Jonah and the wale.

Jonah.

Jonah were swallowed by a big whale,

because he did not follow the God given call.

On the seashore again he landed,

and walked to Nineveh as God demanded.

For one day he preached dome and death,

obedient as he from God was lead.

Under a shelter he thereafter rested,

knowing that people thereby were tested.

In sack and ashes people repented,

and were saved because God relented.

The book of Jonah, son of Amittai, is a true book, even so the story seems to be unbelievable. Jonah means Dove, and is seemingly not a very favorite name.

Jesus quoted in Matthew 12 – 40: Just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale, so the son of man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the center of the earth.

The bible defines the center of the earth as Sheol or Hades, which means Hell. It is the place were unsaved departed spirits are kept until the Day of Judgment.

The book of Jonah contains only the record of Nineveh, but it does not mean that he only had a short ministry. The prophet Elijah had many students, and Jonah is likely to have been one of them like Elisha was, because they lived at the same time around 800 – 750 BC. There is no set date for the book of Jonah.

He prophesied in 2 King 14  (24-25) to Jeroboam king of Samaria northern kingdom the restoration of Israel from the entrance of Hamath in the north to the see of Arabah the Reed See in the south.

Isaiah 40 – 22: It is he who sits above the circle of the earth.

Verse 23: He reduces rulers as nothing, and makes the judges of the earth meaningless, He – the almighty God.

Israel is a true and clear example of God intervening in a nations history by speaking through the prophets. It is given to the whole world as a testimony not to overlook Gods sovereignty. The people in Israel represent humanity. 

Ephesians 4 – 10: He who descended also ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all tings.  He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers.

Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 36- 37:  If this fix order departs from before me, says the Lord, then my folk Israel will cease to exist before me.

The book of Jonah is divided into 4 chapters: The ship, the fish, the city and the Lord.

Jonah chapter1 verse 2: God call Jonah to go to the great city Nineveh and cry against it, because its wickedness has come up before the lord. 

 Jonah fled to Tarsish by ship and from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah knew that by warning, the inhabitants might repent, and God would spare them. He believed the message, and rather wanted God to judge them for their cruelty. They exploited their enemies were involved in witchcraft and prostitution.

When people run away from God, it may not be because they are ignorant of his existence, but because they want to have their own way.

What would the world be like today if dead and sickness did not exist? Would we have a better and peaceful world?

Chapter 1: Jonah fled to Tarshish by ship and so from the presence of the Lord.

The lord hurled a great wind on the sea. The storm was about to kent the ship, making the sailors very afraid, and every one started to cry to his god.

Only Jonah was fast asleep in the bottom of the ship. The captain approached him and asked to pray to his God for safety.      

Verse 7: The sailors started to cast lot to find out on whose account the misfortune had happen. The lot fell on Jonah, who openly confessed, he was a believing Hebrew who had fled from the Lord.

Verse 10: After hearing this the sailors became extremely frightened and asked him what to do to him, that the sea may become calm.

Jonah answered: Pick me up and throw me into the sea, the sea will become calm for you, for I know that this misfortune has happen to you because of me.  

Verse 13: However they rowed desperately to return to land, but the sea was becoming  even stormier.

Verse 14: They called on the Lord: O lord do not let us perish on account of this mans life and do not put innocent blood on us. You o Lord has done as you pleased, then they throw Jonah overboard.

A few things are happening here. The sailors got great respect for the God to Jonah. Jonah foresaw that the Lord intend to spare Nineveh, but in his unforgiving stubbornness he did not knew what hell was like, and that God was going to give him a taste. A big fish was predestinated to swallow Jonah.

Chapter 2: Jonah’s prayer. Verse 2: I cried for help from the depth of Sheol.

Verse 4: I have been expelled from your sight, nevertheless I will look again to your holy temple.

Verse 6: You have brought my life up from the pit .

Verse 9: I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving.

That which I have vowed I will pay.

Verse 10: The Lord commanded the fish to vomit Jonah up on dry land.

Chapter 3 verse 4: Jonah walked into the city and cried out for one day:

Jet 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown.   

Verse 5: The king and the people believed God, and they called for a fast.

Verse 8: Both man and beast was covered with sackcloth and ashes and did not drink or eat for 3 days according to the king’s demand.

Verse 10: When God saw there deeds, and that they turned from their wicked ways, then God relented concerning the calamity, he would bring upon them and did it not.

Nineveh was a big city then. It would take 3 days to walk through it according to scripture. Jonah preached only one day. He thereafter made himself a shelter and sat down to see, what would happen to the city.

Chapter 4 verse 6: God made a big plant to grew fast next to the shelter Jonah made, making him more comfortable .

Verse 7: The next day God appointed a worm to attack the plant, and it withered.

Verse 8: God let a scorching east wind beat down on Jonah’s head, so he became faint and begged with all his soul to die.

Verse 10: God correct Jonah: You had compassion on the plant, for which you did not work. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city that has more than 120,000 people who do not know the difference between their right and left hand as well as many animals.

God is compassionate and long suffering, he also warns before destruction. The question is do we hear hear him, and do we read the signs.

When Jesus walked on earth, he was often moved with compassion and healed people. Gods desire is to give us a new heart and take away the stony heart. God is love and justice together.