what did god do to teach jonah a lesson

Yet he rebelled, and Nineveh accepted him as a messenger and quickly repented when he got there. 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. When the ship is threatened, he tells them to throw him over, willing to give his life to do what he thinks is best for Israel. He was hoping God was going to call down fire on everyone. A person should aspire to obey God and receive his blessing than to disobey him and suffer terrible consequences. We read: Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." Yahweh has given Jonah a job that he needs to accomplish. (b)How may the account about Jonah help us to take an honest look at ourselves? There are treasures to be learned and applied in every chapter. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.). To top it off Nineveh is 800 miles away. Could we be like that brethren? (see Jonah 3:4) Such a preaching could sound pretty condemning and scary, and it is: it's a message of judgment. Imitate Their Faith, Share Confinement, Communion, and Confession, Jonah 2. On this site, you can explore the Bible with me as dig into fun topics, like angels, symbolism, characters, dreams and more. At this point we find our first great lessons regarding God's sovereignty. He mentions one in particular: Far-called, our navies melt away;On dune and headland sinks the fire:Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with Nineveh and Tyre! So what are the lessons we can learn from the book of Jonah? 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. So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. God Wants You Back, Jonah 1-2. (John 4:11). Jonahs story may help us to take an honest look at ourselves. What did God do to teach Jonah a lesson? Tell them that they better start believing in Me and doing the right things I want them to do or else I'm going to send fire down from Heaven to destroy their city and burn them up." But Jonah didn't want to go preach to the people of Nineveh. Six Signs We Need to Return to God, Jonah 1. Jonah's lack of response indicates that he got the point. They abstained from food. Talk about Jonah 1: 4-16: This is what it is like to turn away from God. The mission of God is a guaranteed success because of the sovereignty of God. Did that solve Jonahs attitude? 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. God's Interest in All People Thats all that was recorded in the preaching of Jonah. Sign up for updates and shop new collections & promotions before anyone else. One of those is the way the historical account is conceived and recorded. it helps to pay the bills and keeps this website running. 19 Once more Jehovah asked Jonah if he was rightly angry, this time over the death of the bottle-gourd plant. He could have detested and hated these people. The Lord controlled the elements of weather (Jon. [1-minute video]. I think not. So, Yahweh "sent out a great wind on the sea." As a result, Jonah was thrown to the sea and God saved him. This blatant rebellion leads Jonah a not so fun boat ride. God caught Jonah in a ship and commanded a fish to swallow him. The story of Jonah demonstrates how Almighty God has sovereign control over every creature on earth. Imitate Their Faith. (a)How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonahs message? By so doing, the Lord is showing Jonah that his priorities are more then a bit messed up. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah tried to run away from God. However, had he allowed Jehovahs discipline to work a thorough change in him? With this understanding, Jonahs choice to flee makes sense (in a very short-sighted kind of way) . "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. Would you like to read this article in %%? But did He? These people were extremely cruel towards Israel and caused a lot of problem in the past. For instance, Jehovah had shown him mercy, saving him from drowning, holding back punishment for his rebellion, and giving him a second chance to carry out this assignment. One could never feel any sense of accomplishment or ownership, because it is given without cause. What gets missed is Jonah's repentance . 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? He would also know that if he disobeyed the commands of the Lord, he would bring down the wrath of God on himself. Rudyard Kipling, the great English poet of the first part of the 20th century, considered the strengths and influence of the British Empire but warned his fellow subjects of the crown that empires are fleeting. Jonah went outsidethe city, hoping to witness its condemnation, but Jesus Christ went outside the city to die on a cross to accomplish its salvation. We could be preaching, but our hearts may not be in preaching. ^ par. The story is probably written between the 8th and 3th century BC. Was it not because Jonah had allowed his thinking to become selfish? Enable me with the strength to be conscious of your expectations and meet them! (2) The Recipients of Grace. God's compassion easily surpasses our love for others. I would love to hear from you! To begin, he had to choose between the shorter routes and the safer ones and then steadily make his way through valleys and over mountain passes beyond counting. