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THEBOOKOFJONAH
Lesson2,Chapter1
InHermanMelville’sepicwork,MobyDick,wefindamostpoignantremarkby
oneofthenovel’scharactersnamedFatherMapple.Thisremark,Ibelieve,well
defineswhatweareabouttoundertaketoday:studyingtheuniqueand
divinely-inspiredBookofJonah.FatherMapplesaysthis:
“Shipmates:thisbook,containingonly4chapters…4yarns…isoneofthe
smalleststrandsinthemightycableoftheScriptures.Yetwhatdepthsofthe
soulJonah’sdeepsealinesounds!WhatapregnantlessontousisthisProphet!
Whatanoblethingisthatcanticleinthefish’sbelly!Howbillow-likeand
boisterouslygrand!Wefeelthefloodssurgingoverus…wesoundwithhimtothe
kelpybottomofthewaters,seaweedandalltheslimeoftheseaisaboutus!But,
whatisthislessonthatthebookofJonahteaches?Shipmates,itisa
two-strandedlesson;alessontousallsinfulmen,andalessontomeasapilot
ofthelivingGod.
ThemajorthemeandpremiseofJonahisnotonlyforlaymanandleadership
alike,itisalsosimple.AtrueProphetoftheGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacob
hasbeencommandedbyhisGodtogoandpreachtothepeopleofagentile
nationwho,itturnsout,areutterlydetestableandrepugnanttothedeepest
recessesofthesoulofthisfaithfulman…theProphetJonah.Nothingonearth
couldhavebeenmorenauseatingandrepellenttoJonahthantodowhatGod
hasjustinstructedhimtodo.Godknewthisinadvance,ofcourse,butforthe
sakeofJonah’sgenerationandallgenerationsofthefutureGoddeterminedthat
JonahwasexactlywhoHewantedtotakethisoracletothepeopleofNineveh.
Jonahhadaknee-jerk…yetdeeplyfelt…obversereactiontoGod’sorderthatisso
veryhumanand,therefore,mostofusoughttoeasilybeabletoidentifywithit.
Yet,atthesametime,itleavesustowonderhowsuchscalled-outpersonof
Jonah’sstatureandhighspiritualqualityandknowledgeofGodcouldeven
entertainrebellion…ifforonlyforamoment…asalegitimatepossibility,letalone
dedicatehimselftofollowthroughwithit…tothedeathifthat’swhereitled.
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AswereadtheBookofJonah,pictureJonahasamongthestrongest-willedof
humans…amanwhosincerelylovedGodandwasalsoasincere,devoted,and
longexperiencedGod-appointedProphet.Yet,justaswithusall,hesuffered
undertheeffectsofafallennaturethatwasbequeathedtousfromourcommon
ancestor,Adam.
OpenyourBiblestoJonahchapter1.
READJONAHCHAPTER1all
Thefirstwordsofthisbookareusuallycasuallyreadoverwithoutfullygrasping
whatisbeingsaid.InHebrew,itis:WayyehidebarYehoveh.OrinEnglish“the
WordofYehovehcame”.First,nearlyallBibletranslationswillsay“Thewordof
theLordcame”.Thisispatentlyandclearlyincorrect.Theword“Lord”issimply
notthereintheHebrew.Ratherwhatappearsisthetetragrammaton…God’s
formalname…thatinthevowel-lessoriginalbiblicalHebrewisexpressedwith
the4consonantlettersYud-heh-vav-hey.Second;becauseofasuperstitionthat
aroseamongtheJewsagainstsayingGod’sname…sometimearoundtheeraof
AlexandertheGreatinthemid-4
th
centuryB.C….thosewhocopiedandspoke
theHebrewScripturessubstitutedGod’snamebywritingonthemarginsofthe
scrollthatHebrewsshouldsay“Adonai”insteadofpronouncingGod’sformal
nameasitwaswritten.SayingGod’snameiscommandedscoresoftimesinthe
Scriptures.But,whatisalsoimportantforustoobtainisthatespeciallyinthe
periodoftheOldTestament,wheneventheIsraelitesfullyacceptedthenotion
ofmanygodsandgoddessesexisting…evenifmostlyforthenationsotherthan
Israel…namingagodwasofextremeimportancesothatareaderorhearer
mightknowexactlywhichgodwasbeingspokenof.Andespeciallywhenwe
understandthatthenameoftheCanaanite’schiefgod,Ba’al,wasactuallya
commonCanaanitewordthatmeant“theLord”,thenwecanseewhybeingvery
clearabouttheexactnameofagod…evenoftheHebrewGod…MUSTbespoken
orwrittenotherwiseitwasunclearwhichgodwasbeingaddressed.
