Jonahs great fear was God would show mercy to Nineveh. Though battered and exhausted, this was their day of salvationthe best day of their lives. It is a prayer well worth careful study. What a change! The silo was located in a remote area, surrounded by large farms. L. C. Allen wrote it was a model of literary artistry, marked by symmetry and balance (Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah) and H. C. Brichto described it, from beginning to end, in form and content, in diction, phraseology, and style, a masterpiece of rhetoric (Toward a Grammar of Biblical Poetics). Jonah was part of that. 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. The other has Jonah alone with God. 6The Hebrew reads, , a great fish. Jonah doubtless had meantime complied with the captain's request, but, as the sailors saw, without visible effect. Jonah 4:7-11. This number is reasonable. Jesus called this day the Tribulation (Matthew 24.21, 29). Salvation is from the Lord (Jonah 2.9). 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. No, I am not a pastor. His words revealed his change of attitude: . Jonah repented from fleeing God to obeying Him. He did not plant, water, or fertilize it. Jonah reacted by going to Joppa and fleeing west to Tarshish (Jonah 1.3, 10). The storm was so violent they knew their ship was about to shatter. The book of Jonah opens like other prophetic books of the Bible, with the formulaic The word of the Lord came to Jonah. Just as once upon a time signals a fairy tale, this biblical formula signals a book of prophecy. He said, While I was fainting away,I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple (Jonah 2.7). The Lord Jesus Christ picked up our tab and paid it all. The Psalmist wrote God founded the earth upon the seas (Psalm 24.1-2). We run from Godjust as our first parents did in the garden (Genesis 3.8-10). Jonah 3 God gave His commission to Jonah a second timeand this time, Jonah was ready to obey. Thanks again for sharing your study and research with us. The Ninevites' lostness did not greatly burden Jonah. But God is tricky. 7While I was fainting away,I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple. The other worker, with whom he made no contract (whatever was right), received pay according to the landowners heart. But if only resuscitated, I would think Jonah was not really dead; he was just unconscious or had stopped breathing. It reveals God's greatness and man's pettiness. In fact, he is furiously angryand directs his outburst at God. Note that he also puts down good money in order to flee. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. To defy means to resist what one is told to do, openly and boldly. Jonah 1.1-2 should arrest ones attention. Gods statement to Jonah reminds one of Jesus parable of the laborers of the vineyard (Matthew 20.1-16). So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. In chapter 4, Jonah was in Nineveh and in the desert. 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. With in-depth features, Expatica brings the international community closer together. Ant. The crew, terrified out of their minds, throw all the cargo overboard and each prays individually to his own god, to no avail. He created a storm to ensure the ship never reached Tarshish and arraigned a great fish to swallow him. God prefers mercy to judgment. Jesus, declared, 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 (Matthew 12.40). 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). God heard his prayer and delivered him. I cannot see where the text states Jonah actually died or not. The kings proclamation indicated that like Jonahs sailors he had abandoned his gods and recognized Jonahs God (). His prophecy has been believed, the city has responded magnificently to his words, and the people are turning their lives around. God has restrained judgment for 2,000 years and given men and women an opportunity for eternal life by believing Pauls gospel of grace (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). As soon as Jonah has settled gratefully into its shade, God sends a worm to chew the roots of the plant, killing it so that Jonah is left exposed once again. He slept in the ships hold. It is a story of repentance. Lets examine the story of Jonah and allow its teachings to reach us. Hence Jonah is not just insubordinate; he is unbelieving and untrusting. He had experienced peace, fast asleep in the hold of the ship, pleased with his decision to sail to Tarshish. Disobedience does not. But their rowing is futile and the storm continues to rage, so they reluctantly toss Jonah into the sea, instantly calming the waters. But Sennacheribs entire army would have been much larger.8. He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah fled as far as he could from God. Some think God is absent from the worlds affairs, that the world goes on unnoticed by Him. Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. Similarly, in our own culture today a good deal of pain and loss results from the defiant, selfish, and bad behavior of many. 