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. God does not want us to forget the lessons of the book of Jonah, nor the destiny of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. He ordered that all wear sackcloth, even the domestic animals. In what ways might some find themselves disagreeing with God, and what lesson can we learn from Jonahs example? 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. 19,20. Jonah 3 & 4. Jehovah can allow his children to suffer for the sake of saving them. When someone repents, are we happy for the person? As a result of his rebellion, the Lord sent a wild storm. View joshua.infantado.1s profile on Facebook, View joshuainfantados profile on Twitter, View joshuainfantados profile on LinkedIn, View +JoshuaInfantados profile on Google+, Follow Becoming Christians on WordPress.com. Instead of us being beaten, insulted, and crucified, Yahshua did it for us. Can you elaborate? Get a focused-Bible-teaching on various subjects as they may apply to our today's lives. . His life and ministry, recorded in but four chapters, brings so many lessons to Christians old and new. That is exactly what happened later on.Zeph. I read recently that the atonement doesnt cover all sins such as murder which requires a blood sacrifice. It is important to note that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was at odds with Assyria and Ninevah was a great city in Assyria. We could be studying the word of God, but our hearts are not into it. They are the enemies of Israel. We might be giving our tithes and offering, we could be serving the brethren, we could be helping one another, but if our hearts are not into it, they are just for a show. TERMS OF USE God punishes Jonah by having a large fish or whale swallow him whole, but Jonah is later reconciled and forgiven. The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of Gods Mercy. God didn't give up on Jonah. He asks the men to hurl him into the sea, which they do, and the storm. We can almost picture an older, wiser, humbler man ruefully shaking his head as he describes his own mistakes, his rebellion, and his stubborn refusal to show mercy. Under the intolerably beating sun, Jonah cries out to God in anger, and this time simply begs for death. The first gentile revival just took place. 6) A great fish, that God prepared, swallows him. 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?? As we know it didnt really work too well for him. They had made no agreement to obey Him like the Israelites had ( Exodus 24:3 ), and God had no obligation to save them. There are consequences for sin, but the Lord is always ready to. 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. . ). He sent a worm to attack and kill the plant. Covenantal-snobbery was, and can still be, a serious problem with Gods people. . He asked him to go somewhere Jonah would NEVER want to go. But none of these factors made the city important to Jehovah God. Rich and poor, strong and weak, young and old were all caught up in the same repentant spirit. 3) He ends up on a ship. I have learned 5 keys from the life of Jonah that I want to share with you! Read More, 3 Important Ways to Pray for Your Future Husband. The fish did not chew him up - it just swallowed him and Jonah was safe inside. He had tried that before. Or a friend? This would take him weeks if not months! Rather Jonah became a reluctant prophet because he knew God's grace would overwhelm Israel's enemy. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. * He walked for a day, penetrating ever deeper into that teeming metropolis, perhaps looking for a suitable central location to start spreading his message. 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. All people will one day glorify God - Psalms 86:9. And he said: I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,and He answered me. 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). God was trying to teach Jonah lessons about the importance of being obedient to The Lord and His will. Even in our failures, God can use it for good! . We could be in the church, but our heart is not in the church. 6 When Jonah finally entered Nineveh, its sizable population of more than 120,000 may have made the place only more intimidating. Hes actually ANGRY at God. All rights reserved. God is omniscient - Psalm 139:1-6. Jonah's obedience to God, albeit reluctant, brought about great results, results that only God could bring. 1) That while our love for others fail, God's compassion knows no ends. Disobedience is a big deal when it comes to God. Jonah's response is joy, great joy. Why arent prophets giving us specific signs to watch for? This is a great Jonah and the whale lesson. It tells us about the role we play in the Body of Christ, the forgiving and merciful attitude that we all should have, and the unimaginable magnitude of Gods mercy and grace not just to His people, but to the entire world. They are the archenemy of the nation of Israel. Could you imagine how many times you would hear your kids say. Jonah woke to see this luxuriant growth, with its broad leaves providing far more shade than his flimsy shelter ever could. Only Jehovah can read what lies within the human heart. What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord? We read: Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.. Roger J. Landry Columbia Catholic Ministry, Notre Dame Church, Manhattan Wednesday of the First Week of Lent March 1, 2023 Jonah 3:1-10, Ps 51, Lk 11:29-32 To listen to an audio recording of today's homily, please click below: [coming] The following points were attempted in the homily: We're now one week into [] I dont select the ads displayed here but generated by advertising software. Jehovahs righteous anger against Nineveh simply abated. He wanted to reach Jonahs heart. He would have very likely carried PTSD and claustrophobia with him for the rest of his life. God is determined to get Jonah to Nineveh. 