Yahweh has given Jonah a job that he needs to accomplish. So, please feel free to drop me a comment or take a look at my similar posts in my Christian Faith Articles page! The story of Jonah was a popular tale in Jesus' time. Long story short they toss him overboard, but before doing so they ask God to forgive them. The book of Jonah begins with these words: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Ammittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.". MATERIALS: Learning props and toys, craft supplies, music SONG IDEAS:&a Could you please help to understand what lesson the Lord wanted to teach Jonah about the Gourd and the Worm? . We read: Now Nineveh herself proved to be a city great to God. (Jonah 3:3) Three times, the record of Jonah quotes Jehovah as referring to Nineveh the great city. (Jonah 1:2; 3:2; 4:11) Why was this city great, or important, to Jehovah? 8 The king too responded to Jonahs proclamation. Post by James Taiwo author ofBook of Prayers|Pinnacle of Compassion|Bible Application Lessons|Success Express Lane|Bible Giants of Faith& others. God gave us the ability to choose - Joshua 24:15. It is the book itself. I hope they will fail., Oh why cant my angry boss just be gone., At times, we are so busy in saying that, I hope he gets what he deserves.. Jonah's obedience to God, albeit reluctant, brought about great results, results that only God could bring. 4 Jonah did not see Nineveh as Jehovah did. But those things need to bow down to Gods ways. 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. Now there is potential for a bit of Irony here. 21 Do you see the depth of Jehovahs object lesson? He does all this to get Jonah to Nineveh. God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. Though Jonah ran away from God, God wasn't finished with him yet. Introduction: This lesson is about a man that is in a little bit of all of us. In Jonah 4:2, we read the reason why he doesnt want to go to Nineveh in the first place: So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Covenantal-snobbery was, and can still be, a serious problem with Gods people. 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. We read: To Jonah, though, it was highly displeasing, and he got to be hot with anger. (Jonah 4:1) Jonah even uttered a prayer that sounds like a rebuke of the Almighty! [1-minute video]. Nahum 3:1-4 gives us an idea of just how wicked the people of Nineveh were: "Woe to the bloody city! What mattered to him were the people. Yet the city of Nineveh had sixscore thousand people (Jonah 4:11) who didnt know any better and Jonah thinks their preservation is a bad thing? . | 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. 8 This detail may seem odd, but it is not without precedent in ancient times. You have remained in right site to begin getting this info. His spirits lifted. DLTK's Sunday School Lessons Men of the Old Testament Pt 1: Jonah. (b)How did Jehovah deal with his distressed prophet? God's compassion easily surpasses our love for others. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly: Jonah was still in the belly of the fish but he knew it was enough that the LORD had heard his cry ( You heard my voice ). Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Notice, out of the four chapters of Jonah, the words of his preaching was only one sentence. 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. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. When thinking about this book as a whole, and what God is trying to teach Jonah, what does this mean for us. I have learned 5 keys from the life of Jonah that I want to share with you! Would you like to read this article in %%? 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. 7 Jonahs message got the Ninevites attention. The Prodigal Prophet Jonah And The Mystery Of God Recognizing the showing off ways to get this ebook The Prodigal Prophet Jonah And The Mystery Of God is additionally useful. After all, he felt sorry for the plant only because it had benefited him personally. Fr. Jonah demonstrates how God uses all of His creation to bring about the salvation of one very wicked nation. In this article When we look at Jonah in the Bible you will discover incredible life lessons that can be applied to our daily walk with God. God gave Jonah a job to do, and he ran away. Thank you. Imitate Their Faith, Share And Jonah has good earthly reasons why, but God looks beyond the earthly and looks through His spiritual eyes. Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. Jonah couldnt make himself go to Nineveh. Its Not What You Think! As the days passed, he thought about the destination that he so dreaded, the city that drew closer with each step he tookNineveh. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying. We could be in the church, but our heart is not in the church. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.). Did they repent when a prophet preached to them? The Lord controlled the elements of weather (Jon. When God called Jonah to go and warn the violent and . The sign is that a place of death had become a place of deliverance. Yes, that means precisely what it says: Jonah was preferring death over the advance of Gods grace to Nineveh. Jonah began to rejoice greatly over the plant, perhaps viewing its miraculous appearance as a sign of Gods blessing and approval. But have you thought of what you also deserve? Mark Wahlberg gives lessons on fasting during Lent, Free Church of Scotland condemns 'anti-Christian intolerance' towards Kate Forbes, Ian Paul on why he won't leave the Church of England despite its support for gay blessings, How becoming a refugee host forged a friendship for life, Rate of church closures is higher in low-income neighbourhoods, 'We never stopped praying,' says kidnap for ransom survivor, Medieval Christian women voices that we need to hear. Here is a perfect heartperfect in generous lovenot excusing, not harshly condemning. Am I Less Worthy Not Being From the Tribe of Ephraim? Had Jonah gone to Nineveh just as an enemy Israelite, he would have most likely been ignored, maybe even killed. God is working to teach Jonah a lesson. As we saw in the preceding chapter, Jehovah patiently taught Jonah by means of a windstorm at sea and a miraculous rescue involving a huge fish. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. 