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? To all this pain can be added many other sufferingscaused by our greed, addiction, lack of forgiveness, pride, impatience, and lack of charity. Deor.,' 3:37). After having dealt with the entire human race for 2,000 years, God established a new program with Abraham, known as the Abrahamic Covenant. God asked Jonah if he should really be angry about the plant, and Jonah said he should be angry, even to death. Our age is characterized by Gods grace. What is your country? Thank God for second chances! Jerome says here, "The fugitive was taken by lot, not by virtue of the lots, especially of the lots of heathen men, but by the will of him who guided the uncertain lots." The message couldnt be clearer: Jonah is going in the wrong direction. One of the great cities of the ancient world, it was finally destroyed by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Chaldeans, Scythians and Cimmerians in 612 B.C. And it has said, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.". Jonah had a choice. 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. In a remarkable turn in the story, those who are not believers in the God of Israel dress down Jonah,who is to be Gods prophet, unto repentance! Ask Nebuchadnezzar. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. This was a large army, even by modern standards. In Jonahs day, they were Israels great enemy. For the hesitant or doubters, the king issued anexecutive order for fasting, dressing in sackcloth, prayer, and repentance. Jonah hit the warm waters of the sea with a splash. It provides a foretaste of the fullness of Israels destiny to bless Gentiles anticipated in the great Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12.1-3 cf. His words revealed his change of attitude: That which I have vowed I will pay. Too many wander around in a kind of delirium, a moral sleep, talking about their rights and insisting that what they do is nobody elses business. Yet all the while the storm winds buffet and others suffer for what they do. He falls asleep, and then is thrown down into the sea. Something was not right. Jonahs experience in the sea-beast, this living submarine, must have been terrifying. Jonah. iii. 4 At this, I said, Even his forced timeout in the belly of the fish does not affect true repentance. What we do, or fail to do, affects others. Then the LORDcommanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land (Jonah 1.10). Lord (Jonah 2.9). This is why He gave the order of ministry in Acts 1.8. He realized he could not escape God and looked to Him for deliverance. Psalm 139 says, beautifully. 11While given star billing, the sea creature was a prop, not an essential player in the drama. 1The etymology of the name is literally wine-press of the digging and is mentioned in Joshua 19.13 and 2 Kings 14.25. 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. But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Indeed, he never really repents, just continually runs from his mistakes even repeatedly prefers death over repentance. In that event, Jesus had slept through the storm. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. He is good and acts accordingly. God replied to Jonah:Do you have good reason to be angry (Jonah 4.4)? My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. Surprisingly, the men are not willing to kill him,at least not as the first recourse. In the end, the men must hand Jonah over to the Lord. Water, whale, withering wind: Jonah wished to die (Jonah 4.8 cf. He entered the city and proclaimed the message to the inhabitants. Chapter 2 recounts Jonah in the belly of the sea monster where he prayed and gave thanks to God. Jonah is now beginning to come to his senses, In effect, Jonah says to them, Kill me. Does he remember something? Wake up from your delusions. In the final lines of the book, God speaks once again to Jonah: Are you so deeply grieved about the plant? So, too, are we when we defiantly indulge sinfulness. Jonah's story reveals God's missionary heart to us as well as Jonah's prejudice toward foreigners. Resurrection involves receipt of an immortal body that is not subject to death. He could have told the crew to turn the ship back to Joppa. Do you have good reason to be angry (Jonah 4.4)? 2 Chronicles 36.23; Ezra 7.21; Nehemiah 2.20; Daniel 2.18-19, 37, 44). A gigantic storm was raging. - with those thoughts in mind, let me invite you to turn to the closing verses in the book of Jonah. Jonah is a story of contrasts. , 1 Samuel 14:38,39 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. What is important is they believed God. God sent a great storm upon the ship and the men decided Jonah was to blame so they threw him overboard. The lot falls to Jonah, and he is finally forced to go public. Nineveh is the capital of Syria, the mortal enemy of Israel. He would not have to go to Nineveh. 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. Ultimately, a king forgives because he chooses to forgive, not because of the actions of a subject. It is true, however,that not everyone is willing or able to be corrected. They were saved. Often the last one to know or admit the damage he does is the sinner himself. 