9. Use this lesson to lead kids to respond to God's compassion and . The book of Jonah is often characterized by liberal theologians as a metaphorical story to teach Israel to be more open to others. . 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). Thank you for your patience and continued support! But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Did they repent when a prophet preached to them? After they threw him overboard, the waves grew calm. However, as the story unfolds we can see how the Lord draws him from fear . 3 When Jehovah ordered Jonah to Nineveh the second time, the prophet obediently headed east on this long journey. It only stopped when Jonah was thrown overboard (see Jonah 1:15). Jonah repented while in the belly of a fish; God heard his voice and saved him. God gave Jonah a job to do, and he ran away. It is clear that Jonah believed in the efficacy of God's message. 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 hope you learned something new about the story of Jonah. On the contrary, he is reasonable, adaptable, and merciful. He observed the change in those people and saw that the punishment he had intended to bring on them would no longer be fitting. Amen. When we look at Jonah 4, Jonah calls God "a gracious God and merciful." Then, in Ephesians 2, Paul says that God's nature is "rich in mercy." As Christians, we know that God is making. He does all this to get Jonah to Nineveh. Let us go to Jonah 1:1 brethren. Finally, after he was spit out by the fish, Jonah found himself in dry land. Whenever we come to think that someone is beyond Gods love, or they have committed acts so vile as to be forever separated from God, then it is time for us to return to the book of Jonah. The book of Jonah is short and a lot of time we can read through it quickly. 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. (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]. "Lest we forget lest we forget!". Then God concluded: For my part, ought I not to feel sorry for Nineveh the great city, in which there exist more than one hundred and twenty thousand men who do not at all know the difference between their right hand and their left, besides many domestic animals?Jonah 4:10,11. In the same way that God's mercy to Nineveh was "exceedingly evil" (it was evil, a great evil), so God's mercy to Jonah is "exceedingly joyous" (Jonah was joyous, a great joy). Jonah, that prophet that tried to run away from God, continues to bring us lessons on obedience, running away from God's commands, a hatred that stops one from sharing the Gospel, and many more. People are important to God. Nope. 13 Was Jonahs prophecy a false one? He likely had to skirt the vast Syrian Desert, ford such rivers as the mighty Euphrates, and seek shelter among foreigners in the towns and villages of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Assyria. PlusFULL access to my printables vault! The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. Jonah sits in the heat of Northern Iraq and is so outdone with God's grace to his enemy, seething that he has lost a gourd with its leaves to shade him, that he despairs unto death. The mans spirits plummeted, and again he asked God that he might die.Jonah 4:6-8. The pagan city of Nineveh, the capital of an Ancient Near Eastern Empire, Assyria, was the epicenter of antagonism toward Israel, and yet, this enemy of God became the object of God's love and grace. 21 Do you see the depth of Jehovahs object lesson? 9 Some critics express doubt that such a change of heart could have occurred so quickly among the Ninevites. It takes place in part in Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria . [And]Jesus did not merely weep for us; he died for us. What does his familiar and most often considered a childrens story could teach us, adults? His failure would have resulted in the destruction of Nineveh by the Lord due to their wickedness. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. He had prophesied doom and destruction in the name of the Lord, but due to repentance it wasnt going to happen. God who dearly loves his children also has a special mode of correction for his children. Jonah believes that the Ninevites dont deserve Gods mercy and forgiveness. from the presence of the LORD. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. (See also footnote.) 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? Jonah is mad at the Lord, so the Lord tried to teach him. The only disobedient figure in the book of Jonah is Jonah. Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear. The book of Jonah concludes with a rather enigmatic ending. Obedience is the key to receivingGods benefits! To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Thank you for having available online. (see Jonah 3:6-9). Let us go to Jonah 1:1 brethren. Jonah would have to travel this by horse/camel. The record of Jonah ends there, so we dont know what happened to Jonah after that, but we can hope that he learned what the Lord wanted him to learn and that he repented of his attitude and actions. Could you please help to understand what lesson the Lord wanted to teach Jonah about the Gourd and the Worm? This is something we all need to be careful of, not to let our own wants and desires blind us to what is truly important. So, when Jonah was on a ship, there was a storm and the sailors threw Jonah into the sea. 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. God's Mercy on a Repentant People. Just imagine that prophet, once again safe in his homeland, writing this account. How much more will God hear your prayers as you cry out for a wayward child? Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? God's command to him remained the same; he was still to preach repentance to Nineveh (see Jonah 2:10-3:4). He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit. Knowing that the people of Nineveh were wicked, Jonah naturally wouldn't want to go there to preach. And is the founder of Think About Such Things. Jonah knew that God was full of grace and mercy, and that was why he was afraid to tell the people of Nineveh. He tried to run away from the presence of God, and enjoy himself. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?. Here is part of the prayer in Jonah 2. So, it shows that the Ninevites are even better than the Israelites at some point! But when God called him to go to Nineveh, we read that Jonah went in the opposite direction. Prophet Jonah disobeyed God and attempted to escape, but God caught him red-handedly. God was telling Jonah to take a message of repentance to an empire destined to destroy his own nation and people. No; it fulfilled its purpose as a warning. God knows the future - Isaiah 46:10. Then he sent a parching east wind until Jonah began swooning away because of the heat. Jonah prophesied in the mid-700s BC, a time when Assyria was not as powerful as they had been in recent years. These past few months I have been doing the Jonah Bible study from Priscilla Shirer with my good friend Ana. You see, evidence indicates that Jonah wrote the book bearing his name. (a)How did Jehovah respond to the repentance of the Ninevites? Nineveh was a major city in Assyria, the world power of both Jonah and Nahum's day. . Sunday School Teacher's Guide - this is just one possible lesson plan. Had Jonah gone to Nineveh just as an enemy Israelite, he would have most likely been ignored, maybe even killed. The Bible says that God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God chose Jonah to go to the Ninevites and tell them that unless they turned from their wicked ways they would face God's punishment. Please click here to learn how. Or lets be really honest when we think of Jonah we just think about the whale (or Big Fish). 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. 2:13-15. The Bible states that the Lord had Jonah caught by a giant fish for three days and then vomit him up (presumably near Nineveh). However, Jehovah wanted to do more for Jonah than simply deliver him from the heat and from his own petulant anger. Are we there yet? God have mercy! 7 Jonahs message got the Ninevites attention. Fr. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah remains today a powerful lesson on compassion, on purpose, and obedience. We know as a fact for Jonah records his prayer, not a petition that flatters its supplicant: So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? So God performed additional miracles. These results are in verse three, that is, one verse before the one that tells of God's special intervention in sending the storm . Part of the heat and from his own petulant anger lessons to Christians old and new the of! In what ways might some find themselves disagreeing with God, and enjoy.! Message of repentance to an empire destined to destroy his own nation and people in... Was hoping God was going to happen - Psalms 86:9 repentance to the Ninevites dont deserve Gods Mercy he. A wild storm we Need to Return to God really didnt want to go Nineveh! Nineveh to preach repentance to an empire destined to destroy his own petulant anger i have been the. And Confession, Jonah naturally would n't want to do, and that recorded., Jonahs choice to flee makes sense ( in a ship and commanded a fish ; God heard his and... Occurred so quickly among the Ninevites dont deserve Gods Mercy chew him up it! And saw that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was at odds with Assyria Ninevah... The mid-700s BC, a serious problem with Gods people Jehovah God because it is important to Jehovah God important. Didnt want to go to Nineveh, its sizable population of more 120,000! 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