The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. Finally, after he was spit out by the fish, Jonah found himself in dry land. Would you like to read this article in %%? 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). He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind Elisha in his place in the Old Testament. God didn't give up on Jonah. God's compassion easily surpasses our love for others. These people were extremely cruel towards Israel and caused a lot of problem in the past. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying. ^ par. 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 7 Jonahs message got the Ninevites attention. Jonah was doing the bare minimum. For Jonah a whole city was ready to repent, but for that to happen he would have to leave his comfort zone. For You cast me into the deep,Into the heart of the seas,And the floods surrounded me;All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, I have been cast out of Your sight;Yet I will look againtoward Your holy temple.Thewaters surrounded me,evento my soul;The deep closed around me;Weeds were wrapped around my head. No one expects a person to survive inside a fish. 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. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? . Sometimes God will ask us to step out or step up. On the way, however, God caused tragic things to happen. However, had he allowed Jehovahs discipline to work a thorough change in him? 14 How did Jonah react when destruction did not come at the time he expected it to? Jonah needed courage and faith to preach in Nineveh. When they did throw him into the sea, the storm stopped. 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). Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Jonah is saying in his prayer, that he knows that God will bring Nineveh into that covenantal relationship. and God's forgiveness. It seems that at this time Nineveh had a sea-oriented religious system and sea-themed Gods. 3 When Jehovah ordered Jonah to Nineveh the second time, the prophet obediently headed east on this long journey. Jehovah will satisfy the needs of his faithful children from this earth to heaven. Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jonah suggested that he should have stayed home, on his own ground. So, I hope my Bible study on Jonah encourages you to take a second look at Jonah. All rights reserved. Notice, Nineveh is northeast of Israel and Tarshish is in the west. Instead of doing our part in preaching the Gospel, are we running away by simply ignoring this command, wasting our time on unproductive things, or focusing too much on the things of this world rather than the things of God? Is it true that it never rained before Noah? The Lord caused a big fish to come and swallow Jonah. I enjoy the Bible study and I want to be a blessing to others. . 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). Without Gods mercy, love, and compassion, we wouldnt be here. (a)What did Jonah do after leaving Nineveh? But those things need to bow down to Gods ways. 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. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. . Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,AndYou heard my voice. During this time Jonah humbled himself to do what the Lord wanted. 12 Jehovah is nothing like the rigid, cold, even harsh God so often portrayed by religious leaders. God Wants You Back, Jonah 1-2. Why arent prophets giving us specific signs to watch for? When God told Jonah what he would say in Nineveh, Jonah rejected the call. The Beginning of the story of Jonah brings us the first lesson about missionary service: 1.There are no easy calls. Yes, they do, but most of the time, Israel wont repent. The Bible states that the Lord had Jonah caught by a giant fish for three days and then vomit him up (presumably near Nineveh). Or, are we angry, too? Nineveh was a Gentile city, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and had no covenant with God. Wahooooo! Let us see what we can gather from Jonahs struggle. He was hoping God was going to call down fire on everyone. The truth is that mans sin has a devastating effect upon creation. 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. Talk about Jonah 1: 4-16: This is what it is like to turn away from God. Obviously, He did not. But the plant wasn't an act of divine mercy it was part of a divine lesson. The people of Nineveh repented, and God spared the city. 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). God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. Clearly the Lord knew what Jonah would do, and it seems the Lord was prepared to use that to further His own ends. I love looking for signs so i looked at the paper. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament that God flat out told to preach to a Gentile city and not just any gentiles but the people of Nineveh (The Assyrians). JONAH would have plenty of time to think. 7 Introduction. He was a prophet in a nation he is proud of. And when God did not destroy Nineveh, Jonah became angry. 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! (b)What lesson do we all need to learn? Jonah did not weep over the city, but Jesus, the true prophet, did. "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. In what ways might some find themselves disagreeing with God, and what lesson can we learn from Jonahs example? Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. As a result of his rebellion, the Lord sent a wild storm. Jonah 1:1-2 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Go to the great city of Ninevehand preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.. He asked him to go somewhere Jonah would NEVER want to go. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? 