1 Now the word of the LORDcame to Jonah the second time, saying, 2Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you (Jonah 3.1-2). The misfortune of the Israelites at Ai was consequent on the sin of Achan (Joshua 7.). The virtue of obedience is it allows one to enjoy God, to celebrate His work. The great majority of it. Charles Reade, the English novelist, wrote, Jonah is the most beautiful story ever written in so small a compass.2The story has a clearly defined structure and is replete with figures of speech: puns, hendiadys, merism, chiasm, parallelism, etc. The book of Nahum prophesied and described its doom. It turns out that for wicked bad guys, the Ninevites are awfully good at repentance. During this time, God prepared () a gourd to grow and shade Jonah from the sweltering Mideast sun.10 The gourd made him happy (Jonah 4.6). It is a story of repentance. Gamble against God and youll lose. 3:3). The last thing Jonah thought God would do was send him to the Assyrians (Jonah 1.1-2). Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. His scoffing and defiance likely result from hatred or excessive nationalism. Thanks again for providing greater understanding to this book With appreciation, John. His remembering is not that He forgets but that he gives heed to something. And yet, the minute they genuinely repent even though that repentance is, admittedly, self-interested God is merciful. 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. Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. If you wont do it for your own sake, then do it for oursbut call on the Lord! It represented Gods throne, where the Almighty sat, as the Tabernacle represented Gods throne complex. Fresco of Jonah being thrown into the sea - Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome. we are also members of the Body, members of the community, whether we want to admit it or not. If Only We had the Faith of Jonah! Then, God prepared() a worm to eat the gourd which killed it (Jonah 4.7). The sailors wanted to return to land butJonah didnt.5. Like the laborers who complained, Jonah could not accept God blessing the Ninevites. In the end, they DID finally turn to God in repentance. The teaching is clear: persistent and unrepentant sin brings storms, disturbances, and troubles. ), and Herodotus (4th century B.C.) Bren, Your email address will not be published. Let us cast lots. that not everyone is willing or able to be corrected. He proclaimed the message that God gave him, " Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!" (3:4). In the story we see a portrait of sin and of God's love for sinners. This familiar expression is found in many books of the Bible, occurring 92x (e.g., Genesis 15.1; 2 Samuel 7.4; 1 Kings 6.11, 16.1, etc.) However, God has declared, vengeance is mine; I will repay (Romans 12.19; 1 Corinthians 4.5). Consider their situation. The book of Jonah is short, compassing four brief chapters of 48 verses. They tried to turn the ship to land but the storm only worsened. Every living thing was clothed in sackcloth () and every living creature fasted ( ). What they feared is unimportant. wrote Ninevehwas about sixty miles in circumference and twenty miles across. Exodus 25.9; Hebrews 8.5). - Jonah is a book about a man that was facing the exact same issue we are raising this morning. The sailors, captain, king, nobles, citizens of Nineveh responded to Gods mercy. VI. The reason: God destroyed his army. He went down into the heart of the earth as in Matthew 12 and brought back those saints that had died and took Paradise to heaven. God promised that the covenant line, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, would bless Gentiles. Dignity-still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not, for the sea grew ever more turbulent. They now prayed that He would spare them and not hold them guilty for shedding innocent blood by throwing Jonah overboard. Soph. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. "Little I wonder if the ship is wreckedWhich carries thee and thy ill-gotten wealth." Comp. The book is divided into two sections: chapters 1 and 3 comprise one section and chapters 2 and 4 the other. The word means fish but the scope of meaning of is unclear. And He did not do it(Jonah 3.10). Rob, Thanks as always for your helpful suggestions. Later, a dead body was ditched in Elishas grave, and that person came back to life. To his great credit, Jonah told the truth. The sailors, captain, king, nobles, etc. On account of selfishness and sexual misbehavior, many families have been torn apart. Yes, sin is usually very expensivebut many seem quite willing to pay the price. Jonah has been able to grasp the situations they have been in all show but can't seem to grasp that Ben was putting the whole family/operation at risk and Wendy had to chose between him or everyone and everything else. Now he had gone down into the sea monster to the depths of death (Jonah 2.6). Its a pretty bad day for a prophet when those whom he is supposed to address, must turn and call, First there comes the pointed question, What are you doing asleep?. 