Third(andperhapsthemostimportant);nearlyuniversallywhenthosefirst
wordsofchapter1areread,weassumethatthephrase“wordofYehoveh”is
referringtothespeech…thewordsandthesentencesthatformtheoraclethat
GodisabouttoimparttoHisProphet.Thisisnotcorrect.InEnglishgrammarand
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syntax,weneedtocapitalizetheword“Word”.Thatis,TheWordisaproper
noun.TheWordofGodisaparticularnamedmanifestationofGod,justasisthe
HolySpirit.ThisnotionoughttobefamiliartoallBibleBelieversandespecially
familiartofollowersofYeshua.I’llquotetheKJVbecauseitstranslationisthe
mostknowntoBelieversaroundtheworld.
KJV
John1:14AndtheWordwasmadeflesh,anddweltamongus,(andwe
beheldhisglory,thegloryasoftheonlybegottenoftheFather,)fullofgraceand
truth.
TheWordwasanactualspiritualessenceofGodthatexistedlongbefore
humanitywascreated.And,itisthisWordthatcametoJonahasaliving
messengerofGodtheFather’scommandandoracle.TheWord(asanactual,
specificmanifestationofGod)didNOTcomeuniquelytoJonah.Rather,wefind
thisopeningstatementofwhom,exactly,wastobecreditedforbringingThe
Father’soracletoaProphetinseveralofthewritingsofGod’sProphets,including
HoseaandJoel.
AswediscussedintheIntroductiontoJonah,becausepeopleinthateradidn’t
have“lastnames”,thennopersonhadanentirelyuniquename.Thesamename
wasoftenusedbyhundredsandprobablythousandsofpeople.So,therewere
plentyofmennamedJonahthatwereIsraelites.HowdoweknowwhichJonah
amongalltheotherJonahsthiswas?Becausetheidentifier“sonofAmittai”was
added.Thatis,amannamedAmittaiwasJonah’sfatherandaddingthenameof
aperson’sfathermoreoftenthannotnarrowedaperson’sidentitydowntoa
singleperson.And,especiallybecausewefind“JonahsonofAmittai”inanother
Biblebook…theBookof2Kingsinchapter14…andhistoricallyweknowthatthis
JonahalsolivedinthesameeraasthemaincharacterinthestoryofJonah…then
ascertainaswecanreasonablymakeit,thiscanonlybethesameperson.
Verse2,then,isreallytheopeninglineofthenarrativestory.Jonahisinstructed
byGod,throughTheWord,togototheAssyriancityofNineveh,andthereto
pronounceuponthemanoracleofsomesort.Ninevehisdescribedasagreatcity.
But,greatinwhatrespect?ProbablyabetterEnglishtranslationfortheHebrew
gadolasitismeantandusedhereis“important”…thatis,theimportantcityof
Nineveh.Gadolcarriesmanymeaningssuchaschief,large,leading,etc.so
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usingtheterm“important”sortofencompassesitall.Ninevehwasnotthe
capitalofAssyriaatthistime,andinfact,historically,thereissomeuncertainty
astowhichcitywasindeeddesignatedasthecapital.Thatsaid,thekingof
AssyriaspentmuchtimeinNineveh,whichwasprobablythelargestmost
influentialcityinAssyria.
NinevehwasoftenusedintheBibletorepresentallofAssyria,notunlikeinour
dayandtimewhenNewYorkCityorWashington,D.C.isoftenused(atleastby
foreignnations)asrepresentativeoftheUSA,orasLondonisusedas
representativeoftheUK,andMoscowofRussia,andsoon.TheProphetNahum
speaksstronglyagainstNineveh,butreallyasbeingrepresentativeofAssyriaat
large.
CJB
Nahum1:1-3ThisisaprophecyaboutNinveh,thebookofthevisionof
NachumtheElkoshi:
2
ADONAIisajealousandvengefulGod.ADONAIavenges;
heknowshowtobeangry.ADONAItakesvengeanceonhisfoesandstoresup
wrathforhisenemies.
