The other worker, with whom he made no contract (whatever was right), received pay according to the landowners heart. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. The people of Nineveh repented, and God spared the city. 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. Jonahis a story of contrasts. 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. Summary- God appointed a worm to kill the plant that Jonah delighted in. I do not deserve to live.This is not repentance; it is despair. Indeed, he never really repents, just continually runs from his mistakes even repeatedly prefers death over repentance. The king hoped for survival. Every crew member was praying to his god for deliverance. His eye was evil but God was good. And this is not to mention all of the Biblical prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and more than a dozen others who immediately act on Gods command. Jonahs problem was he could not see beyond his hatred of the Assyrians and his patriotism. Charles Pope. The phrase, or like expression, the word of the LORD came governs the books structure and occurs twice (Jonah 1.1, 3.1). So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the. He tried to kick up to the surface, but no air was foundonly waves and water. Such objections impress only the weak minded. Jonah's prayer is a masterpiece of heartfelt emotion and reaching out to God for mercy and forgiveness. Ive had so many things on my heart lately, everything going on in this world and my own sorrows, and this was exactly what I needed to lighten the load. 10God prepared () a fish (Jonah 1.17), a gourd (Jonah 4.6), a worm (Jonah 4.7), and a violent east wind (Jonah 4.8). 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. 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. In the 20th century, we often like to doctor up the word of God. According to Genesis 10.11, Asshur, a son of Shem (Genesis 10.22) built it. But on particular occasions, He reveals Himself and acts. Jonah Scott is a Voice Actor, Singer and Twitch Streamer from Los Angeles. The worms destruction of the gourd was a picture of Gods potential destruction of Nineveh. In sure you have touched a lot of lives.. Keep doing what youre doing. Suggestions for Teaching Be attentive to students' behavior and respond appropriately So easily they remain locked in self-deception and rationalizations, ignoring the damage they are inflicting upon others. Jonah would rather die than go to Nineveh. God caused the dice reveal Jonah as the problem.3The mariners demanded an accounting. So, too, are we when we defiantly indulge sinfulness. Jonah had wanted to die rather than face his mistakes and complete his mission, but God wont permit it. Even his forced timeout in the belly of the fish does not affect true repentance. 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.) It is of course the children who suffer the most pain and injustice as a result of so much bad adult behavior. 'sch. They refused Jonahs solution and rowed with greater intensity. The sailors were noble. - with those thoughts in mind, let me invite you to turn to the closing verses in the book of Jonah. Their change of heart is immediate and totalfrom the king on all the way down to the animals who fast and don sackcloth and ashes (signs of mourning and repentance) right alongside their human masters. The Scriptures state Jesus was in the earth 3 days and 3 nights. For I will send you far away to the Gentiles (Acts 22.21). II. Here is a video of a performance of the Peccavimus (we have sinned) from the oratorio Jonas, by Giacomo Carissimi. 2The book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it literary artistry. Thus, he said: 9Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish (Jonah 3.9)? He belonged to the tribe of Zebulon and ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II (c.786746 BC). Rob, Its a technical point. Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (comp. He is the God of the second chance. and less costly as well. One problem with analyses of the size of Nineveh is to assume the city was only within the city walls. 270, 271.) It turns out that for wicked bad guys, the Ninevites are awfully good at repentance. It would be an interesting study to see what the heart of the earth actually means. He created a storm to ensure the ship never reached Tarshish and arraigned a great fish to swallow him. Literal vs. Figurative Interpretation of City Size. And God, of course accepted them. 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). Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. The teaching is clear: persistent and unrepentant sin brings storms, disturbances, and troubles. Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11) from the dead but Lazarus died later. The Psalmist wrote God founded the earth upon the seas (Psalm 24.1-2). I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; All Your breakers and billows passed over me. But unlike other prophetic books, what follows is not an account of the divine words that Jonah received, but instead a story about Jonah who, it turns out, was a very reluctant, even recalcitrant prophet. Jonahs experience in the sea-beast, this living submarine, must have been terrifying. By the way, Do u pastor any congregation? Surprisingly, the men are not willing to kill him. Salvation is from the Lord (Jonah 2.9). Jonah obeyed this time but he still had an attitude. ; 1 Samuel 14:41; Acts 1:26). Twelve years ago, they found out that their baby boy, Jonah, was diagnosed with a fatal rare disease, Sanfilippo Syndrome. He expected to die. The book is divided into two sections: chapters 1 and 3 comprise one section and chapters 2 and 4 the other. Theres an irony here that cant be seen in the English. 