4 The God of heaven was a term known to Gentiles (cf. 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. Since the Assyrians did not record military defeats, Sennacherib did not record his failure to destroy Jerusalem or capture its king (Hezekiah). Jonah had wanted to die rather than face his mistakes and complete his mission, but God wont permit it. Each response was internal (were afraid, believed), spoken (cried to god, proclaimed a fast), and active (cast wares, put on sackcloth). 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. I agree that Christ was the first to be permanently raised from the dead. 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. Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction of Nineveh and headed by boat to Tarshish. The unusual nature of the tempest showed them that it was sent in judgment. In the belly of the fish, Jonah finally descends as far as possible and hits (literal) rock bottom the bottom of the sea. The last thing Jonah imagined was that God would bring a great sea creature to swallow him! At this point, Jonah has not only disobeyed Gods command to go to Nineveh, he has willfully endangered a ship full of innocent strangers. Hi John just a few verses about the heart of the earth. and less costly as well. Through Jonah, the sailors experienced salvation. Yes, what are you doing? Their story highlights Gods benevolence, the quickness with which God wishes to forgive people who want to make a genuine change, whatever their motivation. Sept. cont. 3Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.. Those who are morally alert do not say such things; those who are in the darkness of delirium, in a moral slumber, say them. 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. Under normal population distribution, this would mean a population of about 3,000,000. I learned a lot. Don, You provided great insight into the book of Jonah. Nineveh survived for another 150 years after it heeded Jonahs message. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not. So much suffering, so much expense, so much extra mileage could be avoided if we just obeyed God. In that story, a landowner contracted with laborers early in the morning to pay a denarius for a days work. I do not deserve to live.This is not repentance; it is despair. Many people today talk about victimless sins,. Jonah, sent to Nineveh, flees to Tarshish. 1 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. VIII. And Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. III. 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. The Scriptures state Jesus was in the earth 3 days and 3 nights. Such conditions may explain the phrase king of Nineveh rather than king of Assyria and the fact the kings decree was issued in concert with his nobles. God planted this question in Jonahs mind to try and bring him to the divine viewpoint (Isaiah 55.8). The mariners, fearing for their lives, also lose wealth. 6I descended to the roots of the mountains. Response of Those in Command: Captain and King. Often the last one to know or admit the damage he does is the sinner himself. and suffer great losses (by throwing their cargo overboard) on account of Jonahs sinfulness. Too many wander around in a kind of delirium, a moral sleep, talking about their rights and insisting that what they do is nobody elses business. Yet all the while the storm winds buffet and others suffer for what they do. The city of Nineveh is represented in Cuneiform by a symbol of a fish within a house. By Msgr. The captain and sailors could not comprehend how anyone could sleep through such a storm. 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. But God would have us reach out to the sinner, to correct with love. 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). Struck with great fear of the LORD, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him. Turn back to God lest we all perish. 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. Many people today talk about victimless sins,actions that supposedly dont hurt anyone. 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. We are currently reading Jonah's story in daily Mass. 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. To deny the historicity of Jonah is to deny Christs resurrection. Why oh why did you send me on this mission? Jonah did his best to escape one great fish, only to be swallowed by another. Jonah has provided his 'Leading Man' voice to many video games and serials including Leads in Dying Light 2, Beastars, Attack on Titan . (On the Christian view of "lots," see Dr. Pusey's Commentary, pp. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple., ut You have brought up my life from the pit, O, Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple (Jonah 2.4). Indeed, many people spend lots of money and go miles out of their way in order to be able to stay in sin. And where do you come from? It is of course the children who suffer the most pain and injustice as a result of so much bad adult behavior. 2. 