3
ADONAIisslowtoanger,butgreatinpower;andhe
doesnotleavetheguiltyunpunished.ADONAI'spathisinthewhirlwindand
storm,andthecloudsarethedustofhisfeet.
WecontinueinNahumwithchapter2.
CJB
Nahum2:10-14
10
Plunderthesilver!Plunderthegold!Thereisnoendtothe
treasure,weigheddownwithpreciousthings.
11
Sheisvoid,vacant;sheismade
bare.Heartsaremelting,kneesareknocking;everystomachischurning,every
faceisdrainedofcolor.
12
Whathasbecomeofthelion'sden,thecavewherethe
younglionsfed,wherelionandlionesswalkedwiththeircubs,andnoonemade
themafraid?
13
Thelionwouldtearupfoodforhiscubsandstranglepreyforhis
lionesses;heusedtofillhiscaveswithprey,hislairswithtornflesh.
14
"Iam
againstyou,"saysADONAI-Tzva'ot."HerchariotsIwillsendupinsmoke,the
swordwillconsumeyourlioncubs,Iwilldestroyyourpreyfromtheearth,and
yourenvoys'voiceswillbeheardnomore."
CJB
Nahum3:1Woetothecityofblood,steepedinlies,fullofprey,withnoend
totheplunder!
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MostEnglishtranslationsinJonah1:2,interpretthepassagesuchthattheysay
thereasonGodissendingJonahtoNinevehisduetotheirevilorwickedness.
ThereasonisthattheHebrewwordthatisbeingtranslatedisrah.Rahindeed
canbeproperlytranslatedtoevilorwicked;however,thatisonlyoneofits
commonuses.Atothertimesitcanmeanmisery,calamity,ordestruction.Itcan
simplymeantroubleasinhavingaseriousproblem.Theissueisthatthereis
nothinginJonahthatsaysthatGodmeanttosaythatinHiseyesNinevehwas
evil.PerhapsGodsawthisgentilecityasbeing“introuble”;theyhavesuffered
acalamity.Or(andthisiswhatIthink),Godmeanttobealittleambiguousthat
moreorlessmeantthat,yes,Ninevehhadbeenbehavingwickedlyandnowitis
sufferingmuchtroubleforit.Again;thereisNOevidenceofadivinethreat
involved.JustamessagethatGodseeswhatisgoingonthere.Infact,although
we’llapproachitagainwhenwefindJonaharrivinginNineveh,onehastoask
whythepeopleofthegentilenationofAssyriawouldhaveanyinterest
whatsoeverinhearingfromaforeigner,theHebrewJonah,andfromhisGod?
Whatwouldprovokethemtoanyactionexcepttomockandscornthis
unwelcomevisitorthatwasn’toneofthem?Thatis,theyhadtobereceptiveto
Jonah’smessageforsomereason,otherwisetherewasnohopeforachange.If
itwasthatNinevehwasprospering(justlikeitwasatthistimefortheNorthern
KingdomofEphraim/Israel),thenthepeoplewouldhaveassumedthattheir
behaviorwasnotonlyapprovedbythegods,butalsothattheirabundancewas
agreatrewardfortheirbehavior.Thatis,whateverwickednesswashappeningin
God’seyes,wouldnotonlyseemNOTEVILintheireyes,butactuallyGOOD!
WhatweknowhistoricallyisthatatthetimeofJonah,Nineveh(andAssyriain
general)wasatalowpointintheirhistory.Theyhadsufferedearthquake,
famine,andterriblemilitarylosses.Theyhadacoupleofweakkingsinarow.Do
peoplewhoareneck-deepinabundanceandgoodfortunepayanyattentionto
predictionsofdoom?Dotheypayanyattentiontosomeonesayingthattheyare
behavingimmorallyandunethically?Howaboutifthatpersonsayingitwasa
foreigner?Givinganyheedtoitismorethanunlikely.Therefore,Ibelievethat
thewayweoughttounderstandthemeaningandintentofthetermrahinthis
instance(andthereforethegistofGod’smessagethroughJonahtoNineveh)is
thatitservestoconveytwothings:first,thatthereisindeedwickednessin
|Ninevehofwhichtheyseemedoblivious;andsecond,thatitisthiswicked
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behaviorthathasresultedintheirserioustroubles.Let’sbringthistoan
applicationformoderntimes.
