Topical Bible: Prophecy: (Respecting Individuals, See Under Their Names): Jonah

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Introduction

Jonah, a prophet of the Lord, is a central figure in the biblical narrative found in the Book of Jonah, one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. His story is unique among the prophetic books, as it focuses more on the prophet himself and his experiences rather than solely on his prophecies. Jonah's account is a profound exploration of God's mercy, human disobedience, and the universal scope of divine compassion.

Background

Jonah, son of Amittai, is introduced in 2 Kings 14:25, where he is identified as a prophet from Gath-hepher during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. His prophetic ministry is set against the backdrop of a politically turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by both expansion and moral decline.

The Call and Flight

The Book of Jonah begins with God's command to Jonah: "Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me" (Jonah 1:2). Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was notorious for its violence and idolatry. Instead of obeying, Jonah attempts to flee from the presence of the Lord by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish, in the opposite direction.

The Storm and the Great Fish

Jonah's flight results in a divine intervention. The Lord sends a great storm, threatening the ship and its crew. Recognizing the storm as a consequence of his disobedience, Jonah instructs the sailors to throw him into the sea to calm the waters. As he is cast overboard, a great fish, prepared by the Lord, swallows Jonah. Inside the fish, Jonah prays, acknowledging God's sovereignty and expressing repentance. After three days and nights, the fish vomits Jonah onto dry land.

The Mission to Nineveh

God's command comes to Jonah a second time: "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I give you" (Jonah 3:2). This time, Jonah obeys and delivers a simple yet powerful message: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" (Jonah 3:4). The people of Nineveh, from the king to the commoners, believe God, repent, and fast, prompting God to relent from the disaster He had planned.

Jonah's Anger and God's Compassion

Despite the success of his mission, Jonah becomes angry at God's mercy towards Nineveh. He retreats outside the city, where God provides a plant to shade him, only to later destroy it with a worm. Through this object lesson, God teaches Jonah about His compassion, saying, "Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and also many animals?" (Jonah 4:11).

Theological Themes

Jonah's story highlights several key theological themes:

1. Divine Sovereignty and Mercy: God's control over nature and His willingness to forgive even the most wicked when they repent is a central theme. The narrative underscores the boundless nature of God's mercy, extending beyond Israel to encompass all nations.

2. Human Disobedience and Repentance: Jonah's initial flight and subsequent repentance illustrate the human tendency to resist God's will, yet also the possibility of restoration through repentance.

3. Universal Scope of God's Concern: The inclusion of Nineveh, a Gentile city, in God's redemptive plan foreshadows the New Testament revelation of salvation for all peoples.

Conclusion

The Book of Jonah serves as a profound reminder of God's compassion and the call to align with His purposes. Jonah's journey from disobedience to reluctant obedience, and his struggle with God's mercy, invites readers to reflect on their own responses to God's call and the breadth of His love for all creation.

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Jonah 3:1
And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
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Library

Introductory Notice Respecting Tauler's Life and Times
... All that we can discover respecting the commencement of ... of God" we find the names
of individuals widely differing ... though it was the wildest prophecy current at ...
/.../introductory notice respecting taulers life.htm

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
... The doubts of individuals, it is true, were still expressed respecting certain books
of ... without the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy connected with it ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter ii the old testament.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... delivered orally to the individuals concerned, or to ... and simultaneous continuation
of Isaian prophecy. ... interesting critical inquiries respecting the component ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

The Canon from Semler to the Present Time, with Reflections on Its ...
... to correct the prevailing ideas respecting the canon. ... ceased; when history and prophecy
had degenerated ... accordingly, without preventing individuals from putting ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter xi the canon from.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... preached, says that therein was fulfilled the prophecy concerning the ... we hear nothing
of this kind respecting him ... when we hear of a few individuals having been ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

How Much is the Bible Worth?
... accept the rabbinical theories of inspiration respecting the Old ... of this Book in
the individuals and the ... and hints and refracted lights of prophecy, breaks at ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xiii how much is.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... 2. From an expression of Jeremiah respecting Moses and ... 2:28; 11:13), but according
to the number of individuals. ... See the depth to which miserable men fall when ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

The Ascension of Isaiah.
... but of the tortures and murders of individuals. ... the existence of great disputes
respecting the second ... Prophecy is not yet silenced, though greatly diminished ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the ascension of isaiah.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... The words, then, are a prediction or prophecy, and that both concerning ... thou wilt
keep thy sweet morsels of sin under thy tongue ... 'Thou shalt not see the rivers ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm