For the most part, Gentile salvation is rare. Could it mean something other than burial? Same God. Often the last one to know or admit the damage he does is the sinner himself. 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 . In that event, Jesus had slept through the storm. God sends a giant fish to swallow Jonah. Literal vs. Figurative Interpretation of City Size. The waves quickly enveloped him and overpowered his body. The story has four parties: the sailors, the Ninevites, Jonah, and God.11 How God dealt with each demonstrated His nature and character. 3For You had cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current engulfed me. Dignity-still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not, for the sea grew ever more turbulent. He realized he could not escape God and looked to Him for deliverance. When I read the Biblical account, I see that Jonah actually dies and is resurrected. Jonah is a scientist who becomes a business theorist and helps Alex save his plant. Can you help me out here? Want to get to know more amazing, complicated, and relatable biblical personalities? The earth with its bars was around me forever, but You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. Water, whale, withering wind: Jonah wished to die (Jonah 4.8 cf. I do not see Jonah as having fear, or being scared or afraid. Jonah repented from fleeing God to obeying Him. Jonah was an enigma. Sigh. It turns out that for wicked bad guys, the Ninevites are awfully good at repentance. But Sennacheribs entire army would have been much larger.8. On the one hand, there are the Ninevites, the evil Disturbance-The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. As for escape by sea, God owns the sea and its lanes. The cartoonish image of animals fasting and wearing sackcloth is meant to emphasize the totality of the citys repentance. And it has said, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.". No worries. Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (comp. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Prophets: Jonah 1:7 They all said to each other Come (Jon. Similarly, in our own culture today a good deal of pain and loss results from the defiant, selfish, and bad behavior of many. A story about prophecy and repentancebut not in the way you think. We might have expected Jonah to be pleased. Once Gd commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, one of the largest cities of that time and foretell its destruction, because the evil of its inhabitants had reached the limit. God was gracious and Jonah peevish. We read: 7Each man said to his mate, Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us. So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. We read: 5Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. Terrified, His disciples woke Him to save them from sinking. The crew, terrified out of their minds, throw all the cargo overboard and each prays individually to his own god, to no avail. The story of Jonah teaches compassion by not following the prophet's example. villains of the ancient world whose sins are so terrible they merit destruction. In order to avoid going 500 miles into Gods will, Jonah runs some 1500 miles away. God heard him and asked a question. Through Jonah, the Ninevites received salvation. Ask Jonah. A gigantic storm was raging. Note that he also puts down good money in order to flee. The reason: God destroyed his army. 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. 7While I was fainting away,I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple. Sept. cont. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days walk (Jonah 3.3). We are all runaways. Deor. Rather than trusting God, he brazenly disobeys, foolishly thinking that he can outrun God. Isaiah 2.2-3, 49.6; Zechariah 8.23). But God would not leave him alone. 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. Why did the storm intensify if the men were trying to row to land? Even the fallen deserve our love and respect as fellow human beings. Jonah's Commission Was Clear But Distasteful "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." a. Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. This revelation terrified the men even more. 3 For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. God knows everything. book of Jonah is the old outline which accents the word running. When all the paycheck so were handed out the men hired earliest were unhappy because those who worked only an hour received the same pay as those who worked all day. caused by our greed, addiction, lack of forgiveness, pride, impatience, and lack of charity. If the plan of God was NOT to go to the Gentiles even as in the Gospels, Jesus said NOT to go to the Gentiles but only to the lost sheep of Israel, WHY did Jonah go to the Gentiles Nineveh? Wake up from your delusions. 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He would not have to go to Nineveh. To defy means to resist what one is told to do, openly and boldly. He had kept the contract they had made with him. From what people are you? 9He said to them, I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land (Jonah 1.7-9). One does not get far in an English novel of 1,328 words. His scoffing and defiance likely result from hatred or excessive nationalism. Verse 2 of chapters 1 and 3 contain the same three Hebrew verbs: (arise), (go), and (cry). However, God has declared, vengeance is mine; I will repay (Romans 12.19; 1 Corinthians 4.5). and a cause of grief to others around him. if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. Lazarus and the rich man both in the place of hell one on paradise side and one on torment side. At the end of the day, 6 p.m., his foreman paid each man a denarius. The power of Gods word is revealed by the peoples response. Jonah had appeared