IfyoutrulytrustGod,andespeciallyifyouareover50yearsold,thentheblatant
immoralityandthedegradationofourWesternsocieties(andI’llfocusprimarily
ontheUSA)isallthemoreevident.Until25or30yearsago,theUSAwasthe
envyoftheworld.Itwastheonenationonthisplanetthatwasirreplaceable;we
hadnorealterritorialambitions,wehadamilitarythatwasthemostformidable,
andallthiscoupledtoafinancialsystemthatdrovetheotherworldeconomies.
Ifanything,therewasjealousybyothernationstowardstheUSAasopposedto
disdain.Americawasthoughttobeasafeplace,afairandjustplace,andaplace
ofabundancewheredisagreementsonprinciplescouldbeairedanddebated
withoutthreatandwithoutcensoring.50yearsago,itwasevenmoreso.Atthat
timetherewassolittledisagreementamongAmericansonwhatamountedto
oursharedsenseofmorality(andthesourceofit)thatitwasbarelyworth
discussing.Thedefinitionsofrightandwrong,goodandevil,werevividandthey
wereagreedtoregardlessofwhereinournationonelived,ortowhichpolitical
partyorreligiousgrouponebelonged.Childrencouldgotoschool,orstayout
untildarktoplay,withnorealthreatbyotherstotheirsafety.Teacherswere
giventheauthoritytohavedisciplineovertheirclassroomswiththechronic
disruptersbeingremovedorevenexpelled.Televisionshowswereinevitably
aboutteachingimportantmorallessons.Moviesweresensitivetonotshowing
overly-provocative(letalonelurid)scenesandinsteadleftmuchtothe
imagination.Ouraspirations(asanation)wereforcommunitywell-being,
happiness,andagoodandmoralfutureforall.Thelackofpersonalresponsibility
wasnottolerated.Thosewhowerelazywerecalledlazyandoftenshunned.
Commonsensemadeitrathereasytodiscernthoseunfortunateswhotruly
neededandweregratefullyopentoahand-upfromthoseperpetualmalingerers
whoalwayswantedandfeltentitledtoahand-out.Yes,Americawasnotperfect
andwehadthingssuchasracismthatneededtobeaddressed…anditwas
addressedbasedontheprincipleofracismbeingimmoralandungodly.
Today,allthathaschanged.Weliveinapost-moralsociety;thatis,amajor
segmentofourpopulationgoesontheprinciplethatifoneacceptsthatthere
evenremainssuchathingasmorality,thatitcanonlybedefinedbywhatour
civillawssayislegal.Whateverourlawmakerssayislegal,isthereforethe
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definingsourceofwhatismoral.Othersofthissamesegmentsaythatpaying
attentiontotheconceptoftraditionalmoralityisbutabarriertoourpersonal,
individualhappinessandliberty,andisalsobutarelicofa(happily)
soon-to-be-extinctJudeo-|Christianmindsetandoughtnotbeaconsiderationto
ourlivesandchoices.Thisslow-rollingprogressiveabandonmentofauniversal,
well-definedsetofbehavioralboundariesandrulescalledmoralsthathasits
sourcefromoutsidethehumansphere,hasrunparalleltorampantand
increasinglawlessness,adisregardforthelivesoftheunborn,anarchyinour
schoolsandoncitystreets,andafallfromtheUSA’sformerinternational
pre-imminenceonvirtuallyeverylevel.Theseparationbetweenhavesand
have-notsamongushasgrownlargeasagrandcanyon.Hopehasturnedto
hopelessness.Ourmusicandourentertainmenthave,acrosstheboard,turned
dark,pervertedanddespondentintone.Trustinourpublicinstitutionshas
evaporated.But,perhapsthepinnacleofourimmoralityandlossofdirectionhas
finallyarrived:theemergenceofabeliefinalternativeandfluidgendersandof
anattitudeof“anything”goesregardingsexandsexualbehaviorasasignof
progresstowardsultimatelibertyandinclusiveness.
ThefirstandchiefphysicalcharacteristicthatourCreatorinstilledinhumanity
wasgender;maleandfemale.Theywerenumberedasatotalof2andonly2.