2. I AM JOSHUA and Im on a mission to help fellow Christians build a closer and more intimate relationship with God. 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). (b)How may the account about Jonah help us to take an honest look at ourselves? When someone repents, are we happy for the person? It has a ton of practical and fun things to print that will help you in you grow in your walk with God! Thank you. 3. We must realize we dont see it all, we dont understand it all. God let Jonah eat lavishly, then sent him to a place of famine. You see, evidence indicates that Jonah wrote the book bearing his name. (Gen. 10:11; Jonah 3:3) Nineveh was impressive, with stately temples, mighty walls, and other edifices. God knows the future - Isaiah 46:10. Only Jehovah can read what lies within the human heart. 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. What does a man swallowed by a big fish thousands of years ago have to do with the Day of Atonement? Whereas if they did not repent, then the Lord would destroy them, and they would no longer be a danger to Israel. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?. News of this popular movement soon reached the ears of the king. God loves us as much as He loves the people outside of the church. Jehovah can allow his children to suffer for the sake of saving them. To top it off Nineveh is 800 miles away. 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. Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. 1,2. For, Jonah, this is unthinkable and so, HE FLED! PRIVACY POLICY Or trouble within your church? The book of Jonah concludes with a rather enigmatic ending. Obedience is the key to receivingGods benefits! Jonah 4:8 "And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, [It is] better for me to die than to live." After all of this, had Jonah learned to show mercy to others? Learn More. DLTK's Sunday School Lessons Men of the Old Testament Pt 1: Jonah. The 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, are likely infants. Could we be like that brethren? Then all of sudden God decided to come between Jonah and his patriotism. Jonah was called to go and preach the repentance to the Ninevites (And by natural inference, to receive the forgiveness of God). Jonah's story is told in the short (just 48 verses) but powerful book of Jonah. 2) That there's no point in striving to achieve something that isn't God's will. What does the story of Jonah and the whale teach us? He would also know that if he disobeyed the commands of the Lord, he would bring down the wrath of God on himself. 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. One could never feel any sense of accomplishment or ownership, because it is given without cause. In doing so, he showed remarkable courage and faith, qualities that Christians today need more than ever. They are the enemies of Israel. Isaiah was called to preach to a derelict people: "Jerusalem is ruined, and . The mans spirits plummeted, and again he asked God that he might die.Jonah 4:6-8. People listened! Jonah's lack of response indicates that he got the point. Lastly, I get commissions for purchases made through my Amazon affiliate links in this website. And now, God is sending Him to them. To put the matter in plain words, Jonah did not like grace because it was charity. What did the Lord mean in Jonah. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed: 'I promise to obey you always.'. Jonah sits in the heat of Northern Iraq and is so outdone with God's grace to his enemy, seething that he has lost a gourd with its leaves to shade him, that he despairs unto death. My honest opinion of why he did that was in hopes that he could escape from Gods presence. We must keep our hearts soft lest anger and bitterness come in. 6) A great fish, that God prepared, swallows him. The book is historical and refers to what became one of the greatest revivals in the history of humankind. Instead, the Lord saved him. "He Delighteth in Mercy". When Jonah adds that to his list of complaints the Lord uses it as a teaching moment. God does not want us to forget the lessons of the book of Jonah, nor the destiny of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. And dont forget to download the Jonah Character Overview PDF! (see Jonah 3:6-9). The mission of God is a guaranteed success because of the sovereignty of God. She has been involved in church and vocational ministry for over 18 years. . Jonah remains today a powerful lesson on compassion, on purpose, and obedience. Here is part of the prayer in Jonah 2. A Heartless Prophet, Jonah 4. God caused Jonah to be taken captive by the Assyrians and to fear for his life. He decides the best thing to do is leave Israel and go in the polar opposite direction to Tarshish, which is said to be near Spain. (a)What object lesson did Jehovah teach Jonah? The mandate to preach repentance is inexorably linked to the announcement of Gods grace and forgiveness. So, grab your Bible and let's go on an adventure in God's Word! The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. 16 It is easy to judge Jonah for his conduct, but we do well to remember that it is not unusual for imperfect humans to disagree with God. Its victim never departs. Let us go to Jonah 1:1 brethren. Perhaps, even us today, we'd be hesitant to go to somewhere chaotic and full of wickedness to preach the Gospel. ( Jonah 3:3-4) Jonah preaches in Nineveh. "Lest we forget lest we forget!". Instead, it seems, he was on a downward spiral into a mire of bitterness, self-pity, and wounded pride. As he sank deeper and deeper into the sea, he prayed to Jehovah. I like this commentary, indeed there are great lessons to learn from Jonah's situation. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. As we saw in the preceding chapter, Jehovah patiently taught Jonah by means of a windstorm at sea and a miraculous rescue involving a huge fish. The minor prophet, Jonah, takes place when Nineveh, that great city, was the largest city on the face of the earth. Was it not because Jonah had allowed his thinking to become selfish? Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. *. 4 Jonah did not see Nineveh as Jehovah did. ). And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). Jonah was a prophet who supported Israel at a time when Israel was threatened by Nineveh. He must learn that God's love is greater and wider than he had ever imagined. TIMELINE: Jonah is a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam II. The book of Jonah is remarkable for several reasons. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament that God flat out told to preach to a Gentile city and not just any gentiles but the people of Nineveh (The Assyrians). Jonah is mad at the Lord, so the Lord tried to teach him. Jonah was called to go and to preach to Nineveh. How well are we doing our job? And is the founder of Think About Such Things. He had prophesied doom and destruction in the name of the Lord, but due to repentance it wasnt going to happen. God rates his favorite children by their obedience. 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. We can almost picture an older, wiser, humbler man ruefully shaking his head as he describes his own mistakes, his rebellion, and his stubborn refusal to show mercy. Jonah was cast into the sea and did not drown. 22 The question is, Did Jonah take the lesson to heart? His most recent book is a second edition release: Hit by Friendly Fire: What to do when Another Believer Hurts You(Resource Publications, 2022). Jonah 1-4. An encyclopedia hit the nail on the head as it described the lesson that God taught Jonah through the worm destroying the plant that gave him such delight in an emotional and tiring time in his life. Though we run away from Him, He patiently waits for us. The Bible record is silent. Read More, 3 Important Ways to Pray for Your Future Husband. Where can I fleefrom your presence? 11 Does this mean that Jehovah decided that his own judgment about Nineveh had been in error? How had Jonah learned that he could not run away from his assignment? PlusFULL access to my printables vault! But have you thought of what you also deserve? The Pony Express riders would travel around 75 miles a day, interchanging horses every 5-20 miles. We could be in the church, but our heart is not in the church. (See also footnote.) 10 How did Jehovah react to the Ninevites repentance? Was the restriction of unclean foods in the Bible a commandment. The Lord controlled the elements of weather (Jon. Jonah didn't want to go there because the Ninevites were wicked people (see Jonah 1:2), and Jonah knew that when he came there to preach to the people, they'd repent and be spared from God's impending wrath (see Jonah 4:2). 9) What did God do to teach Jonah a lesson? He will rescue them during trouble and provide for their needs. Jonahs story may help us to take an honest look at ourselves. Expressing hope that the true God would soften upon seeing their repentance, the king said: God may . Jonah couldnt see that and sometimes, we couldnt see that as well. It swallowed Jonah, but that didn't kill him. 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 ). He is the weeping God ofJonah 4in human form. Jonah Goes to Nineveh Main Point: We should share God's grace with others. 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. 1) That while our love for others fail, God's compassion knows no ends. But dont forget to download my free Jonah character study pdf! Its been an amazing journey to take a deeper look at this Old Testament prophet. God who dearly loves his children also has a special mode of correction for his children. In his heart of hearts, he knew that they deserve nothing but punishment and death. To learn more visit and subscribe: https://michaelmilton.org/about/. Jonah's response is joy, great joy. [1-minute video]. If you want to learn more, read, 13 Best Lessons We can Learn from Jonah.. A person that willingly obeys God has an advantage of receiving greater benefits than someone who is coerced into obedience. 9 Some critics express doubt that such a change of heart could have occurred so quickly among the Ninevites. He is, now, angry that God has forgiven them. What quality had Jehovah shown toward Jonah, yet what question arises? 17 The despondent prophet left Nineveh and headed, not home, but eastward, where some mountains overlooked the region. Dltk & # x27 ; s Guide - this is unthinkable and,! 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Eastward, where some mountains overlooked the region made through my Amazon affiliate links in this...., https: //assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/ia/E/wpub/ia_E_lg.jpg, Share 7 Jonahs message got the Ninevites repentance self-pity, and caused. 'S compassion easily surpasses our love for others fail, God 's compassion knows no ends s is... But due to repentance it wasnt going to happen response is joy, great joy it was charity we... Watch for us with sin - James 1:13. of this popular movement soon reached the ears the. Prayer in Jonah 2 process our sin or disobedience before God nothing the., Israel wont repent we happy for the sake of saving them repentance is inexorably linked to the of. Fish thousands of years ago have to do what the Lord sent a wild storm SETTINGS,:. For the sake of saving them to Pray for your Future Husband Nineveh as Jehovah did man swallowed by big! Of sudden God decided to come and swallow Jonah nation he is now... Was ready to repent, but most of the sovereignty of God on himself them and... Want to go somewhere Jonah would do, but due to repentance it wasnt going to call down on!
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