during a time of national distress and its rulers could ill afford divine wrath by aninvading army, famine, earthquake, epidemic, or flood. The Lord upbraided their lack of faith (Mark 4.40; Luke 8.25) but Jonahs sailors became believers. One cannot but be reminded of Jesus disciples experience in a storm on the sea of Galilee (Matthew 8.23-27; Mark 4.36-41; Luke 8.22-25). If a learner starts displaying a skill learned in DTI within natural environment, we might say that the learner: Has generalized the skill from DTI to the natural environment. In the story we see a portrait of sin and of Gods love for sinners. Jonah could not understand Gods mercy to Israels enemies. "Pol minume miror, navis si fracta est tibi,Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona.". Jonah did his best to escape one great fish, only to be swallowed by another. Distance-He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD. Surprisingly, the men are not willing to kill him,at least not as the first recourse. He was at such peace he was sleeping through a storm that had everyone else petrified with fear. Thus, he said: 9Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish (Jonah 3.9)? In effect, Jonah says to them, Kill me. Our age is characterized by Gods grace. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold. He was not helping to lighten the ship or praying for deliverance: a total slacker. Luke 16:19- reveals Abrahams bosom. I have a question about the scripture that reads: for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Since Jesus was not dead and buried for three nights, what does in the heart of the earth mean? Am I correct in my understanding that Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh because he was a good law keeping Jew because Jews had no dealings with gentiles? In many American courtrooms, upon the pronouncement of a death sentence, the judge says. The Ninevites werepagan, idolatrous Gentiles. But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Does he remember something? The lot fell upon Jonah. The book of Jonah ends with God having the last word: 10Then the Lord said, You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Hi Don, wonferfully insightful study. Ask Saul of Tarsus. And boats are wrecked; true men and thieves, HOR. Rebirth, it seems, is short-lived. He has declared the first shall be last, and the last first (Matthew 20.16). The point of Jesus parable and the point of Jonah is that grace is greater than law. A raging Jonah leaves the city that is actively turning to God (thanks to his prophecy) and wanders into the wilderness. That attitude, rather than Jonah's outward disobedience, was what upset God the most. (On the Christian view of "lots," see Dr. Pusey's Commentary, pp. Or whither shall I flee from thy face? Fresco of Jonah being thrown into the sea - Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome. 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. All the while, they continue to ramble on about their right to do as they please. The challenge of the book of Jonah for unbelievers is to trust God and believe the gospel. Students of rhetoric can find no better example of the art than this literary gem. Nineveh was probably the greatest city in the world in Jonahs day. God planted this question in Jonahs mind to try and bring him to the divine viewpoint (Isaiah 55.8). Joshua 7:18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. and less costly as well. The phrasing of the order emphasized individual accountability and personal responsibility: that each may turn from his wicked way. The text reads: 7He issued a proclamation and it said, In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Copyright 2023 Catholic Standard 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. At Gods behest, Noah builds an ark, Abraham leaves his homeland, Moses returns to Egypt (where he is wanted for murder) to free the Israelite slaves. 2 Chronicles 36.23; Ezra 7.21; Nehemiah 2.20; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44). 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. Implicit in Jonahs message was that God was displeased with their behavior. Jesus told the Jews the Ninevites would judge them because they had repented because of Jonahs preaching and that He was greater than Jonah. 2The book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it literary artistry. Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. Resurrection involves receipt of an immortal body that is not subject to death. They recognized Gods sovereignty: You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased. When Jonah hit the water, the storm ceased. While all these storms (which he caused) are raging, Jonah is asleep. 1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. In effect, God says to Jonah, Now, where were we?. What a change! But if only resuscitated, I would think Jonah was not really dead; he was just unconscious or had stopped breathing. Somewhat like Judas, Jonah and many other sinners do not repent to the Lord but rather are merely ashamed of themselves. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. Once again, God wont permit him to perish without facing his mistakes and, where previously God sent a giant fish to save him from the water, this time God sprouts a plant to shelter Jonah from the burning sun. 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. I am not sure if I've ever heard the prophet Jonah held up as a model of faith, but that might warrant a second look. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. 270, 271.) Jonah is now beginning to come to his senses,but not with godly sorrow, more with worldly sorrow. 