Theexactcharacteristicsofeach…biologicallyandsocietally…wereplainand
well-defined;somuchsothatourfundamentalDNAandourinnermostinstincts
callsoutwhichweshallbeandare.Rolesofeachgenderwerelaidoutaswere
theboundariesofvariouskindsofinteractionbetweenthetwo.However,within
thepast2decades,thismostbasicfoundationalessence(andabsolutetruth)of
humancharacteristicshasbeenchallengedbyself-styledelitesanddetermined
tobewrong.Thechaosthisiscausingbetweenthosewhoacceptandwelcome
thisnewdefinitionofgenderandgenderrolesversusthosewhodenyithas
resultedinextremepolarizationofourpopulationandisneartospillingoverinto
openviolentconflict.Andyet,somehow,theUSAremainsprosperous.Therefore,
thegeneralassumptionamongourpopulationandourgovernmentisthatwhat
we’redoingmustberight.ThissituationisaperfectparalleltoNinevehafew
yearspriortoJonah’stime,andtoEphraim/Israeljustafewyearslater.They
wereself-deceivedandsotheirwickednesswasnotseenbythemaswicked,but
ratherasintelligent,innovativeandgood,withtheirprosperityandstrengthas
proofoftheirrightness.Butthen…aswasinevitable…theothershoefell.Their
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societybegantocrumbleundertheweightoftheirweakleaders,andageneral
societalmalaisecausedbytheirimmoralmindsetandbehaviorsfelluponthem.
ByJonah’sday,Ninevehwasstillrevelingintheirwickedness,butnotabout
whatithadfinallyledtointheireconomyandintheirsocietyingeneral.Clearly,
theysimplydidnotassociatethecauseandeffect.Theycouldnotseethatitwas
theirwickednessthatwasthecausefortheirdownfall.Thisis,without
doubt…andforthosewitheyestosee…whereweareinAmerica(andintheWest)
today.WillwelearnthelessonofNineveh,orwillwechoosetoignoreitand
becomeatargetofGod’swrath?
So:wasthistobetheendofAssyria?IsthatwhatGodsentJonahtoNinevehto
announce?Whileatthispointitmightseemso,thestoryadvancestotellus
somethingelse.
Verse3beginswiththewords:“butJonahroseup”.InresponsetoGodtelling
himinverse2toriseup(qum)inHebrew,Jonahindeedroseup(qum),butit
wastogointheoppositedirectionGodtoldhimtogotoNineveh,whichwasto
theeast;so,Jonahdecidedtofleetothewest.Theplacehechosetogoiscalled
Tarshish.
Tarshishhasbeenthesubjectofmuchresearchoverthecenturies.Thereisstill
debateoverwhetheritistheliteralnameofarealplace,orifitisanidiomatic
expressionthatcarriedameaningthathadlittletodowiththeword.Oftenin
Bibles,commentaries,andsomeoftheTargums(that’stheTanakhthatwas
translatedintoArabic)theword“sea”issubstitutedfortheHebrewword
Tarshish.OtherssaytherewerelikelyanumberofplacescalledTarshishand
eachtimeitdesignatedwheremetalswereobtained.Yet,whenwefinditusedin
theBible,andasitisusedhereinJonah,itisdifficulttoseeitasanythingbut
expressingthenameofanactualknownplace.Themostlikelycandidateisin
southernSpainwheretherewasaPhoeniciancolonynamedTartessus.Infact,
anexpressionusedintheBiblewhendescribingdistantplacesis“fromTarshish
toSheba”.Tarshishwasinvariablytowardsthewest,whileShebaistotheeast
ofIsrael.However,itseemslikeTarshishandShebawereusedtoexpressthe
furthestextentoftheknownworld(fromeasttowest)totheHebrewwriters,
justlikeitisusualtoexpresstheeasttowestextentoftheUSAas“fromNew
YorktoLosAngeles”.Wealsouseinourculturetheidiomaticexpression“from
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heretoTimbuctoo”tomeansomenon-specificbutremoteplacethatisfar,far
away.IremindallthatTimbuctooisarealplaceintheWesternAfricannationof
Malithathasexistedformillennia.So,IplacemybetonTarshishbeingareal
placeinsouthernSpain,whichfromtheperspectiveofaHebrewlivinginMiddle
EasternIsraelinthatera,asbeingasfarwestastheEarthgoesbeforecoming
toitsend,orperhapsitisasfartothewestthatanyoneintheMiddleEasthas
anyknowledgeof.Wemustrecallthatstillatthistime,allpeoplebelievedthe
earthtobeflat,withedgesthatcould(forthecarelessadventurer)bea
deathtrapwhereyoucouldliterallyfalloffintonothingness.
