Jonah KJV

7 hours ago
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Oh Jonah, why did you run? Jonah was told by the Lord that he had been selected to be the messenger of God to speak against Nineveh (the long-time capital of the Assyrian empire) and tell them to repent. Yet, Jonah was afraid, and went in the opposite direction away from the direction the Lord had told him to go. We cannot blame Jonah for this decision as the Ninevites were people of a explicit moral depravity that put fear in all of Israel. Wicked, evil, and barbaric Assyria was reported to have taken the skins of their conquered enemies and lay the skins over the walls of their cities (Grisly Assyrian Record of Torture and Death By Erika Belibtreu pg. 5)
So, Jonah had good reason to stay clean of such a land, but this did not go well.
Jonah therefore sets out to a stormy sea and is forced to leave the ship when ruff seas arise as the crew members threw Jonah off the ship in fear of Jonah's God. With that Jonah was then swallowed by a large fish. While in the fish, Jonah came to the realization that he was helpless. So he cried out to the Lord, and he repents before God and after 3 days he was released by the fish. Jonah now understood that He could not run so he now made his way to the great city of Nineveh. Once there Jonah releases his words from the Lord to the people. To Jonah's surprise the king repented of his ways and told all of the people in his land to fast for 3 days to seek God's mercy. Jonah then leaves the city and sits away from the city looking at it all. The story ends with Jonah being asked a question by the Lord; "Should I not spare this Nineveh?" (Jonah 4:11)
There are many abstractions that we can take from this book, and far too many to list. But, in short, first look at what can happen to our own lives when we turn from the path God has set for us to walk. We inevitably get swallowed up. God does not do this to punish us but to correct us and teach. Secondly, why did Jonah end with a question from the Lord? This leaves the reader to ponder. Also, just like in Job, if you question God he will question you right back. If God is God who are we to question Him? Lastly, look for the symbolism of the coming of Christ and think about how the Lord Jesus said the only sign I will give you is the sign of Jonah. May the Lord reveal these mysteries to you dear bretheren, Amen.

https://youtu.be/g_UJOIgazU4?si=B9reqH4ksWkTxxab
https://youtu.be/dLIabZc0O4c?si=l4ijlJI1ujwudRg4
https://youtu.be/nnQonSTPPOM?si=zJ0id-wJtwuoyjb9
https://youtu.be/MaDeQIW11FM?si=jc3F2sgigWz8OEuR
https://faculty.uml.edu/ethan_spanier/teaching/documents/cp6.0assyriantorture.pdf

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