174 - Jonah

The Prophet Jonah

Kathleen's thoughts

Jonah's 1: 1-11 Jonah's disobedience The Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai to get up and go to the city of Nineveh and preach against it because of their wickedness  but instead he disobeyed the Lord and fled to Tarshish from the Lord's presence. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish and paid the fare. The ship came into difficulties from the high winds and the sailors were afraid. Jonah was in the lowest part of the vessel and stretched himself out and had fallen into a deep sleep. The captain of the ship went down and found Jonah and told him to call to his God and maybe they won't perish. Meanwhile the sailors had cast lots then they will know who is to blame for this and the lots singled out Jonah.  Jonah told them he was Hebrew and he worships Yahweh, the God of the heavens  So the men were even more afraid.


Jonah 1: 12-17 Jonah in the fish. So Jonah told them to throw him over board then the seas might just quieten down for them, for I know I am to blame for these high winds as he had disobeyed the Lords commands to go to Nineveh The moment the sailors threw him over board the seas' became calm. The Lord had appointed a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2: 1-9 Jonah's prayer As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord. My prayer came to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love, but as for me, I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will full fill what I have vowed. SALVATION IS FROM THE LORD!

Jonah 2:10 Jonah's deliverance The the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah 3: 1-10 Jonah at Nineveh Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. "Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach  the message that I tell you So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the Lord's command.

Jonah 4: 1-11 His strange reaction


Amos 1: 1-15 2: 1-3 Judgment's against nations...The Lord roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem..
I will not relent from punishing... Damascus, Aram, Gaza Ashdod, Ashkelon, Tyre, Edom, Teman, Gelead, Rabbah, Moab, Kerioth.


Amos 2: 4-16, 3: 1-15 Judgment's against Israel and Judah. The Lord says; I will not relent from punishing Judah & Israel

What I have learnt from this reading is that when the Lord tell you to go out and preach the gospel you need to listen and do it. The Lord is with you where ever you go. He is your provider. The sad thing is many of us think our way is far greater but we soon learn the wrath of God. To prosper is to walk in God's statues and to keep on bended knees.

Blessings
Kathleen.

174 - Should I not spare Nineveh ?

The Prophet Jonah

Chareen's Thoughts

•  Today we read the story of Jonah. Nineveh must have been a city with a huge reputation for a prophet to choose to try and run away from God's command to go there.
• Jonah fell into a deep sleep while a storm raged! (Jesus did the same with his disciples)
• The men of the ship asked what they should do and Jonah said to throw him into the sea at which things instantly calmed down.  The Lord had sent a great fish to swallow Jonah. 
• Jonah was in the fish three days and 3 nights. (Jesus was dead for three days and three nights)
• Then Jonah prayed.  It was only after he prayed that the Lord commanded the fish to release him.
• The Lord commanded and Jonah obeyed.  He preached the word of the LORD in the city.
• The whole city mourned and repented and the Lord took pity on them and did not destroy them.
• And he prayed to the Lord and said, I pray You, O Lord, is not this just what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and [when sinners turn to You and meet Your conditions] You revoke the [sentence of] evil against them. Jonah 4:2
• Jonah was a little unhappy with the outcome.
• 10 Then said the Lord, You have had pity on the gourd, for which you have not labored nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons not [yet old enough to] know their right hand from their left, and also many cattle [not accountable for sin]? Jonah 4:10-11 I love how the Lord took time to teach Jonah and explain.

Key for me here is knowing that I can come to Him and He will teach me.  He is a God full of compassion and mercy.

Blessings
Chareen