THE JONAH SAGA Lesson 4 for July 25, 2015

“He [Jeroboam II] restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.” (2 Kings 14:25) Jonah is introduced as the son of Amittai (Jonah 1:1), a Galilean prophet who was born in a village close to Nazareth. He is a successful prophet. His prophecy about Israel was fulfilled (Jeremiah 28:9). Jonah had both great strengths and great weaknesses. He was stubborn and rebellious, but he was willing to learn. He was faithful to God, courageous and a praying man. Nevertheless, he was narrow-minded, selfish and vengeful. God is willing to use us despite our faults.

“Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.” (Jonah 1:16) God told Israel that the Gentiles would be drawn to them and converted by Israel’s example (Deuteronomy 4:5-6; Isaiah 56:7). However, Jonah was called to go to the Gentiles’ and to preach the message of salvation there. He was asked to go to the east by land, but he decided to go west by sea. He disobeyed God, but wind and sea obeyed their Creator. He was sleeping, but the sailors asked him to pray. He didn’t want to talk about God, but he was forced to testify to his faith and mission. The sailors on that boat were the first converted pagans in spite of Jonah’s attitude. How great is the love of our God!

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.” (Jonah 1:17-2:1) According to some writing of that time, “three days and three nights” was a literary figure of the time it would take for someone to go to Sheol (Jonah 2:2). Jesus used Jonah’s story as an example of Him being “in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). He would then resurrect from the death like Jonah was vomited from the large fish.

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.” (Jonah 1:17-2:1) God showed His mercy to Jonah. That was the same mercy that moved Him to forgive the Ninevites. Jonah faced an imminent death. He trusted God’s forgiveness and he believed God could save him. He repented before Him (Jonah 2:6-9).

“‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ […] And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (Jonah 3:2-4)

“God’s messengers in the great cities are not to become discouraged over the wickedness, the injustice, the depravity, which they are called upon to face while endeavoring to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. The Lord would cheer every such worker with the same message that He gave to the apostle Paul in wicked Corinth: ‘Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.’ Acts 18:9, 10… In every city, filled though it may be with violence and crime, there are many who with proper teaching may learn to become followers of Jesus. Thousands may thus be reached with saving truth and be led to receive Christ as a personal Saviour.” E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 22, pg. 277)

“So he prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.’” (Jonah 4:2) Unbelievable! Jonah is the only person in the Bible who accused God of offering grace, of being compassionate, slow to anger and full of love. He complained that God forgives instead of sending calamities. What was Jonah’s problem? His problem was selfishness. Jonah was unable to care about someone but himself. His own fame and welfare were more important to him than the salvation of more than 120,000 people. Are we as blind as Jonah was? Are we aware of our mission—working for the salvation of our neighbor? Are we willing to joyfully fulfill our mission?

“All are required to labor to diminish the ills and multiply the blessings of their fellow creatures. If we are strong to resist temptation we are under the greater obligation to help those who are weak and yielding. Have we knowledge, we should instruct the ignorant. Has God blessed us with this world’s goods, it is our duty to succor the poor. We must work for others’ good. Let all within the sphere of our influence be partakers of whatever of excellence we may possess. None should be content to feed on the bread of life without sharing it with those around them." E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, cp. 74, pg. 606)