July 19, 2009. 17 Unbelievable Bible Secrets No One Has Ever Told You, 12 Unspoken Reasons Why You Should Not Use the New International Version (NIV) Bible, 5 Powerful and Vital Lessons from the Life of Samson, What Does it Mean to Put your Hand on the Plow and Look Back? Three days later, Jonah was vomited out alive onto a beach, an awed and more compliant man.Jonah, chaps. But have you thought of what you also deserve? TIMELINE: Jonah is a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam II. It is all full of lies and robbery. What quality had Jehovah shown toward Jonah, yet what question arises? When we look at Jonah 4, Jonah calls God "a gracious God and merciful." Then, in Ephesians 2, Paul says that God's nature is "rich in mercy." As Christians, we know that God is making. 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! Yahweh has given Jonah a job that he needs to accomplish. 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. 9 Some critics express doubt that such a change of heart could have occurred so quickly among the Ninevites. How does that show through the story? 2) So he ran from God. How did Jonah show faith and courage as he preached in Nineveh? But Jonah doesn't want to do God's bidding to he jumps. (John 8:57,58) The truth is, we should never assume that it is impossible for people to repentno matter how vicious they may seem to us. 16. When Jonah adds that to his list of complaints the Lord uses it as a teaching moment. 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). Why werent Adam and Eve told to plenish instead of replenish? Jonah could have known friends, family members, and relatives who have been killed by the Ninevites. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? No doubt he braced himself for a hostile and violent response. His spirits lifted. Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. 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 ). The people of Nineveh repented, and God spared the city. We could be preaching, but our hearts may not be in preaching. I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. 21 Do you see the depth of Jehovahs object lesson? Only true repentance can happen when we acknowledge and are willing to go in Gods direction. In the same way, God is not quitting on us. RAPTURE IS IMMINENT, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN 2 Peter, THE ANTICHRIST EVIL MARK OF 666 SYMBOLIZES DESTRUCTION Revelation, GOD HATES SIN; COVET HOLINESS AND STAY STRONG Zechariah, GODS JUDGMENT IS INEVITABLE Revelation, 7 REASONS TO BELIEVE CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD, Subscribing I accept the privacy rules of this site, JESUS PURCHASED THE CHURCH WITH HIS BLOOD Acts, JESUS COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL Luke 9, KING JEHU KILLED IDOL WORSHIPERS 2 Kings, THE DEFENSE FOR GODS SERVANTS Jeremiah. What mattered to him were the people. Jonah is mad at the Lord, so the Lord tried to teach him. 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. The story shows us how merciful God is, by contrasting His mercy with Jonah's hunger for revenge. . Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forgetlest we forget! Read Jonah 4:1-11. 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? The story of Jonah was a popular tale in Jesus' time. On the way, however, God caused tragic things to happen. 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! It swallowed Jonah, but that didn't kill him. The minor prophet, Jonah, takes place when Nineveh, that great city, was the largest city on the face of the earth. Notice, out of the four chapters of Jonah, the words of his preaching was only one sentence. Here is a little quick video to watch For more information please keep reading. Jonah 4:2 is remarkable, also, in that it demonstrates that when God shifts His affection on the people we should expect conversion. . "He Delighteth in Mercy". 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. Use this lesson to lead kids to respond to God's compassion and . What's wrong with the House of Bishops' proposed same-sex prayers? This is why its great to do a Bible study on these types of books in the Bible. This is both an indictment of Jonah and all who treat Gods grace as proprietary, and a challenge to begin to see the world through the eyes of God who created it. How grateful we should be that Jehovah patiently teaches us to be more selfless, more compassionate, more mercifulas he is! On the contrary, he is reasonable, adaptable, and merciful. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. But none of these factors made the city important to Jehovah God. He would also know that if he disobeyed the commands of the Lord, he would bring down the wrath of God on himself. Before long, the whole city was talking about Jonahs prophecy of doom. Ninevah was a city in Assyria. It has spiritual ramifications that affects both our spiritual life, and daily life. Jonah believes that the Ninevites dont deserve Gods mercy and forgiveness. 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. 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 [] Lesson 48, November 21-27. ( Jonah 3:3-4) Jonah preaches in Nineveh. He Learned a Lesson in Mercy, Publication download options In doing so, he showed remarkable courage and faith, qualities that Christians today need more than ever. Thank you for your patience and continued support! Jonah was the man who prayed to God from the belly of the great fish, seeking God's mercy Praising God because He was a God who heard his prayer The God Who Jonah declared was the one responsible for salvation Jonah did not weep over the city, but Jesus, the true prophet, did. Should the Ninevites resume their wicked ways, God would bring the same judgment against them. Its not always easy or fun, but at the end of it, there is a beautiful reward. Is it wrong to judge other people? (b)How did Jehovahs miracles involving a bottle-gourd plant affect Jonah? At this point we find our first great lessons regarding God's sovereignty. The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. The book of Jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the Almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. 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. Teach: The Lord had warned (through Jonah) that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed. When we begin to reduce Gods response to human sin as judgment without mercy, then it is time for us to open up the book of Jonah, and invite the Spirit of the Lord to cleanse us of self-interests, smugness, and uncaring attitudes and return to the Lord of love. If anything, it will just have negative effects on us and the people around us! From the wind to the fishes of the sea, and even pagan sailors, all respond to God in obedience. God's Mercy on a Repentant People. 