Atthispointonemustask:wasJonah’stheologysuchthatheactuallybelieved
thathecouldescapefromGodbytravelingsomeplaceelse?Someplacefar
away?Sincetheuniversalbeliefamonghumanswasthateachofthemanygods
wasboundtoaspecificterritory,andwhencrossingtheboundaryfromone
nationorterritorytoanotherthatthegodfromyourpreviousterritorycouldnot
followorhadnopoweroncecrossinganationalboundaryline,couldthishave
beenJonah’sattemptnotsomuchtoescapetherealityofGodbutratherto
distancehimselffromtheareaofhisGod’sinfluence?SincehewasaProphet,I
finditunlikelythathebelievedsuchathing.HeknowsfullwellthatHecannot
escapeGod’swill.However,intheunderstandingofHisera,itwasprobablythat
hebelievedthatsinceGodseemedtoONLYgiveHisrevelationtoHisProphets
whentheywereinIsraeliteterritory,perhapsitwasthatHecouldescapetoa
placeoutsideofIsraelwhereGoddidn’trevealHimself.Butevenmore,why
wouldJonahdeterminetodothisdisobedientactinthefirstplace?Ouranswerto
Jonah’smotivationforrunningawayisfoundtowardstheendofthebook.We
lookedatitlastweekandwe’lllookatitcloseragainwhenwegetthere,but
here’swhatitsays:
CJB
Jonah4:2HeprayedtoADONAI,"Now,ADONAI,didn'tIsaythiswould
happen,whenIwasstillinmyowncountry?That'swhyItriedtogetawayto
Tarshishaheadoftime!IknewyouwereaGodwhoismercifuland
compassionate,slowtoangerandrichingrace,andthatyourelentfrom
inflictingpunishment.
Inotherwords,JonahwasprettycertainthatoncehespokeGod’soracleof
warning(orperhapsofdoom)tothepeopleofNineveh,thattheywouldtake
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heedandrepentoftheirbehavior.HisworrywasthatthenGodwouldturn
aroundandletthemoffthehookaccordingtoHiscompassiontowardsthem.The
merethoughtofitdisgustedJonahsothoroughlybecausehedespisedthe
Assyriansanddidn’twantGod’sloveextendedtothem.He,personally,hated
themsomuchthathewaswillingtoriskGod’sireratherthanbeingobedient.He
justcouldNOTbringhimselftodoanythingthat,intheend,heldeventhe
possibilityofAssyriareceivingloveandmercyfromIsrael’snationalGod.
So;JonahwenttoJoppatogetashipthatwasheadedtowardTarshish.Joppa
(orYafointheHebrewdialect)hasgonethroughmanynamechangesoverthe
centuries,includingonestillinusetoday:Jaffa.Whychoosetotrytofindaship
there?Interestingly,historyshowsusthatJoppawasnotinthepossessionof
Israelatthattimeandneverhadbeen.Joppawasforeignterritory.So,the
peoplehe’dmeet,andthecrewofashiphehopedtohire,weren’tlikelytobe
Israelitesthatmightrecognizehim.Norwouldthecrewhe’dhireworship
Yehoveh(whomhewastryingtoescapefrominthefirstplace).ForJonah,to
arriveinJoppamighthavealreadyputhimbeyondGod’schosenareaof
revelation;therefore,Jonahwouldn’thavetobeconfrontedbyGodchastising
himfornotdoingwhatHetoldhimtodo.ThereinJoppaheindeedfoundaship
thattraveledtoTarshishandhehireditforthejourney.
Thereissomediscrepancyamongscholarsastowhetherhewassimplyonepaid
passengeramongseveral,orwhetherhehiredtheentireshipandwasitsonly
passenger.Certainly,inthestoryonlythecrewplusJonahismentioned;no
otherpassengers.Inthateratherewasnodifferentiationbetweenpassenger
shipsandcargoships;shipscarriedpassengersandcargoatthesametime.One
canonlyimaginethediscomfortforthepassengersastherewerenoroomsfor
themtostayandshelter.Theysimplyhuddledtogetherbelowdeckssurrounded
byanimals,casks,basketsandbarrelsofmanykinds.Thatsaid,verylikely
Tarshishshipswereofthelarger(ifnotthelargest)variety.Theyweregoingto
travelthefurthestdistanceovertheunpredictableMediterraneanofanyship,so
naturallytheyneededtobemoresturdyandgreaterinsizetocarryasmuch
cargoaspossible.Aone-waytriptookmanyweeksevenifitwassmoothsailing.
Thefinalwordsofverse3leavenodoubtastoJonah’sintention.We’retoldthat
hedidthisinordertogetawayfromthepresenceoftheLord(actually,inthe
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HebrewitsaystogetawayfromthepresenceofYehoveh).Whatweneedto
noticeisthatthisistheonlyrecordintheentireBible…OldandNew
Testaments…ofANYProphetofGoddisobeyingGod’scalltohim.So,thestoryof
Jonahisallthemoreextraordinaryandunique,andsomethingthatweneedto
takefarmoreseriouslythanacolorfulandfunchildren’sstory.Folks,foranyof
ustohearGod’scallingtoserveHiminsomespecificway,andthentoignoreit
anddeliberatelyattempttoavoidit,willbringconsequencesthatmoreoften
thannotareuncomfortableforus.Evenmore,Jonahteachesusthatshouldwe
finallytireofourrebellionduetothatdiscomfort,anddowhatwe’retoldbutwith
apoorattitude,bringsnorewardormerittousthatotherwisecouldhavebeen.
Jonahwasnobiblicalhero,rememberedforhisselflessservicetoTheFather.
TheFatheraccomplishedHisgoalofmercytoNinevehdespitethebesteffortsof
Jonahtosubvertit.
DouglasStuartputsitthiswayasconcern’sJonah’sreactionthatwassucha
radicaldeparturefromallotherbiblicalProphets.Itisaratherlongexcerpt,but
issopowerfulinexplainingtheessenceofJonah’srebellionthatitisworth
hearing.
“Buttorefusetopreachthepossibilityofdivinemercytoone’senemies,no
matterhowmalicioustheymaybe,issimplytoonarrowaviewofGod’slove.
JonahwasaseasonedProphetwithplentyofexperienceinpro-Israelite,
anti-foreignerpreaching.Thosesortsofassignmentshepresumablydidn’tmind.
Heunderstood…correctly…thattheenemiesofhispeople(Israel)were
automaticallytheenemyofhisGod(Yehoveh).Thatis,afterall,thebasic
assumptionoforaclesagainstforeignnationsinthepropheticalbooks.Whathe
didnotunderstand…orwanttobelieve…however,wasthefactthatGodactually
lovedHis(God’s)enemies.He(Jonah)shouldhavebeenabletoinferthis
importanttruthfromthelonghistoryofGod’smercytoIsrael,buthisviewwas
toonarrow.LikemostIsraelites,heassumedthatGodautomaticallylovedIsrael
becauseitwasHis(God’s)ownnation,andthatGodwouldneverthinkofIsrael
asanenemy.ItfelltoJonah’scontemporaries,HoseaandAmos,topreachtothe
peoplethattheirownnation(Israel)hadbecomeGod’senemyandthatother
nationsthanIsraelcouldbeartheLord’sname.ForJonah,ontheotherhand,
foreignersdeservedonlyhate;Israelonlylove.”
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InChrist’smostfamousspeechthatChristianitycallsTheSermonontheMount,
HerepeatedGod’ssentimentaboutwhatourattitudeoughttobeevenabout
thosewhoareourlegitimateenemies.Justafewsentencesaftermakingthe
(mostlyignored)statementabouttheTorahandtheProphetsremaininginforce
untiltheHeavensandEarthpassaway(asweseeoccurinthefinalchaptersof
theBookofRevelation),andasHisfollowersourcontinuingobligationtoobey
thosecommandmentslestwebegivenastatusof“least”inGod’sKingdom,He
saysthefollowing:
CJB
Matthew5:43-48
43
"Youhaveheardthatourfathersweretold,'Loveyour
neighbor-andhateyourenemy.'
44
ButItellyou,loveyourenemies!Prayfor
thosewhopersecuteyou!