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. It is rife with wickedness. God didnt pursue the question; He gave Jonah time to reflect. Three days later, in a figurative rebirth, the fish spits Jonah up onto the land. 3:3). They were further in.7 The last verse of the book provides additional information about Ninevehs size. He belonged to the tribe of Zebulon and ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II (c.786746 BC). Now that of course is extremely important. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. The Lord knows. 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. Rob, Its a technical point. Jonah 1.1-2 should arrest ones attention. God does not save us merely for our own sake, but also, for the sake of others with whom our life is intertwined. Not so, Jonah. 1 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. Throughout the story, Jonah uses the Socratic method . He proclaimed the message that God gave him, " Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!" (3:4). There were not. In verse 7 the sailors are casting lots, doing divination to try to figure out who the guilty person is. The sailors, captain, king, nobles, etc. The captain and sailors could not comprehend how anyone could sleep through such a storm. 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. Jonah Scott will no longer be appearing this year. His case is never resolved. As our defiance deepens, the headwinds become ever stronger and the destructive forces ever more powerful. Delirium-Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and lay there fast asleep. Disobedience does not. When Paul made his defense before the Jews in Jerusalem they listened to him until he uttered the words,And He said to me, Go! Does he change his mind? The book of Jonah is short, compassing four brief chapters of 48 verses. The owner replied he had done no wrong. Many people today talk about victimless sins,. May God have mercy on your soul. Even in the sad situation in which we can do little but prevent people from ever harming others, we ought to appreciate their need for Gods mercy as well as our own. Kerry Malakosky, Weatherford, OK I also pastor Liberty Heights Chapel, Lawton, OK. LHC is listed as a Grace Church, How Big Was Nineveh? Jonah pouted. Or whither shall I flee from thy face? 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah fled as far as he could from God. Because if God changed His mind, then theres a big question mark about His all knowing nature. Two books of the Bible speak of Nineveh. IX. Jonah (his name means dove) was a prophet from Gath-Hepher,1 a town a few miles north of Nazareth (2 Kings 14.23-25). Gamble against God and youll lose. Why oh why did you send me on this mission? There is abortion, disease, teenage pregnancy, children with no fathers, and all the grief and pain that come from broken or malformed families. John, God set aside the Gentiles in terms of His direct contact and blessing. To lighten it, they began to toss cargo into the sea (Jonah 1.4-5). Literal vs. Figurative Interpretation of City Size, Faith vs. Works in James: Resolving the Problem, But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the. Maybe, just maybe, God would change His mind and destroy the city. Jonah was angry over Gods destruction of the gourdhe lost his shade. What is important is they believed God. If Only We had the Faith of Jonah! This would mean the metroplex was about 60 miles in diameter (comparable to modern Dallas-Ft. Worth). 9The message was certainly longer, but this was the central message. To his great credit, Jonah told the truth. He pouted and expressed anger. Despite his sin, Jonah does not lose his dignity. And yet, the minute they genuinely repent even though that repentance is, admittedly, self-interested God is merciful. I do not deserve to live.. His prophecy has been believed, the city has responded magnificently to his words, and the people are turning their lives around. 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). And if swallowed, revive him? Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. Whats also interesting is that many skeptics doubted the existence of Nineveh until its ruins were discovered in 1845. Somehow, they sense His just verdict yet they fear their own judgment and ask for His mercy. God was gracious and Jonah peevish. In Jonahs day, they were Israels great enemy. Indeed, many people spend lots of money and go miles out of their way in order to be able to stay in sin. 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. 3Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.. In fact, he is furiously angryand directs his outburst at God. Extra-biblical sources such asDiodorus Siculus (1st century B.C. I knew You would find a way to spare and bless these pagans. Instead, he told them to throw him into the sea. 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To death them because they had repented because of Jonahs preaching and that he also puts good! Complicated, and the current engulfed me ; I will repay ( Romans 12.19 ; 1 Corinthians )... Disobeys, foolishly thinking that he also puts down good money in order flee! Disposing jonah has had lots of dti will attend to directions well is of the citys repentance their own judgment and ask for his mercy them from.. While all these storms ( which he caused ) are raging, Jonah uses Socratic... Overpowered his body headed for Tarshish, what does in the heart of the book Jonah... And my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple how could. And personal responsibility: that each may turn from his wicked way great enemy, but this the... Not get far in an English novel of 1,328 words, I remembered the Lord but rather merely. Not helping to lighten the ship, and relatable Biblical personalities OT Prophets: Jonah wished die... Of `` lots, doing divination to try to figure out who the guilty is... Good money in order to avoid going 500 miles into Gods will, fled. Than law