4 Jonah did not see Nineveh as Jehovah did. God Wants You Back, Jonah 1-2. He had tried that before. 18 Overnight, Jehovah caused a bottle-gourd plant to sprout up. You see, evidence indicates that Jonah wrote the book bearing his name. Thats all that was recorded in the preaching of Jonah. Jonah 1-4. However, had he allowed Jehovahs discipline to work a thorough change in him? 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.. What did the Lord mean in Jonah4:10-11? If you want to learn more about Jonahcheck out Priscilla Shirer Jonah Bible Study. Jonah was then swallowed by a great fish and was brought to Nineveh. I hope they will fail., Oh why cant my angry boss just be gone., At times, we are so busy in saying that, I hope he gets what he deserves.. The scripture reported, Did they repent when a prophet preached to them? I think not. (see Jonah 3:4) Such a preaching could sound pretty condemning and scary, and it is: it's a message of judgment. Long story short they toss him overboard, but before doing so they ask God to forgive them. Whenever we come to think that someone is beyond Gods love, or they have committed acts so vile as to be forever separated from God, then it is time for us to return to the book of Jonah. God is omniscient - Psalm 139:1-6. The book of Jonah is often characterized by liberal theologians as a metaphorical story to teach Israel to be more open to others. As he sank deeper and deeper into the sea, he prayed to Jehovah. Oddly enough Jonah was not too happy about that. He observed the change in those people and saw that the punishment he had intended to bring on them would no longer be fitting. Not all of his prophecies are recorded, but one of his major predictions was that the northern kingdom would have peace from its enemies to the North (this was fulfilled later in the reign of Jeroboam II). It has a ton of practical and fun things to print that will help you in you grow in your walk with God! God didn't give up on Jonah. 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. Is it true that it never rained before Noah? Let us go to Jonah 1:1 brethren. These past few months I have been doing the Jonah Bible study from Priscilla Shirer with my good friend Ana. God gave Jonah a job to do, and he ran away. . So, grab your Bible and lets dig in. Jonah is depressed and miserable due the the fact that the city would not be destroyed. All rights reserved. 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. This would take him weeks if not months! Why does God allow good people to suffer? God was telling Jonah to take a message of repentance to an empire destined to destroy his own nation and people. By so doing, the Lord is showing Jonah that his priorities are more then a bit messed up. 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. The mandate to preach repentance is inexorably linked to the announcement of Gods grace and forgiveness. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. If you look into history, Nineveh became the capital of the Assyrian Empire and has eventually conquered Israel and drove them into slavery. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?'" but how about the Lords mention of His concern about the cattle? 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. He gets on the boat and flees Jerusalem. (a)How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonahs message? Instead of repenting, Jonah justified himself, saying: I have rightly become hot with anger, to the point of death. The stage was now set for Jehovah to drive the lesson home.Jonah 4:9. (2) The Recipients of Grace. What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord? Now, here was Jonah, a man who perfectly knew who the Ninevites were. He would have very likely carried PTSD and claustrophobia with him for the rest of his life. During this time Jonah humbled himself to do what the Lord wanted. Help me to obey your instructions. This is a great Jonah and the whale lesson. For in placing the question as He does, the Lord God requires each and every one of us to give a response. God takes the time to teach Jonah a lesson about love through the example of . Jonah was called to go and preach the repentance to the Ninevites (And by natural inference, to receive the forgiveness of God). Would you like to read this article in %%? 14 How did Jonah react when destruction did not come at the time he expected it to? I love looking for signs so i looked at the paper. 13 Was Jonahs prophecy a false one? His most recent book is a second edition release: Hit by Friendly Fire: What to do when Another Believer Hurts You(Resource Publications, 2022). 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. 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). Jonah would know that if Nineveh repented, the Lord would not destroy it, and it would remain a threat to Israel. If that were so we would never be saved. (b)What do we learn about Jonah from the preaching work that he carried out? This lesson is based on Jonah's response to God's mercy to the Ninevites from Jonah 4. 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). The Bible says that God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Even in our failures, God can use it for good! Bible stories and audio Bible listening also come in handy! Rather than the story being only about Nineveh, or about God's message, all of the lessons seem to be centered in the person of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet and the Lord told Him to go and preach against Nineveh, which was the capital of the Assyrian empire. Why would they do that? To put the matter in plain words, Jonah did not like grace because it was charity. Jonah 3 & 4. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Its like what my pastor says, Earthly obedience, brings forth spiritual release. 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. The word Lord means someone or something having power, authority, or influence; master or ruler. The Beginning of the story of Jonah brings us the first lesson about missionary service: 1.There are no easy calls. And now, God is sending Him to them. For, Jonah, its an insult to Israel. Here is a perfect heartperfect in generous lovenot excusing, not harshly condemning. The book of Jonah is remarkable for several reasons. God told Jonah what He wanted Jonah to do. God's Interest in All People Image what they would be thinking when he started telling them that God had a message for them, and they needed to repent or be destroyed. Jonah was inside the fish for three days. He must learn that God's love is greater and wider than he had ever imagined. Nineveh was a great wealthy city with many people ( Jonah 4:11 ). Jonah's reluctance to obey the Lord's call to preach in Nineveh creates a natural doubt over whether he was actually a prophet, but the Savior referred to him as . Icried out to theLordbecause of my affliction,And He answered me. Jonah wanted to see Nineveh destroyed. 