Learning To Listen to God Jonah: Disaster in a Giant Fish

An Amazing Fish Tale Except for a mistranslation, Bible never says a “whale” swallowed Jonah. Jonah 1:17 – MAWNAW – to provide, allot or prepare Whale Shark

Modern Cases Prove Possibility Hawaiian Islands – soldier from the Scofield barracks. Skeleton found in whale shark 30 days later. Had been swallowed whole. British sailor swallowed and rescued 48 hours later – alive. Known as “Jonah of the Twentieth Century”

1891 Account James Bartley swallowed by a whale during a whaling expedition. Later, when the whale was caught and after 30 hours of cutting it up, Bartley was found alive but delirious inside the stomach. Took three weeks to recover. “By feeling about I realised I had actually been swallowed by a whale and was in its stomach. I could still breath…,” Bartley said.

A Brief History of Nineveh Was capital city of ancient Assyria. Named for the goddess Ishtar. (Debatable) Built by Nimrod (Genesis 10:11) Army of Assyria noted for its brutal efficiency. Accounts of brutality include beheadings, impaling victims on poles, stampeding, skinning alive, leading captives by fish hooks passed through the lips or noses, etc. Nahum prophesied her demise: Nahum 1:14

Jonah’s Disaster Examined Hatred for Assyria was universal. Jonah was greatly prejudiced against them. God’s command: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah’s prejudice was stronger than his obedience. So he ran away. He attempted flight to Tarshish rather than accomplish the Lord’s will.

Sends a great storm endangering the ship. God’s Response to Jonah’s Rebellion Sends a great storm endangering the ship. Pagan sailors try everything to appease the angry “god”. Lots are cast and Jonah is chosen. He is thrown overboard.

Jonah inside of the great fish Fish provided by God Jonah spends three days and three nights in the belly of the fish Fish vomits Jonah on land. “The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head….” -- Jonah 2:5

Jonah’s Displeasure With God Jonah 3:10 -- When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 4:1 – “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry… Jonah 4:1 – “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry….’I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.’” Jonah wanted God to destroy Nineveh. Jonah felt no compassion for the Assyrians. He wanted an end to his enemies.

God corrects his attitude Appoints a plant to shade him. Appoints a worm to eat the plant. Appoints a scorching east wind and blazing sun. God reprimands Jonah. “But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left….”

Our Similar Commission Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….” Are we going? Are we making disciples? Are we baptizing?

Does our prejudice prevent performance? Is there someone with whom you will not share God’s word? Is there some group who you will not approach with the gospel?

We have multiple charges to share the gospel 2 Timothy 4:2 -- Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. Matthew 10:8 -- Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Romans 10:14-15 -- How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."