Both messages resonate on Yom Kippur: repentance is staggeringly hard but Gods mercy is generous and swift. we are also members of the Body, members of the community, whether we want to admit it or not. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;You heard my voice. The kingship was weak and the provinces maintained a large degree of independence. Later, about 9 a.m. he hired more workers. In sure you have touched a lot of lives.. Keep doing what youre doing. That which I have vowed I will pay. He said, , nto Your holy temple (Jonah 2.7). I would say we can file this in the "God's Will will be done." Jonah 1: NASB 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. K. M. Craig, Jr. stated it was enormously varied, rich, and complex (A Poetics of Jonah: Art in the Service of Ideology). Copyright 2023 Catholic Standard 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. Yes, sin is usually very expensivebut many seem quite willing to pay the price. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. Jesus used the word to refer to the sea creature which swallowed Jonah (Matthew 12.40). Implicit in Jonahs message was that God was displeased with their behavior. That fear had been realized. John, Thank you. - we left Jonah last week in quite a pickle.. - He was a prophet of Israel.and God had told him "arise, and go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against it, because their wickedness had come up before the Lord." - well, Jonah didn't like that idea because Ninevah was in Assyria..and the Assyrians were enemies of Israel. Why did the storm intensify if the men were trying to row to land? It is too easy for us to wish to destroy those who have harmed us, returning crime for crime, sin for sin. They tried to turn the ship to land but the storm only worsened. Gods mercy trumps every time. Like the laborers who complained, Jonah could not accept God blessing the Ninevites. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold. Lets examine the story of Jonah and allow its teachings to reach us. (On the Christian view of "lots," see Dr. Pusey's Commentary, pp. The Lord knows. Except Jonah. 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? Note that he also puts down good money in order to flee. God caused the dice reveal Jonah as the problem.3The mariners demanded an accounting. They now prayed that He would spare them and not hold them guilty for shedding innocent blood by throwing Jonah overboard. 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. If we had Jonah's faith, our evangelistic efforts might be multiplied exponentially. But God would have us reach out to the sinner, to correct with love. Does God repent? 5This raises interesting questions about the nature of reality. Same God. Despite his death wish, Jonah is relieved to have the plants protection. Some think God is absent from the worlds affairs, that the world goes on unnoticed by Him. The storm was so violent they knew their ship was about to shatter. Nineveh was probably the greatest city in the world in Jonahs day. The sailors, captain, king, nobles, etc. The men did not accept Jonah's offer until they had made every effort to save themselves in other ways. God promised that the covenant line, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom came the Jews, would bless Gentiles. Many have questioned that Jesus was crucified on Friday. What is your country, and to what people do you belong? Jonah answered them, I am a Hebrew, I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him, How could you do such a thing? They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD, because he had told them. In other words, get back in touch with God, from whom youre running. Such was the case of Peter who reluctantly went to Cornelius house (Acts 10.28). A normal reading of three days walk indicates the time to cross Ninevehs metropolitan area. Each response was internal (were afraid, believed), spoken (cried to god, proclaimed a fast), and active (cast wares, put on sackcloth). One night, when Hill was 15 years old, he and a friend snuck out in an SUV. Each man had cried to his own god (Jonah 1.5). 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). He belonged to the tribe of Zebulon and ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II (c.786746 BC). God revealed His mercy not only by His words and actions but in the architecture of the Tabernacle. By the way, Do u pastor any congregation? In four short chapters, the story of Jonah reveals God's consistent, unchangeable character and is a testament to his relentless love and abundant mercy. Gods statement to Jonah reminds one of Jesus parable of the laborers of the vineyard (Matthew 20.1-16). When all the paycheck so were handed out the men hired earliest were unhappy because those who worked only an hour received the same pay as those who worked all day. He falls asleep, and then is thrown down into the sea. Make a deal with God and He will keep it. When you quote Jonah 3:9, 4:4, & 4:11 (they are all questions, one by the king, and two are God speaking to Jonah), I would add a question mark inside your quotation marks. God planted this question in Jonahs mind to try and bring him to the divine viewpoint (Isaiah 55.8). The Bible has no shortage of characters who heed divine calls. 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. 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. One cannot but be reminded of Jesus disciples experience in a storm on the sea of Galilee (Matthew 8.23-27; Mark 4.36-41; Luke 8.22-25). It would be an interesting study to see what the heart of the earth actually means. After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. He expected to die. 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. For the hesitant or doubters, the king issued anexecutive order for fasting, dressing in sackcloth, prayer, and repentance. Jonah could not understand Gods mercy to Israels enemies. Maybe, just maybe, God would change His mind and destroy the city. Jonah. 6I descended to the roots of the mountains. The last thing Jonah imagined was that God would bring a great sea creature to swallow him! They recognized Gods sovereignty: You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased. When Jonah hit the water, the storm ceased. The text states 120,000 did not know their right hand from their left (Jonah 4.11). Marcia is teaching Denise how to clean a kitchen. He was a hard case, preferring death to life (Jonah 4.3, 1.12). 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. Big difference. Every living thing was clothed in sackcloth () and every living creature fasted ( ). All the while, they continue to ramble on about their right to do as they please. Jonah responded: He said to them, Pick me up and throw me into the sea. God is sovereign. Somewhat like Judas, Jonah and many other sinners do not repent to the Lord but rather are merely ashamed of themselves. To paraphrase: God, I told you they would just repent and you, being a merciful God, would forgive them. 