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. Even the fallen deserve our love and respect as fellow human beings. Water, whale, withering wind: Jonah wished to die (Jonah 4.8 cf. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. Jonah reacted by going to Joppa and fleeing west to Tarshish (Jonah 1.3, 10). In the story we see a portrait of sin and of God's love for sinners. Obviously, from their superstitious perspective, some god or gods are angry with somebody, and they are all suffering because of what this person has done. book of Jonah is the old outline which accents the word running. Read Jonah for Spiritual Growth. They were further in.7 The last verse of the book provides additional information about Ninevehs size. The simplicity of holiness is often far less onerous. The other suggestion is in the paragraph Salvation to the Gentiles, in your Conclusion. Struck with great fear of the LORD, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him. God is aware of all man does. 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 sailors, captain, king, nobles, etc. the story told by Cicero of Diagoras (de Nat. 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. God heard him and asked a question. Or whither shall I flee from thy face? villains of the ancient world whose sins are so terrible they merit destruction. Abraham bargained with God not to destroy Sodom if the city had ten righteous people (Genesis 18.32). Jonah was a typical Jew who wished to have no dealings with Gentiles. As for escape by sea, God owns the sea and its lanes. 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). Despite his sin, Jonah does not lose his dignity. What we do, or fail to do, affects others. Verse 7 - Finding the storm still violent, the crew come to the conclusion that it is sent by Heaven in punishment of some crime committed by one on board; and they proceed to cast lots to discover the guilty person. Hi John just a few verses about the heart of the earth. This is why He gave the order of ministry in Acts 1.8. It will begin after God completes His Church, the body of Christ. Jonah has provided his 'Leading Man' voice to many video games and serials including Leads in Dying Light 2, Beastars, Attack on Titan . Every living thing was clothed in sackcloth () and every living creature fasted ( ). God bless you. Guaranteed. He did not want the city to be spared, because he knew that the Assyrians would eventually conquer Israel. Yes, God works with the sinner, drawing him back. 7While I was fainting away,I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple. Could God not leave well enough alone? Responding to Gods grace begins by believing Pauls gospel of grace (Acts 20.24): that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15.1-4). Does he change his mind? 2 I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. God promised that the covenant line, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, would bless Gentiles. It is too easy for us to wish to destroy those who have harmed us, returning crime for crime, sin for sin. The book of Jonah recounted its salvation. Implicit in Jonahs message was that God was displeased with their behavior. After He calmed the storm, they had declared, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? Same power. In those contexts, it strongly seemed as though God initially forgot.. Or were these just wrong use of language by the prophets or wrong presentation by the prophets because of their weak and limited understanding of God probably as a result of their spiritually dead nature. Note that Jonahs defiance also endangers others. Not so, Jonah. What we do, or fail to do, affects others. The city of Nineveh is represented in Cuneiform by a symbol of a fish within a house. Lazarus and the rich man both in the place of hell one on paradise side and one on torment side. In the end, the men must hand Jonah over to the Lord. Jonah did nothing to merit the gourd. That fear had been realized. By Msgr. His remembering is not that He forgets but that he gives heed to something. God asked why Jonah had so much more . Jonah prefigured the fulfillment of this promise which will culminate in the Messianic (Millennial) kingdom. 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. 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. Note that he also puts down good money in order to flee. To defy means to resist what one is told to do, openly and boldly. Nineveh was probably the greatest city in the world in Jonahs day. The sailors repented from following false gods to trusting the one true God. Some things must ultimately be left to God. He then asked the laborers if he did not have the right to do what he wanted with his own money. We read: So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of theLORD. Consider their situation. Jonah thought he would drown when thrown into the sea. Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.". Its another classic example of archaeology confirming the Biblical record. The mariners, fearing for their lives, also lose wealth. Later, about 9 a.m. he hired more workers. Another revealing study of the rhetorical aspects of Jonah is Rhetorical Criticism: Context, Method, and the Book of Jonah by Phyllis Trible. This was a large army, even by modern standards. Indeed, many people spend lots of money and go miles out of their way in order to be able to stay in sin. Its a pretty bad day for a prophet when those whom he is supposed to address, must turn and call him to conversion. 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! Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that Jesus mentioned by name during His earthly ministry (Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah were the others). Do you have any idea how your behavior, your sins, are affecting the rest of us? He knew that God was compassionate and suspected that the city might repent and be spared. Jonah will go finally to Nineveh and there proclaim a message that will be heeded by those who are so lost in sin that they do not know their right hand from their left (see Jonah 4:11). They were enemies! 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. Stop with your self-justifying slogans and look at whats really going on! Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction of Nineveh and headed by boat to Tarshish. iii. After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. Big difference. Salvation is from the Lord.. At this point, Jonah has not only disobeyed Gods command to go to Nineveh, he has willfully endangered a ship full of innocent strangers. Hmm, now why does this description seem so familiar? I learned a lot. All Rights Reserved, Full Text (in English) of the Book of Jonah. In many American courtrooms, upon the pronouncement of a death sentence, the judge says. Jonah is remarkable in that wherever he went, in obedience or disobedience, people were saved. It is a luscious, heartfelt piece depicting the repentance of the Ninevites. I tend to think that the heart of the earth may have a broader meaning. But if only resuscitated, I would think Jonah was not really dead; he was just unconscious or had stopped breathing. Jonah cared for his gourd. If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art present. Rise up, call upon your God! The men decide to draw lots to see who is responsible for the storm and the lot falls on Jonah. Mr. Reade went on to say, "It contains forty-eight verses and 1,328 words. What is certain at this point is that Jonah is in need of more repentance himself. Thanks. Because He remembered Hannah, He remembered the Israelites. - Jonah is a book about a man that was facing the exact same issue we are raising this morning. Chapter 2 recounts Jonah in the belly of the sea monster where he prayed and gave thanks to God. Einstein was wrong. After his whale of a ride, a ride in which he must experience the full depths and acidic truth of his sinfulness, Jonah is finally delivered by God right back to the shore of Joppa where it all began. Did he fear that their redemption would make a mockery of his prophecy (that the city would be destroyed)? 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? They were threats! It is true, however,that not everyone is willing or able to be corrected. 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. 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. Kerry Malakosky, Weatherford, OK I also pastor Liberty Heights Chapel, Lawton, OK. LHC is listed as a Grace Church, How Big Was Nineveh? The mariners () salts were seasoned sailors. God was gracious and Jonah peevish. Jonah hit the warm waters of the sea with a splash. Grace Receiver, Many have argued over this. Rebirth, it seems, is short-lived. He did not plant, water, or fertilize it. Its always a longer journey when you disobey God. A tough case. This mercy is available for nothing. God knows everything. Hi Don, wonferfully insightful study. 3:3). Perhapsyour god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish (Jonah 1.6). He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. God prefers mercy to judgment. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you (Jonah 1.12). Turn back to God lest we all perish. This would mean the metroplex was about 60 miles in diameter (comparable to modern Dallas-Ft. Worth). Something was not right. This is why God makes statements such as 2 Chronicles 7.14. If you want to experience spiritual growth, if you want to cultivate a heart more like God's, or if you want to better understand God's priorities, I . K. M. Craig, Jr. stated it was enormously varied, rich, and complex (A Poetics of Jonah: Art in the Service of Ideology). But the plant wasnt an act of divine mercy it was part of a divine lesson. Now that of course is extremely important. God heard his prayer and delivered him. 372. . 3For You had cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current engulfed me. Jonah was angry over Gods destruction of the gourdhe lost his shade. 