(b)Why can we be sure that Jehovahs judgment was not in error? On the way, however, God caused tragic things to happen. All people will one day glorify God - Psalms 86:9. 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). Its only 4 short chapters. The book bearing his name ends with Jehovahs question hanging therein effect, still echoing. (Read Matthew 12:41.) Jonah repented while in the belly of a fish; God heard his voice and saved him. He sovereignly orchestrates creation by appointing it to do his will. God gave us the ability to choose - Joshua 24:15. At this point we find our first great lessons regarding God's sovereignty. Of course, we know that you and I cant flee from God. Even in our failures, God can use it for good! The mandate to preach repentance is inexorably linked to the announcement of Gods grace and forgiveness. 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). It rocks my world that Jonah is running away from God and causing a huge storm (ahemmess) actually got people to offer sacrifices and make vows to the Lord. He could be preaching, but his heart wasnt into it. Then Jehovah sent a huge fish. Jonah was quite content with God's grace and God's love over Israel and over his own life. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. *. Instead, it seems, he was on a downward spiral into a mire of bitterness, self-pity, and wounded pride. The book of Jonah exactly shows us the unlimited Mercy of God. To see what we can learn from the life of Jonah. Should the Ninevites resume their wicked ways, God would bring the same judgment against them. This is an essential characteristic of God. (Ezek. ). Instead, the "sign" we are offered is an invitation to die with Christ so that we can personally begin to experience the new life of the Resurrection. Some critics might complain that Jonah never answers. It is an astounding admission of the true nature of Gods covenant given to Abraham. (b)How may the account about Jonah help us to take an honest look at ourselves? The Beginning of the story of Jonah brings us the first lesson about missionary service: 1.There are no easy calls. She has the heart to equip the saints by helping them get into the Word of God and fall more in love with Jesus. 1,2. 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. Today you'll discover an important lesson: God forgives us. Read Jonah 4:1-11. Did he leap for joy and shouted hooray? He ran from God not merely because he was afraid of God, but because he really did not want to bring the good news of God's grace to his enemies. What miracle did God perform to teach Jonah a lesson? 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." So, you know for Jonah it would be a BIG deal to travel to Nineveh. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. One day, God told the prophet Jonah, "Jonah, go preach to the people of Nineveh. (6) When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. God who dearly loves his children also has a special mode of correction for his children. And now, no doom was coming. The story shows us how merciful God is, by contrasting His mercy with Jonah's hunger for revenge. Jesus, however, experienced the full wrath of God, which he endured willingly for our sakes. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. He could have detested and hated these people. God didn't give up on Jonah. What did the Lord mean in Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away from God. God is eager to see the wicked repent and change their ways, as the Ninevites did. And he said: I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,and He answered me. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. 11 Does this mean that Jehovah decided that his own judgment about Nineveh had been in error? I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. Short little Melissa style summary and insight: *If you are not familiar with the story of Jonahspend some time reading it. Perhaps he still clung to the hope of witnessing her destruction. 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). I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. His life and ministry, recorded in but four chapters, brings so many lessons to Christians old and new. The next day he sent in a worm which destroyed the gourd leaving Jonah open to the elements. Jonahs story may help us to take an honest look at ourselves. God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. 3 When Jehovah ordered Jonah to Nineveh the second time, the prophet obediently headed east on this long journey. 3. 6 It has been estimated that Samaria, the capital of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, may have had some 20,000 to 30,000 inhabitants in Jonahs dayless than a fourth of Ninevehs population. Use this lesson to lead kids to respond to God's compassion and . God knows the future - Isaiah 46:10. 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. The issue in the book of Jonah causes each of us to reflect on this truth: those who curse Christ today could be those who preach Christ tomorrow. 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. The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. The psalmist in Psalm 139 makes it pretty clear: Where can I go from your Spirit? To put the matter in plain words, Jonah did not like grace because it was charity. Would you like to read this article in %%? At one time their ancestors had known the Lord but over time the people had drifted away and taken a different path, one . This blatant rebellion leads Jonah a not so fun boat ride. Jonah Disobeys God. God can simply choose to find another Prophet to do the job. Hes actually ANGRY at God. To know he answers my prayers? The Lord provided a gourd or plant that protected Jonah. (a)What may have led Jonah into a downward spiral? [1-minute video]. When God called Jonah to go and warn the violent and . It is not that Jonah hesitated and, then, refused to go to Nineveh because the task would be difficult (although that is an argument from silence). Through games, drawing their own comic strip, a DIY Big Gulp of Jonah toy, and a Jonah in a Big Fish puppet, kids learn that God is compassionate and gracious. . The sign of Jonah was an expression used by Jesus to refer to Jonah's three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17). 9 Some critics express doubt that such a change of heart could have occurred so quickly among the Ninevites. Jonah was under God's observation all along. Im sure it will bless you like it has blessed me. 1. All rights reserved. Jonah meets big fish, big fish eats him, Jonah decides if he gets out of fish alive he'll do what God says, fish throws up, and out comes a very stinky Jonah. Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. What's wrong with the House of Bishops' proposed same-sex prayers? And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying. Jonah's obedience to God, albeit reluctant, brought about great results, results that only God could bring. Indeed, the Bible is clear: The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples (Deuteronomy 7:7 NIV). In what ways might some find themselves disagreeing with God, and what lesson can we learn from Jonahs example? But dont forget to download my free Jonah character study pdf! For this article, we will take a quick look at some things that Jonah's life and ministry teaches us today, in a world where man-centered Christianity has grown, and many are looking for the real deal about Christ. By so doing, the Lord is showing Jonah that his priorities are more then a bit messed up. He built a little shelter and settled in to waitand to watch Nineveh. After all of this, had Jonah learned to show mercy to others? No one expects a person to survive inside a fish. 18:7,8. After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. It takes place in part in Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria . - Dylan. (b)What do we learn about Jonah from the preaching work that he carried out? 2) That there's no point in striving to achieve something that isn't God's will. 3) He ends up on a ship. (Read Deuteronomy 32:4.) We must realize we dont see it all, we dont understand it all. 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. 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. (See also footnote.) He asks the men to hurl him into the sea, which they do, and the storm. I am currently in a RCIA to becoming catholic. Or lets be really honest when we think of Jonah we just think about the whale (or Big Fish). The Lord called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah fled and was swallowed by a great fish. 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. 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? 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). The book of Jonah is a short narrative book about a prophet who doesn't really act like a prophet of God at all. Did they repent when a prophet preached to them? How had Jonah learned that he could not run away from his assignment? Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forgetlest we forget! 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. 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. We need to realize who the Ninevites were. 22 The question is, Did Jonah take the lesson to heart? ( Jonah 3:3-4) Jonah preaches in Nineveh. He Learned a Lesson in Mercy, Publication download options They are the same people who have killed a lot of Israelites. 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. The book is historical and refers to what became one of the greatest revivals in the history of humankind. (b)Why was Jonahs prophecy not a false one? 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