1. This is futility. Throughout the story, Jonah uses the Socratic method . At the opening of his story, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, one of the largest cities in ancient Mesopotamia, and the capital of Israels most dangerous enemy, the Assyrian empire. Do those who doubt Jonah think the God who created the universe and raised Jesus from the dead cannot cause a sea creature to swallow Jonah? Meanwhile, Jonah sleeps in the hold of the ship, oblivious to the clamor and uproar. But leave the deal to God and you will prosper much more. There is abortion, disease, teenage pregnancy, children with no fathers, and all the grief and pain that come from broken or malformed families. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. Some things must ultimately be left to God. Determination-Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you. Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-3). On the one hand, there are the Ninevites, the evil Thanks. The Lord upbraided their lack of faith (Mark 4.40; Luke 8.25) but Jonahs sailors became believers. Somewhat like Judas, Jonah and many other sinners do not repent to the Lord but rather are merely ashamed of themselves. Indeed, it must have been a kind of willful obliviousness for who could sleep through the tumult of a storm threatening to overturn a ship and a crew of sailors crying for their lives? V. Dressing Down-The captain came to him and said, What are you doing asleep? This is mercys abode. They were further in.7 The last verse of the book provides additional information about Ninevehs size. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. Jonahs defiance sends him and others headlong into a storm. That Jonah thought he could run from God shows his foolishness, typifying mans foolishness in thinking he can escape God (Jeremiah 23.24). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But Jonah is not pleased. I wish I were dead! One of our greatest Christian authors, Charles Reade, known for his book, The Cloister and the Hearth, has called Jonah, "The most beautiful story ever written in so small a compass.". His scoffing and defiance likely result from hatred or excessive nationalism. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. In the second section, chapters 2 and 4, Jonah was alone with God. The simplicity of holiness is often far less onerous. Despair-They asked, What shall we do with you, that the sea may quiet down for us? For the sea was growing more and more turbulent. The worms destruction of the gourd was a picture of Gods potential destruction of Nineveh. One problem with analyses of the size of Nineveh is to assume the city was only within the city walls. What is your occupation? Jonah 1:14-16witnesses that only reluctantly did the sailors cast Jonah overboard, as he had commanded them to do. But the entire city of Nineveh responded to Jonahs message. Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. Online and in the booth, he has done voice work with studios in Tokyo and across LA. . God repeated his command to Jonah. This is another important lesson: in our sin, our defiance, we often bring storms not only into our own life but also into the lives of others. And if swallowed, revive him? Does he change his mind? Sign up for a special email series here. Jonahis a story of contrasts. We are all runaways. Jonahs evangelistic message was brief. Jonah Scott is a Voice Actor, Singer and Twitch Streamer from Los Angeles. Throughout the telling, Jonahs disobedience and iniquity is highlighted by repeated use of the verb down. Rather than follow Gods instruction, Jonah goes down to the port city of Jaffa, then down onto the ship on the way to Tarshish, then down to a lower deck. On account of selfishness and sexual misbehavior, many families have been torn apart. Jonahs ministry is the greatest exception. So easily they remain locked in self-deception and rationalizations, ignoring the damage they are inflicting upon others. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Prophets: Jonah 1:7 They all said to each other Come (Jon. In the end, the men must hand Jonah over to the Lord. This is another important lesson: in our sin, our defiance, we often bring storms not only into our own life but also into the lives of others. In the story we see a portrait of sin and of Gods love for sinners. Being a king, he understood authority and sovereignty (cf. And boats are wrecked; true men and thieves, HOR. That attitude, rather than Jonah's outward disobedience, was what upset God the most. Turn back to God lest we all perish. So easily they remain locked in self-deception and rationalizations, ignoring the damage they are inflicting upon others. This would mean the metroplex was about 60 miles in diameter (comparable to modern Dallas-Ft. Worth). Thanks for all. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. The Book of Jonah is read in synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. Jh). It may be that he is trying to die again (first time by drowning, now by dehydration). at least not as the first recourse. Do you have any idea how your behavior, your sins, are affecting the rest of us?
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