1. What does the story of Jonah and the whale teach us? It has spiritual ramifications that affects both our spiritual life, and daily life. ^ par. These people were extremely cruel towards Israel and caused a lot of problem in the past. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16 ESV). Jonah couldnt see that and sometimes, we couldnt see that as well. She also enjoys family, cooking, and reading. Jonah wanted to see Nineveh destroyed. Ive read that the Lord wanted to show Jonah that He loves all His people. 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). Jonah tried to initially claim that The Lord deserted him, but it was Jonah that had tried to run from God (Where could he escape God anyway?? In his heart of hearts, he knew that they deserve nothing but punishment and death. So he goes to Nineveh and calls them to repent or be destroyed. Perhaps he still clung to the hope of witnessing her destruction. He would also know that if he disobeyed the commands of the Lord, he would bring down the wrath of God on himself. 3) That obedience to God will always bring God-sized results. To put the matter in plain words, Jonah did not like grace because it was charity. God punishes Jonah by having a large fish or whale swallow him whole, but Jonah is later reconciled and forgiven. 6) A great fish, that God prepared, swallows him. Lesson #2. (a)What object lesson did Jehovah teach Jonah? It is all full of lies and robbery. (b)How may the account about Jonah help us to take an honest look at ourselves? BIBLEARENA.ORG presents the sacred teachings of the Bible to enhance spiritual growth. No. "Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. Obviously, He did not. 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. Instead, the Lord saved him. I hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. To learn more visit and subscribe: https://michaelmilton.org/about/. A gourd, an easterly winder, and even a worm, all over the Lord without any protests. Jonah was doing the bare minimum. After God delivered him, Jonah traveled to Nineveh and prophesied that the Lord would destroy the city because of its wickedness. Since we interpret Scripture by other Scriptures, and since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ told the book of Jonah as history (Matthew 12:39-41), so must we. In its heyday, Nineveh may have been the largest city in the world. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. No; it fulfilled its purpose as a warning. 5 Nineveh was ancient, being among the first cities that Nimrod established after the Flood. Is it true that it never rained before Noah? Nineveh was a Gentile city, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and had no covenant with God. Perhaps, he was angry, because the warning he had given them had not been carried out. God grew a vine to shelter Jonah from the sun, then sent a worm to chew it up. Whereas if they did not repent, then the Lord would destroy them, and they would no longer be a danger to Israel. The book of Jonah is often characterized by liberal theologians as a metaphorical story to teach Israel to be more open to others. When God told Jonah what he would say in Nineveh, Jonah rejected the call. What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . But Jonah doesn't want to do God's bidding to he jumps. What miracle did God perform to teach Jonah a lesson? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 2. He was hoping God was going to call down fire on everyone. Jonah's lack of response indicates that he got the point. He is, now, angry that God has forgiven them. He gets on the boat and flees Jerusalem. He has composed and performed original music for five albums. "He Delighteth in Mercy". acquire the The Prodigal Prophet Jonah And The Mystery Of God member that we present here and check out the link. By so doing, the Lord is showing Jonah that his priorities are more then a bit messed up. How does that show through the story? Help me to obey your instructions. 19,20. ). I am so grateful for technology. God was working in Jonah's life through his fish experience. The story shows us how merciful God is, by contrasting His mercy with Jonah's hunger for revenge. 1:4, 11, 13, 15; 4:8), and he prepared a sea-creature, a vine, and a worm to do his bidding (Jon. Like us, Jonah initially responds to his prophetic call with fear. Jonah (whose name means "dove") ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. 3) He ends up on a ship. God does not tempt us with sin - James 1:13. Imitate Their Faith. (b)What do we learn about Jonah from the preaching work that he carried out? Jonah rebels, gets swallowed by a great fish, repents, and, at last, fulfills his mission. Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 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. Jonah runs away because he cannot resolve two contradictions: between the categorization of prophecies that do not come to pass as "false prophecies" (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) and the revocation of the verdict against Nineveh, in response to its repentance; and between the concept of God as unchanging and resolute (see Numbers 23:19) and His . God's command to him remained the same; he was still to preach repentance to Nineveh (see Jonah 2:10-3:4). Nope. The force of this final question cannot be overstated. The essential nature of God and His mission in the world should be a powerful motivation as well as a source of confidence as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. God is omniscient - Psalm 139:1-6. The minor prophet, Jonah, takes place when Nineveh, that great city, was the largest city on the face of the earth. He will rescue them during trouble and provide for their needs. John 3:16 tells us, For God so loved the Israelites, no, the church, no, the apostles, saints, prophets, NO! There is a multitude of slain, a great number of bodies, countless corpses - They stumble over the corpses - because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations through her harlotries, and families through her sorceries.". Did that solve Jonahs attitude? What did the Lord mean in Jonah. (a)Why might Jonah have found Nineveh intimidating? ^ par. God who dearly loves his children also has a special mode of correction for his children. (a)What did Jonah do after leaving Nineveh? This post may contain affiliate links. If they listened to God's warningif they repented then God might spare them, and they would remain a looming threat. 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