He will establish his abiding presence with his favorite children. 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 (whose name means "dove") ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. 1) God gave Jonah a job, but Jonah didn't want to do it. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. Knowing that the people of Nineveh were wicked, Jonah naturally wouldn't want to go there to preach. 5 Nineveh was ancient, being among the first cities that Nimrod established after the Flood. Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. These people were extremely cruel towards Israel and caused a lot of problem in the past. I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. 3) He ends up on a ship. (b)How did Jehovah deal with his distressed prophet? In his heart of hearts, he knew that they deserve nothing but punishment and death. Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. They had made no agreement to obey Him like the Israelites had ( Exodus 24:3 ), and God had no obligation to save them. 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 paper was a bible page of jonah and these readings. (b)What lesson do we all need to learn? What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . Just like us, brethren, we have also been given a task by God to preach the Gospel to this morally decaying and dying world. Jonah flat out doesnt want to go to Nineveh. God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. It has spiritual ramifications that affects both our spiritual life, and daily life. Please click here to learn how. It says, For God so loved the world.. GOD TAUGHT JONAH THE LESSON OF OBEDIENCE Jonah. Ninevah was a city in Assyria. Nineveh was a major city in Assyria, the world power of both Jonah and Nahum's day. Jesus knew what he was talking about, for he had been alive in heaven to witness those events as they unfolded. Thank you, Jesus! Jonah had never done a thing to take care of that plant. Lastly, I get commissions for purchases made through my Amazon affiliate links in this website. 16. The petulant prophet is perturbed that God's grace to pagans is of greater priority to God than Jonahs comfort. Jonah did not like grace because it was not something which one could earn. When he determines to bring punishment on the wicked, he first uses his representatives on earth to issue warnings, for he is eager to see the wicked do what the Ninevites didrepent and change their ways. God's Interest in All People 2) That there's no point in striving to achieve something that isn't God's will. It had all the elements of a spellbinder: a reluctant prophet fleeing God, a sinking ship, a man thrown overboard into the maw of a sea. Jonah would not weep over a people who came close to destruction, but "Jesus, the true prophet, did.". 7 What kind of journey lay ahead of Jonah, and how did he feel about his destination? If anything, it will just have negative effects on us and the people around us! Read Jonah 4:1-11. He would have very likely carried PTSD and claustrophobia with him for the rest of his life. Jehovahs righteous anger against Nineveh simply abated. Or did Jehovah grant him that ability through a miracle? Its like what my pastor says, Earthly obedience, brings forth spiritual release. Did he leap for joy and shouted hooray? This blatant rebellion leads Jonah a not so fun boat ride. 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). 4 Jonah did not see Nineveh as Jehovah did. 20 Gods saying that those people did not know right from left suggested their childlike ignorance of divine standards. Jonah's response is joy, great joy. What sign is God giving me to trust in him? 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. 5) He is thrown into the water. Kia Ora Gramps.Could you please help to understand what lesson the Lord wanted to teach Jonah about the Gourd and the Worm? 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. The fast was so great that even animals fasted and cried out to God! God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the Ninevites. If God's purpose was merely to save Nineveh, He could do it far more effectively and efficiently without Jonah. He ordered that all wear sackcloth, even the domestic animals. it helps to pay the bills and keeps this website running. Im having trouble understanding the story. Hi, welcome to my little piece of cyberspace! What did God do to teach Jonah a lesson? (Luke 9:62), 20 Most Surprising Lessons from Psalm 91 You Probably Never Heard Of, 12 Awesome Lessons We Learn from the Healing of the Man Blind from Birth (John 9:1-41), 12 Important Lessons We Learn from the Temptation of Jesus Christ, 10 Little-Known Lessons from the life of Tabitha (Dorcas) in Acts 9:36-43, The Plain Truth About Tithing [YouTube Shorts compilation], 3 types of heaven in the Bible [1-minute video]. Jonah demonstrates how God uses all of His creation to bring about the salvation of one very wicked nation. God told Jonah to go preach a message of repentance to the people of Ninevah. He was then swallowed by a huge fish - his transport to Nineveh. Jonah thought he was going to die. This is a great Jonah and the whale lesson. Thats it. (see Jonah 3:6-9). He values human life and the potential that each individual has for repenting and learning to do what is right. His life and ministry, recorded in but four chapters, brings so many lessons to Christians old and new. Was the restriction of unclean foods in the Bible a commandment. Jonah 3:5-8 The Ninevites believed God. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, Southern Baptists oust Rick Warren's Saddleback Church for naming a female pastor, Evangelical church pursues alternative oversight after CofE same-sex blessing vote, 'Jesus Revolution' leaves out the tough stuff but gets the music right. Sometimes God will ask us to step out or step up. God is determined to get Jonah to Nineveh. Jonah was a prophet in Israel (the Northern Kingdom, see 2 Kings 14:25). 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). Thanks for malisa for strong messages from the book Jonah ,Jonah prophecy symbol Christ in other characteristics such 3 days in fish belly while Jesus spend 3day in a tomb ,2 both messages gentiles, I enjoyed your Bible Study today on Jonah very much.. it was a blessing. What mattered to him were the people. Many thanks. YAHWEH has called us to do a job of preparing ourselves to meet Him and at the same time, preach the Gospel to all humanity. . The book of Jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the Almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Perhaps, even us today, we'd be hesitant to go to somewhere chaotic and full of wickedness to preach the Gospel. 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 1-4. God's Mercy on a Repentant People. 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. His failure would have resulted in the destruction of Nineveh by the Lord due to their wickedness. These are only 5 thingsthere are more! The first gentile revival just took place. 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. 7,8. Lesson 48, November 21-27. We learned here that both Socratic teaching and rabbinical teaching (by asking questions) was used by God long before educators ever thought about such things. How did Jonah react to Jehovahs mercy on Nineveh? But thankfully brethren, God is not like that. Notice, Nineveh is northeast of Israel and Tarshish is in the west. Jonah believes that the Ninevites dont deserve Gods mercy and forgiveness. I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. (see Jonah 3:4) Such a preaching could sound pretty condemning and scary, and it is: it's a message of judgment. In faith, Jonah knew that he would be delivered. from the presence of the LORD. 8 The king too responded to Jonahs proclamation. You could really see the clear intent of Jonah here that he really didnt want to do the job he was called to do. I am so grateful for technology. 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. Can you elaborate? Not stopping and chewing on what the scripture is trying to show us. He wanted to reach Jonahs heart. Jonah couldnt make himself go to Nineveh. How well are we doing our job? Perhaps he still clung to the hope of witnessing her destruction. Confinement, Communion, and Confession, Jonah 2. Help me to obey your instructions. The noise of a whip and the noise of rattling wheels, of galloping horses, of clattering chariots! Give me the ability to do whatever you ask of me. God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. To top it off Nineveh is 800 miles away. 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. Its only 4 short chapters. Will we?Read Matthew 5:7. (Gen. 10:11; Jonah 3:3) Nineveh was impressive, with stately temples, mighty walls, and other edifices. In the book of Jonah God uses a roaring sea, wayward pagan sailors who, by the way, were saved by God during their experience with the renegade prophet as well as, a pagan king, a weed, a worm, and even a hardheaded preacher. Jonah, after receiving God's command, quickly ran away to a place far away from Nineveh: Tarshish. He sent a worm to attack and kill the plant. I love looking for signs so i looked at the paper. Sep 5, 2014 | AAAA AskGramps Website, Bible | 3 comments. In doing so, he showed remarkable courage and faith, qualities that Christians today need more than ever. Instead, the Lord saved him. TIMELINE: Jonah is a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam II. I am passionate about inspiring people to find their God-given purpose in life. Whereas if they did not repent, then the Lord would destroy them, and they would no longer be a danger to Israel. We are all sinners who are worthy of death. God who dearly loves his children also has a special mode of correction for his children. He tried to run away from the presence of God, and enjoy himself. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. 1,2. Rather Jonah became a reluctant prophet because he knew God's grace would overwhelm Israel's enemy. But have you thought of what you also deserve? Michael A. Milton (PhD, Wales) is a long-time Presbyterian minister (PCA) and a regular contributor to Salem Web Network. God's Love vs. Jonah's Anger. 12 Jehovah is nothing like the rigid, cold, even harsh God so often portrayed by religious leaders. But what happened, did Jonah obey God with zeal and passion? I am currently in a RCIA to becoming catholic. However, Jehovah wanted to do more for Jonah than simply deliver him from the heat and from his own petulant anger. The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. Jonah was a prophet and the Lord told Him to go and preach against Nineveh, which was the capital of the Assyrian empire. Failure would have very likely carried PTSD and claustrophobia with him for the official Church websites, visit... Or comeuntochrist.org his favorite children, with stately temples, mighty walls and... Of both Jonah and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which in... 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