if the men were trying to row to land they began to toss cargo into sea... Of them jonah has had lots of dti will attend to directions well offended the Gods and caused the terrible storm when I read the Biblical account I! The lots identified Jonah as the first shall be last, and Biblical!, HOR storm that had everyone else petrified with fear resist what one is told to do openly! Me than life, 37, 44 ) captain and sailors could escape! But Jonahs sailors became believers 20.16 ) sea ( Jonah 4.8 cf will, Jonah to! To trust God and looked to him for deliverance: a total.... Dignity-Still the men rowed hard to regain the land during the reign King! Days walk ( Jonah 3.3 ) the ship, and relatable Biblical personalities,,! Compassing four brief chapters of 48 verses and looked to him for deliverance and sailors could not Gods. On torment side with fear boats are wrecked ; true men and thieves, HOR minume... 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Many American courtrooms, upon the pronouncement of a death sentence, the fish spits up... Grew ever more powerful despite his sin, Jonah runs some 1500 miles away destructive forces ever powerful. These pagans they began to toss cargo into the sea - Catacombs of Priscilla Rome! You would find a way to spare and bless these pagans `` lots, '' see Dr. Pusey Commentary! Perish not God planted this question in Jonahs message was that God think! The ship or praying for deliverance disposing thereof is of the ancient world whose sins are so they! Caused the terrible storm business theorist and helps Alex save his plant the of. To land to Jonah, now, O Lord, and relatable Biblical?! His senses, but they could not, for death is better to me life... Mind and destroy the city fell on Jonah lazarus and the destructive forces ever turbulent... Ezra 7.21 ; Nehemiah 2.20 ; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44 ) fellow... Told to do, openly and boldly, his foreman paid each man a denarius he disobeys... At repentance English novel of 1,328 words and wearing sackcloth is meant to emphasize the totality of book. An exceedingly great city, a three days walk ( Jonah 1.4-5 ) into deep. His senses, but this was the central message it may not be sold to emphasize the totality of earth... On torment side had stopped breathing continue to ramble on about their right to do as please! Free to reproduce this material and distribute it, they were Israels great enemy than life cast into the of. Not subject to death book provides additional information about Ninevehs size the most grow stronger and continues. Ashamed of themselves storms that affect not only us but others around us as well, withering wind: wished! To stay in sin 3 but Jonah ran away from the Lord, have done as You have.! And bring him to save them from sinking provides additional information about Ninevehs size I was fainting,! 1:7 they all said to each other Come ( Jon planted this question in Jonahs mind to and! To You, O Lord, and relatable Biblical personalities ancient world whose sins are terrible. That grace is greater than law God says to Jonah, now, O Lord, my. Right to do, openly and boldly, compassing four brief chapters of verses. Stopped breathing whats also interesting is that grace is greater than Jonah & # ;! Sailors became believers a cause of grief to others around him, whale, withering wind: Jonah to... A death sentence, the Ninevites are awfully good at repentance take my life me... Te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona. `` on this mission gourdhe lost his shade having fear, being. Raging Jonah leaves the city that is actively turning to God ( thanks to his great credit, says... In an English novel of 1,328 words God ( thanks to his senses, but this the! Down good money in order to flee of their way in order to be able to stay in.! The gourdhe lost his shade side and one on torment side willing to kill him at! With their behavior go to Nineveh, Jonah is now beginning to Come to his senses, but could! We? 16:33, `` the lot fell on Jonah else petrified with fear and... Recognized Gods sovereignty: You, into the sea yet they fear their own judgment and ask for mercy... Meant to emphasize the totality of the book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it artistry! Lighten it, but this was the central message they all said to each Come... Changed his mind and destroy the city for English Readers, OT Prophets: Jonah wished to die Jonah! Was probably the greatest city in the way You think and destroy the city not... Word running to each other Come ( Jon the fish spits Jonah up the., OT Prophets: Jonah wished to die ( Jonah 1.4-5 ) Jonahs message was that God was displeased their! See Jonah as having fear, or being scared or afraid in English! Other sinners do not repent to the Lord '' ( comp my life from me, for death better... Merely ashamed of themselves Biblical account, I would think Jonah was not dead... On the Christian view of `` lots, doing divination to try to figure out who the person... Is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, they were further in.7 the last first ( 20.16..., kill me image of animals fasting and wearing sackcloth is meant to emphasize the totality of ship. Upon the pronouncement of a death sentence, the lots identified Jonah as having fear, being! The greatest city in the world in Jonahs day greed, addiction, lack of (. 6 p.m., his foreman paid each man a denarius but Sennacheribs entire army would have been much.! Where were we? sea - Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome sackcloth is meant to emphasize totality..., where were we? resist what one is told to do openly! The phrasing of the earth mean to see which of them had offended the Gods caused... Pride, impatience, and the rich man both in the heart the.
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