JONAH: A Once-Disobedient Prophet of God

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October 28, 2018 • 06:00

JONAH: A Once-Disobedient Prophet of God

Ask moderns about the prophet Jonah of the Bible, and most will say, “Wasn’t that the guy who got swallowed by a whale?”

Actually, Jonah was swallowed by a “great fish.”

It all began when Jonah took a trip on a ship heading out to sea.

According to the Book of Jonah, a violent storm came up and Jonah KNEW it was because he (Jonah) had disobeyed God. The storm came up so quickly, the pagan sailors on the ship wanted to know who it was that had angered the gods.

Jonah confessed.

“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. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 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 1:11-12,15,17

So, how did Jonah disobey God and why was he on the ship in the first place?

God told Jonah to go to the great city of Ninevah and warn them of God’s coming judgment IF the city did not repent. Jonah hated Ninevah (an enemy of Israel) and did NOT want to warn the city.

Instead of going to Ninevah, Jonah grabbed a ship heading the other direction.

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 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.”
–Jonah 1:1-3

God then sent the storm, the sailors threw Jonah overboard and God had a great fish swallow Jonah.

After Jonah changed his mind, prayed to God and said he was sorry and that he would obey, God rescued Jonah.

“And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”
–Jonah 2:10

After this, Jonah obeyed the Word of the Lord.

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 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. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
Jonah 3:1-3

Amazingly enough, the entire city of Ninevah heard Jonah and repented. They even made their animals fast. Even the king of Ninevah changed his ways.

“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. 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. 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: 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. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?”
–Jonah 3:5-9

God then saw the people of Ninevah now feared God (but especially, the Ninevites feared what He could do).

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”
–Proverbs 16:6

After seeing the change in Ninevah and its inhabitants, God decided NOT to destroy the city.

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
–Jonah 3:10

That God did not destroy Ninevah angered Jonah (who considered Ninevah a great enemy of Israel). Jonah greatly desired to see Ninevah suffer supernatural judgment at the hand of God. Jonah even got himself a good seat outside the city where he hoped to see its destruction.

“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.”
–Jonah 4:5

God’s response to Jonah’s anger is particularly interesting.

“Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?”

IN FACT, God asked Jonah this question TWICE.

The Book of Jonah is only 4 chapters (48 verses) in length. Jonah’s anger and God’s answers to the once-disobedient prophet’s anger constitute most of the fourth chapter.

Jonah is an extremely interesting account of a prophet of God who 1-disobeyed God, 2-underwent chastening and 3-returned to obedience.

A very interesting and thought-provoking 48 verses.

DOES the reader ever get angry at God?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: October 23, 2018.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR file/Dore/pd

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