2016 Don Samdahl. Bren, Your email address will not be published. The mariners, fearing for their lives, also lose wealthand suffer great losses (by throwing their cargo overboard) on account of Jonahs sinfulness. Phantom, Thank you. In the end, they DID finally turn to God in repentance. God commanded Jonah to travel northeast to Nineveh. Disobedience does not. The power of Gods word is revealed by the peoples response. But you can't run from the God who controls storms and big fish. The next few verses demonstrate Gods grace and power: 14Then they called on the Lord and said, We earnestly pray, OLord, do not let us perish on account of this mans life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.15So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. V. Dressing Down-The captain came to him and said, What are you doing asleep? Alex, Jonah's former student, reconnects with Jonah randomly in an airport. Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. During that time, which will last seven years (Daniels 70th week, Daniel 9.27), God will pour His wrath upon all mankind for its unbelief and evil (Psalm 2.5, 9). Externally, Assyria was threatened by Arameans and Urartians and suffered famine and revolts internally. We read: Then Jonah began to go through the city one days walk; and he cried out and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown (Jonah 3.4).9. He remembers our sins no more. He did nothing. The unusual nature of the tempest showed them that it was sent in judgment. Jonah repented from fleeing God to obeying Him. He could have told the crew to turn the ship back to Joppa. He was not helping to lighten the ship or praying for deliverance: a total slacker. Meanwhile, the gales grow stronger and civilization continues to crumble. They were saved. Jonah provided no details of the nature of their impending destruction but history records this was a period of Assyrian weakness. 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. Jonah 3 God gave His commission to Jonah a second timeand this time, Jonah was ready to obey. Stop with your self-justifying slogans and look at whats really going on! A story about prophecy and repentancebut not in the way you think. 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? But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. IV. . And He did not do it(Jonah 3.10). The sailors repented from following false gods to trusting the one true God. When Jesus prayed on Thursday night that the cup of his suffering be removed from him in such earnestness that he bled, perhaps that degree of intercession had him in the heart of the earth, to some degree. Sign up for a special email series here. So much suffering, so much expense, so much extra mileage could be avoided if we just obeyed God. And where do you come from? The last thing Jonah thought God would do was send him to the Assyrians (Jonah 1.1-2). He did not care for the hundreds of thousands of Ninevites, their children, or their animals. To his great credit, Jonah told the truth. Bulletin for Biblical Research 18.2 (2008) 193207,How Big Was Nineveh? ), and Herodotus (4th century B.C.) 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? He gave this wayward prophet a second chance to fulfill the commission that was given. What is your country? God does deliver Jonah. Why did the storm intensify if the men were trying to row to land? The great deep engulfed me, weeds were wrapped around my head. Godwould not let him die. His prophecy has been believed, the city has responded magnificently to his words, and the people are turning their lives around. God does not save us merely for our own sake, but alsofor the sake of others with whom our life is intertwined. c. Proclamation was one of Judgment. Romans 9.15-16). Yom Kippur in the Community. I have a couple of suggestions. He slept in the ships hold. Few examples of Gentile salvation exist in the Old Testament. He plays with loaded dice. The Assyrians were a fearsome people who worshiped false gods and idols. If he was really dead, he had to be resurrected, as I understand the terminology. 5This raises interesting questions about the nature of reality. Tarshish is widely held to refer to the coastline of modern-day Spain. we are also members of the Body, members of the community, whether we want to admit it or not. This is mercys abode. Extra-biblical sources such asDiodorus Siculus (1st century B.C. 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. God planted this question in Jonahs mind to try and bring him to the divine viewpoint (Isaiah 55.8). The Book of Jonah is read in synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. "Pol minume miror, navis si fracta est tibi,Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona.". Jonahs evangelistic message was brief. 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). These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. He realized he could not escape God and looked to Him for deliverance. Despite his rebellion, Jonah kept his testimony and spoke the truth: I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. God honors His word. "Little I wonder if the ship is wreckedWhich carries thee and thy ill-gotten wealth." The sailors wanted to return to land butJonah didnt.5. Who could endure without them?