GREAT TRUTHS FROM THE BOOK OF JONAH
We all know the story of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish !
But there are some real great truths found in this O/T book
Prophet Jonah lived in the Galilean city of Gath-hepher, about 4 miles north of Nazareth, during the reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC)
2 Kings 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.
Prophets Hosea and Amos said God was going to use Assyria to punish his people for their rebellion and idolatry. So when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh the capital city of Assyria, he was not at all happy.
Hosea 11:5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
Amos 5:27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, said the Lord, whose name is The God of hosts.
Any patriotic Isrealite would have longed for Assyria’s destruction.
So can you imagine what Jonah was thinking when the Lord told him to go to Nineveh with a divine message. Yet Jonah was aware of the fact who Jehovah was.
Jonah 4:2 for I knew that thou art a gracious God,
Jonah knew that if the inhabitants of that great city were responsive to his message, Jehovah would certainly spare them. But Jonah did not want them to be saved.
So, Jonah went to Joppa and boarded a ship to Tarshish, on the southwest coast of Spain, some 2000 miles from Nineveh. Jonah was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah.
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
But as any bible student knows, his plans were soon to change.
One author said; “When men propose, God can dispose !”
We know the story, so just briefly: While in the ship going to Tarshish a great storm arose and the others in the vessel feared for their lives. Jonah confesses that he is a refugee from the Lord and that he was the cause of this great storm. Even though his sailing companions did not like the idea, they were forced to throw Jonah overboard.
Down into the depths of the Mediterranean Jonah went
Jonah 2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
He soon was swallowed by a great creature of the sea. You might say the Lord sent Jonah to a three day seminar, and he received his diploma in “mission responsibility.”
Jonah went to Nineveh, a journey that would take more that a month, which would give Jonah ample time to reflect on his ordeal.
Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
Jonah entered this city with his blunt message: (Only 5 words in Hebrew)
“Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
Amazingly, there was mass repentance, from the King down to the commoner.
Jonah 3:5-8 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. [6] For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. [7] And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: [8] But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Jonah was so distraught at this turn of events,so much he wanted to die.
Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Jonah 4:3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
So he went out of the city and perched himself on a hilltop nearby, eagerly watching the city in hopes that the Lord would destroy it. Abviously his education was not complete.
Jonah 4:5-11 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. [6] And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. [7] But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. [8] And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. [9] And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. [10] Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: [11] And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
As one author says:
“This penetrating inquiry threw a divine flood upon the pathetic values of the man from Gath-hepher.”
The book of Jonah is filled with valuable information and timeless lessons.
Let’s reflect upon a few of these matters.
First: This marvelous narrative has had it’s critic’s over the years.
Jonah swallowed by a great sea-creature. Many say this is pure fiction.
However Jesus did not view this story as mere fiction.
Matthew 12:39-41 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: [40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
I believe this account settles the matter. Aside from the fact that this event involved a miracle, the circumstances are not beyond the realm of possibilities. In fact, a number of similar cases have been documented and in relatively modern times. In the early 1900’s a seaman was swallowed by a large sperm whale near the Falkland islands, and after three days, he was recovered, unconscious but alive, though there was no damage to his skin.
Some critics argue Jonah was swallowed by a “great fish” (1:17)
While the N/T suggest that it was a “whale”
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The fallacy of this argument is that the Hebrew word “dag” and the Greek word “ketos” are generic terms that can be applied to any aquatic creature.
Second: This book demonstrates the sovereignty of the Almighty as he uses his very creation to accomplish his divine plan. The Lord controlled the elements of weather.
Jonah 1:4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
And he prepared a sea-monster, a vine, and a worm to do his bidding.
Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 4:6-7 And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. [7] But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
Third This inspired document reveals the international interest of God. Even though Jehovah was primarily working through the Hebrews for sending the promised seed, His compassion for all the people of the earth was shown in sending a “missionary”, Jonah to those Gentiles in Nineveh.
Fourth This narrative illustrates that the Lord, not man is in control of the destiny of nations. Jehovah rules in the kingdoms of men.
Psalm 22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Daniel 2:21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings:
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
Nineveh was given forty days to repent – she did and she was spared destruction for almost a century and a half. Yet she did fall to the Babylonians in 612 BC.
Fifth The book of Jonah demonstrates that those outside the mosaic covenant were accountable to heaven’s moral law. Jehovah looked down on Nineveh and observed her wickedness
Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Since sin is a transgression of divine law, the Ninevites were obviously subject to that law.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
This powerful truth is in conflict with even our brethren who teach those who are “outside the church” are not subject to the marriage law of God.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Sixth This record reveals the power of God’s word when it comes in contact with people of good and honest hearts.
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Even though Jonah’s message was brief it produced the desired effects.
Critics say such a short message could not have produced such results.
But you can not ignore what Jesus said:
Matthew 12:41 because they repented at the preaching of Jonah
Besides that, historical records reveal that Nineveh had suffered severe plagues in 765 and 759 BC. Thus the soil of their hearts were conditioned for Jonah’s “revival.” Also, somehow he citizens of Nineveh had heard of Jonah’s “resurrection” from the belly of the fish.
Luke 11:30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
Seventh This account, together with the N/T underscores the important of repentance. As mentioned before:
Matthew 12:41 because they repented at the preaching of Jonah.
The book of Jonas specifically says those of Nineveh turned from sin.
Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;
Thus, repentance in not, as some allege, a mere sorrow for sins, rather, it requires a turning away from evil conduct. This passage quoted reveals that repentance is a “work”, and since repentance is essential to salvation, it follows that salvation is not exclusive of all types of work.
Luke 13:3-5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
Eight An interesting passage in this book illustrates a vital point about punishment of the wicked after death. Jonah describes his horrible ordeal in the belly of the sea-monster as an experience as being in “hell”.
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and you heard my voice.
The Hebrew word here is “sheol”, and it denotes the abode of the wicked prior to the judgement. Since crying out by reason of “affliction” certainly indicates conscious suffering. We must conclude that the state of the wicked dead is that of conscious torment.
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Ninth Jonah’s message reveals that prophecy is sometimes “conditional”.
The prophet said Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days, yet it survived for almost a century and a half beyond that time.
The prediction of doom was conditioned upon Nineveh’s response.
Millennialists would do well to learn from this principle of prophecy.
Example: Israel was promised an inheritance of the land of Canaan. Remember our lesson a few weeks ago. The promise was conditional.
It depended upon their fidelity to God.
Joshua 22:4-5 And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan. [5] But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
The time came and they lost their land. Israel has no claim to it today.
Tenth The book of Jonah presents a beautiful “type” of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Some modernist argue that this concept of a bodily resurrection of Christ was unknown in O/T times.
Jesus demonstrated otherwise:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
How does one argue with the words of Jesus.
Finally, Paul wrote:
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Surely this study shows us, we can glean many great truths from books such as Jonah.
Question: Have we been raised, resurrected, from the watery grave of baptism to be ready for the final resurrection.