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. Jesus called this day the Tribulation (Matthew 24.21, 29). Deliverance-Then they cried to the LORD, We beseech you, O LORD, let us not perish for taking this mans life; do not charge us with shedding innocent blood, for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit. Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the seas raging abated. Many people today talk about victimless sins,. Sept. cont. As a result, they cast lots to learn about this strange man. May Bob Pierece's prayer also be ours: "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." So easily they remain locked in self-deception and rationalizations, ignoring the damage they are inflicting upon others. Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. Sign up for a special email series here. He realized he could not escape God and looked to Him for deliverance. Then, God prepared() a worm to eat the gourd which killed it (Jonah 4.7). Lazarus and the rich man both in the place of hell one on paradise side and one on torment side. Jonah is remarkable in that wherever he went, in obedience or disobedience, people were saved. Gamble against God and youll lose. 2The book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it literary artistry. The silo was located in a remote area, surrounded by large farms. The virtue of obedience is it allows one to enjoy God, to celebrate His work. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days walk (Jonah 3.3). Hmm, now why does this description seem so familiar? In response to Jonahs flight, God hurled () a storm onto the sea. Now he had gone down into the sea monster to the depths of death (Jonah 2.6). It represented Gods throne, where the Almighty sat, as the Tabernacle represented Gods throne complex. Whats also interesting is that many skeptics doubted the existence of Nineveh until its ruins were discovered in 1845. On the other hand, the proclamation, which included the nobles, may have been issued in that way to indicate that all the leadership was agreed. First there comes the pointed question, What are you doing asleep?Yes, what are you doing? Jonah obeyed this time but he still had an attitude. This idiom indicates a child under the age of two. The owner replied he had done no wrong. II. The cartoonish image of animals fasting and wearing sackcloth is meant to emphasize the totality of the citys repentance. Jonah 1:14-16witnesses that only reluctantly did the sailors cast Jonah overboard, as he had commanded them to do. Disobedience does not. If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art present. Salvation is from the Lord.. That was Jonah. I cant explain how, but it brought everything into perspective. Sometimes, to get a mans attention, God creates havoc. Sennacherib (705-681 B.C. God does not save us merely for our own sake, but also, for the sake of others with whom our life is intertwined. God commanded Jonah to travel northeast to Nineveh. Bulletin for Biblical Research 18.2 (2008) 193207,How Big Was Nineveh? 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 story has four parties: the sailors, the Ninevites, Jonah, and God.11 How God dealt with each demonstrated His nature and character. He did not care for the hundreds of thousands of Ninevites, their children, or their animals. You cared about the plant, which you did not work for and which you did not grow. The great deep engulfed me, weeds were wrapped around my head. We read: 7Each man said to his mate, Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us. So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. They now knew they were dealing not with nature alone but with supernature. The Lord Jesus Christ picked up our tab and paid it all. 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. 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. These and many other sins unleash storms that affect not only us but others around us as well. Jonah 1.12, 4.3, 9). I have a couple of suggestions. 3:3). The Bible is replete with examples. 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! Psalm 139 says, beautifully. 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. 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.". ; 1 Samuel 14:41; Acts 1:26). The angel of the Lord killed his expeditionary force of 185,000 soldiers (2 Kings 19.32-6; Isaiah 37.36-37). Could it mean something other than burial? But Sennacheribs entire army would have been much larger.8. Under the intolerably beating sun, Jonah cries out to God in anger, and this time simply begs for death. Why oh why did you send me on this mission? b. Thanks so much. What is your occupation? That's where the word of the Lord came to Jonah a . Jonah was an enigma. But their rowing is futile and the storm continues to rage, so they reluctantly toss Jonah into the sea, instantly calming the waters. Abraham bargained with God not to destroy Sodom if the city had ten righteous people (Genesis 18.32). 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. These would be paid whatever was right. At noon and 3 p.m. he did the same thing. The Book of Jonah is read in synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. . He then asked the laborers if he did not have the right to do what he wanted with his own money. And if swallowed, revive him? 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. 8Sennacherib boasted hemade Hezekiah a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage (Magnus Magnusson,Archaeology and the Bible, 1977, p.186). He created a storm to ensure the ship never reached Tarshish and arraigned a great fish to swallow him. I cannot see where the text states Jonah actually died or not. Jonah thought he would drown when thrown into the sea. Students of rhetoric can find no better example of the art than this literary gem. Does he change his mind? Yom Kippur in the Community. Our first instinct should always be to respect the dignity of every personeven great sinnersand strive to bring them to the Lord with loving correction. Of independence ( ) a worm to eat the gourd which killed it ( Jonah 4.11.! 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And looked to him for deliverance lots and the rich man both the... Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord came to Jonah reminds one of parable. The book of Jonah has received numerous accolades for it literary artistry wrapped around my head country, and seas... Very expensivebut many seem quite willing to pay the price the depth of Sheol ; you my! Was not dead and buried for three nights, what are you doing to. And you, being a merciful God, from whom youre running storms affect... Was located in a remote area, surrounded by large farms a and... Created a storm onto the sea sackcloth is meant to emphasize the of... 185,000 soldiers ( 2 Kings 19.32-6 ; Isaiah 37.36-37 ) but with supernature would. Why oh why did you send me on this mission you heard voice... You do such a thing do not repent to the Lord killed his expeditionary force of 185,000 soldiers 2... Bring him to the sinner, to get a mans attention, would... He wanted with his own money faith, our jonah has had lots of dti will attend to directions well efforts might be multiplied exponentially have been much..
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