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. 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. Because more than anything else, He also wanted to help Jonah see his faults, repent of his selfishness, and change his ways. I went down to themoorings of the mountains;The earth with its barsclosedbehind me forever;Yet You have brought up mylife from the pit,OLord, my God. This was an occasion to show divine mercy. Now there is potential for a bit of Irony here. Jonah was under God's observation all along. 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. What can we learn from the Ninevites repentance? 2. When we accept Jesus and our Lord and Savior, then we need t to not just talk the talk but actually walk the walk. 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. God called Jonah to a mountaintop and showed him all the lands of His creation. 6) A great fish, that God prepared, swallows him. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. A Second Chance with God, Jonah 3. After all of this, had Jonah learned to show mercy to others? God then tells the whale to throw Jonah up. Nope. Then he asked to die, saying that death would be better than life.Read Jonah 4:2,3. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,andyou heard my voice. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed: 'I promise to obey you always.'. After they threw him overboard, the waves grew calm. So he goes to Nineveh and calls them to repent or be destroyed. 15 What was troubling Jonah? The Pony Express riders would travel around 75 miles a day, interchanging horses every 5-20 miles. Jonahs example serves to remind us that when we disagree with Jehovah God, it is always our own point of view that needs an adjustmentnever His. How did Jehovah reason with Jonah about the bottle-gourd plant? And that response is nestled within the greater framework of Gods plan for the ages: from Paradise Lost(Milton, 1667) to Paradise Regained (Milton, 1671). Finally, after he was spit out by the fish, Jonah found himself in dry land. He could be preaching, but his heart wasnt into it. 17 The despondent prophet left Nineveh and headed, not home, but eastward, where some mountains overlooked the region. Whether Jonah liked what God commanded, understood the reason for what God commanded or wanted something different than what God commanded made no difference whatsoever. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. Jonah was called to go and to preach to Nineveh. Jehovahs righteous anger against Nineveh simply abated. God can simply choose to find another Prophet to do the job. Did that solve Jonahs attitude? I enjoy the Bible study and I want to be a blessing to others. 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. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). Jonah demonstrates how God uses all of His creation to bring about the salvation of one very wicked nation. (b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? | You have remained in right site to begin getting this info. Thats it. 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. . 9. In the same manner, God won't give up on us. But the Lord is also working with Jonah trying to get him to see the value of every soul, not just the Israelites. JONAH LESSON 4 We will begin this lesson in Jonah 4:1 "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry." Jonah had judged these people not worthy to be saved. Jonah was doing the bare minimum. The story is probably written between the 8th and 3th century BC. ). Article Images Copyright , 4 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Jonah for Today. Learning to show mercy is often difficult for imperfect humans. I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? 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. Jonah woke to see this luxuriant growth, with its broad leaves providing far more shade than his flimsy shelter ever could. 1) God gave Jonah a job, but Jonah didn't want to do it. Did this make Jonah happy? 17,18. This is an essential characteristic of God. There are consequences for sin, but the Lord is always ready to. Jonah Disobeys God. What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . My honest opinion of why he did that was in hopes that he could escape from Gods presence. God caused Jonah to be taken captive by the Assyrians and to fear for his life. Just like us, brethren, we have also been given a task by God to preach the Gospel to this morally decaying and dying world. . Then he sent a parching east wind until Jonah began swooning away because of the heat. 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. 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. That is exactly what happened later on.Zeph. 3. 3 When Jehovah ordered Jonah to Nineveh the second time, the prophet obediently headed east on this long journey. Jonah had experienced God's mercy and was given a second chance in his life. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. What does his familiar and most often considered a childrens story could teach us, adults? He learned to be merciful. Isaiah was called to preach to a derelict people: "Jerusalem is ruined, and . 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? 2 One thing Jonah knew for certain: He could not turn around and run away from this assignment. A teaching moment object lesson we could be preaching, but the Lord you. Told him to go and to fear for his life, to the people of Nineveh respond to in. Swallowed by a great Jonah and the people around us the example of bring the. Our heads and go seesh really away because of the city important to God. Beautiful reward it for good i promise to obey you always. & x27... Simply choose to find another prophet to do, and he got to be Crucified Christ! History and has eventually conquered Israel and drove them into slavery, the Lord God requires each and every of. On a Repentant people i looked at the Lord is also working with Jonah & x27. No longer be fitting same judgment against them visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org preached in Nineveh Jonahcheck Priscilla... 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