45
ThenyouwillbecomechildrenofyourFatherin
heaven.Forhemakeshissunshineongoodandbadpeoplealike,andhesends
raintotherighteousandtheunrighteousalike.
46
Whatrewarddoyougetifyou
loveonlythosewholoveyou?Why,eventax-collectorsdothat!
47
Andifyouare
friendlyonlytoyourfriends,areyoudoinganythingoutoftheordinary?Even
theGoyimdothat!
48
Therefore,beperfect,justasyourFatherinheavenis
perfect.
AsGod’sProphetformanyyears,Jonahshouldhaveinnatelyunderstoodthis
messagethatYeshuawouldspeaksome800yearslater,eveniftheaverage
Israelitedidnot.Jonahlovedhisneighbors(hisfellowIsraelites),buthehated
hisenemy(Assyria).EventhoughAssyriawasalegitimateenemyofGodandof
Israel,JonahneverthelesswastolovethembecauseGodstilllovedthem.How
wasJonahtobejudgedasanydifferentthananyoneelseinthisfallen
world…Hebreworgentile…ifhewasfriendlyonlytowardsthoseheloved?My
goodness,whatapoignantpersonalmessageandprofoundlessonforustotake
fromthestoryofJonah,shouldwetakeawaynothingelsefromit.
Inverse4,theintensityofthestorypicksupaswearetoldthatGodsentagreat
stormovertheseauponwhichJonah’sshipwastraveling.TheHebrewword
usedtodescribethewaythatGodsentthestormistuwl.Itmeanstohurlwith
force.Itdoesn’tmeanmerelytosendorto“letloose”astheCJBframesit.Itis
awordthatindicatessomethingisdonewithintention,purpose,andviolence.
God’spurposewastothwartJonah’sattempttoflee.Tobestunderstandwhy
thisstorywassoimpactfulespeciallyupontheancients,andwhyGodwoulddo
Lesson2-JonahChapter1
13/13
whatHedidinthewayHedidit,istograspthatstormsovertheseaswereand
arecompletelyoutofhumancontrol.Theyareawesomeintheirappearance,and
frighteningintheireffect.Universallyinancienttimes…andstilltoperhapsa
slightlylesserdegreeinmoderntimes…stormsoverthedeepwatersofour
oceansandseasinducesuchwonderment,ifnotreverence,suchthattheygive
writersanincredibleopportunitytospintheirtalesaroundstormsatsea.
AlthoughJonah’sadventurewasrealandnotcontrived,itpresentstheperfect
formatforGodtomakeHispointbymeansofinspiringanunknownwritertotell
Jonah’sstoryforposterity.
Inancienttimes,thosewhosurvivedterrorfilledordealsatseafeltthattheirgod
orgodshadshowngreatgracetosavethem.Theirsurvivalagainstalloddsso
impactedsomewhomadeitoutalivethatitchangedtheirlivesastheysawitas
asignofahighercalling.Josephusrecallshowhewas1ofonly80survivorsof
aseastorm,outofacrewandpassengerlistof600souls.Hesobelievedthathe
wassavedforadivinepurposethatitchangedthecourseofhislife.Weevenfind
thesameasitconcernstheApostlePaulashewasshipwreckednotonce,but
THREEtimes!PaulconfidentlyassumedthathesurvivedbecauseHisGodwould
notallowhimtodieuntilhismissionwasfulfilled,andsohekeptonthepaththe
Lordsethimonwithincreasedfervorandfearlessness.Isuppose,whenviewed
froma30,000-footpanorama,weoughttoseeechoesofJonah’ssagainPaul’s
adventures.Afterall,PaulwasalsosenttothegentilesandIdoubtthistrained
RabbihadmuchuseforgentilesconsideringRome’sirongripuponhis
countrymen.Yet,hedidn’tdowhatJonahdid;instead,againstwhatwaslikely
hisinstincts,heobeyedhisdivinecallingandthreweveryounceofhimselfinto
hismissiontospreadthenewsthat:
KJV
John3:16ForGodsolovedtheworld(notjustIsrael!),thathegavehisonly
begottenSon,thatwhosoever(gentileorJew)believethinhimshouldnotperish,
buthaveeverlastinglife.
We’llstopherefortoday,andresumeJonahchapter1nexttime.