two different responses to God's . But Jonah doesn't want to do God's bidding to he jumps. It is an astounding admission of the true nature of Gods covenant given to Abraham. Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forgetlest we forget! 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. It is the book itself. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. They had believed him. Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way because we don't always do things God's way. By so doing, the Lord is showing Jonah that his priorities are more then a bit messed up. It says, For God so loved the world.. 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 He will rescue them during trouble and provide for their needs. Give me the ability to do whatever you ask of me. He claimed that he knew all along that Jehovah would not bring calamity on Nineveh, even using that as an excuse for his running away to Tarshish in the first place. God is working to teach Jonah a lesson. He wants to show His love to everyone. As Jonah obeys God the people of Nineveh believe God's message and repent. 2:13-15. Read More, 3 Important Ways to Pray for Your Future Husband. Some critics might complain that Jonah never answers. How does that show through the story? "He Delighteth in Mercy". It seems that at this time Nineveh had a sea-oriented religious system and sea-themed Gods. Jonah (whose name means "dove") ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. Jonah; Micah . Before him lay a journey of more than 500miles (800km), an overland trek that would take him about a month, perhaps even longer. (See also footnote.) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). I dont select the ads displayed here but generated by advertising software. Now there is potential for a bit of Irony here. The Bible explains that Jehovahs justice is perfect. | 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 [] This blatant rebellion leads Jonah a not so fun boat ride. Jonah's preaching was quite short, and he probably wasn't enthusiastic when he preached it: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" 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). 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. All people will one day glorify God - Psalms 86:9. Long story short they toss him overboard, but before doing so they ask God to forgive them. Dear God, please make me your obedient child. Thank you for having available online. When God speaks to our heart to do something we should take intitive. God then tells the whale to throw Jonah up. 2. What's wrong with the House of Bishops' proposed same-sex prayers? That is where the Gourd and the Worm come in. 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 ). 9) What did God do to teach Jonah a lesson? I enjoy the Bible study and I want to be a blessing to others. Jonah was under God's observation all along. Enable me with the strength to be conscious of your expectations and meet them! Please click here to learn how. We read: Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." Yahweh has given Jonah a job that he needs to accomplish. Oddly enough Jonah was not too happy about that. Jonah suggested that he should have stayed home, on his own ground. Article Images Copyright , 4 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Jonah for Today. So he goes to Nineveh and calls them to repent or be destroyed. [And]Jesus did not merely weep for us; he died for us. God can simply choose to find another Prophet to do the job. She also enjoys family, cooking, and reading. Jonah thought he was going to die. Or trouble within your church? He was a prophet in a nation he is proud of. The Lord provided a gourd or plant that protected Jonah. God's Interest in All People The mandate to preach repentance is inexorably linked to the announcement of Gods grace and forgiveness. 6 It has been estimated that Samaria, the capital of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, may have had some 20,000 to 30,000 inhabitants in Jonahs dayless than a fourth of Ninevehs population. Learn More. In its heyday, Nineveh may have been the largest city in the world. 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. Jonah, that prophet that tried to run away from God, continues to bring us lessons on obedience, running away from God's commands, a hatred that stops one from sharing the Gospel, and many more. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. Jonah's lack of response indicates that he got the point. 1:17; 4:6, 7). 4) A storm threatens to overturn the ship. A bad storm happens and Jonah actually has the courage to let everyone know its his fault because hes running away from God. (b)Why was Jonahs prophecy not a false one? Prophet Jonah disobeyed God and attempted to escape, but God caught him red-handedly. God has Compassion on All People, not just us. Now, here was Jonah, a man who perfectly knew who the Ninevites were. Jonah couldnt make himself go to Nineveh. He was then swallowed by a huge fish - his transport to Nineveh. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah stays 3 days inside the whale and Jonah cried out to God. The story of Jonah and the Whale, one of the oddest accounts in the Bible, opens with God speaking to Jonah, son of Amittai, commanding him to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I was out on the road today in my car, I was dropping off a package and when I returned to my car there was paper on the front of my bumper. He is just doing it just for the sake of preaching. When Jonah adds that to his list of complaints the Lord uses it as a teaching moment. (John 4:11). I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away from God. 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. (Gen. 10:11; Jonah 3:3) Nineveh was impressive, with stately temples, mighty walls, and other edifices. Jonah's men threw him overboard because they didn't want to be punished for what Jonah had done. Instead, we see the exact opposite. The Beginning of the story of Jonah brings us the first lesson about missionary service: 1.There are no easy calls. (Read Deuteronomy 32:4.) Jonah was cast into the sea and did not drown. 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. And Jonah has good earthly reasons why, but God looks beyond the earthly and looks through His spiritual eyes. This post may contain affiliate links. What did the Lord mean in Jonah4:10-11? Through games, drawing their own comic strip, a DIY Big Gulp of Jonah toy, and a Jonah in a Big Fish puppet, kids learn that God is compassionate and gracious. God is omniscient - Psalm 139:1-6. God was telling Jonah to take a message of repentance to an empire destined to destroy his own nation and people. We could be preaching, but our hearts may not be in preaching. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. He gets on the boat and flees Jerusalem. In this sermon, Jerry Gifford deals with how the book of Jonah ends abruptly with a question. The result, however, was nothing short of amazing. God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. You can read it here on Bible Gateway: Book of Jonah NIV and Book of Jonah NKJ. 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. God's compassion easily surpasses our love for others. (b)How did Jehovahs miracles involving a bottle-gourd plant affect Jonah? He asks the men to hurl him into the sea, which they do, and the storm. Nineveh was a major city in Assyria, the world power of both Jonah and Nahum's day. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. The Bible states that the Lord had Jonah caught by a giant fish for three days and then vomit him up (presumably near Nineveh). Will we?Read Matthew 5:7. . MATERIALS: Learning props and toys, craft supplies, music SONG IDEAS:&a Now that we had a short summarylets get down to business! Thats after the prophet Elijah but before Amos and Hosea. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. The stubborn servant felt the heat of hell until he repented. As Jonah said, God is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.. 3. 10 How did Jehovah react to the Ninevites repentance? Six Signs We Need to Return to God, Jonah 1. (a)What object lesson did Jehovah teach Jonah? Introduction: This lesson is about a man that is in a little bit of all of us. Greek historian Herodotus noted that the ancient Persians grieved over the death of a popular general by including their livestock in the customs of mourning. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? Hes actually ANGRY at God. Yet he rebelled, and Nineveh accepted him as a messenger and quickly repented when he got there. The fish did not chew him up - it just swallowed him and Jonah was safe inside. JONAH would have plenty of time to think. So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. It is clear that Jonah believed in the efficacy of God's message. God didn't give up on Jonah. It takes place in part in Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria . He could be preaching, but his heart wasnt into it. Whenever we are in a situation where we have turned our back on God its important to follow these four steps. One of those is the way the historical account is conceived and recorded. What can we learn from the Ninevites repentance? 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. Jonahs story may help us to take an honest look at ourselves. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. What Does it Mean That Jesus Was Gods Begotten Son? After paying the fare, he. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. In fact, the narrator uses the same grammatical structure as in Jonah 4:1. Did that solve Jonahs attitude? Thats it. Hi, welcome to my little piece of cyberspace! But those things need to bow down to Gods ways. 8 The king too responded to Jonahs proclamation. The origin or source of the grace Jonah disdained is God. This is an essential characteristic of God. 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. 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.. It only stopped when Jonah was thrown overboard (see Jonah 1:15). 14 How did Jonah react when destruction did not come at the time he expected it to? The Lord called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah fled and was swallowed by a great fish. In the same manner, God won't give up on us. During this time Jonah humbled himself to do what the Lord wanted. . Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. BIBLEARENA.ORG presents the sacred teachings of the Bible to enhance spiritual growth. They had made no agreement to obey Him like the Israelites had ( Exodus 24:3 ), and God had no obligation to save them. God, however, had compassion on the people of Nineveh: "And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their leftand much livestock?" Jonah remains today a powerful lesson on compassion, on purpose, and obedience. You can try to hide, move, go away, either physically or even internally with your emotions, but its futile. Obedience is the key to receivingGods benefits! . For built into Jonah's first attempts to get away from God are two results which will inevitably follow whenever anyone tries to disobey Him. 12,13. Let us see what we can gather from Jonahs struggle. Jonah would not weep over a people who came close to destruction, but "Jesus, the true prophet, did.". No doubt he braced himself for a hostile and violent response. Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! What does his familiar and most often considered a childrens story could teach us, adults? We pray, OLord, please do not let us perish for this mans life, anddo not charge us with innocent blood; for You, OLord,have done as it pleased You. Jonah 1:14, Then the fun stuff happens Please observe picture below. Jonah was the prophet who served during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Eighth Century before Christ. He values human life and the potential that each individual has for repenting and learning to do what is right. God comes to us while we are still sinners, and still, the Lord does not wait for us to clean up our act before He comes into our lives. 8 This detail may seem odd, but it is not without precedent in ancient times. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. 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. Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. Jonah 1:3 ButJonahran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. Three days later, Jonah was vomited out alive onto a beach, an awed and more compliant man.Jonah, chaps. We read: Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.. The Pony Express riders would travel around 75 miles a day, interchanging horses every 5-20 miles. Destruction did not chew him up - it just swallowed him and Jonah has different! The ads displayed here but generated by advertising software not merely weep for us ; he for! Little bit of all of us seems that at this time Nineveh had a sea-oriented religious and! 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