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Word of Life - 2

Pull for the Shore

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Book of Jonah - 3

Portugal Sailing Vessel

Book of Jonah

Jonah pursues the Ninevites

Chapter 3:1-10





Chapter 3: Jonah pursues the Ninevites; 3:1-10
Sub Title: Nineveh Repents



1) Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2) “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3) So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. 4) Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

5) Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6) When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himselfwith sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 

7) He issued aproclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8) But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9) Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that 
we will not perish.”

10) When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

  ~                                                         ~                                                   ~
The book of Jonah views Jesus Christ and the Gospel by way of simile; It is not by sameness or look-a-like that similarities develop but through irony, parallel and contrast that a picture of Christ comes into view.

Jonah a type of Christ:

1) - They were both Hebrew.
2) - They both loved Israel passionately.
3) - Jonah was disobedient - Jesus was obedient.
4) - Jonah was human - Jesus was human and Divine.
5) - Jonah was a prophet - Jesus was a greater prophet.
6) - Jonah gave his life for his shipmates - Jesus gave his life for the whole world.
7) - Jonah was reluctant to preach to the gentiles - Jesus endured the cross for sinful man.
8) - Jonah finally went to the gentile - Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
9) - Jonah was running from the presence of God - Jesus was in constant communion with God.
10) - Jonah 3 + 3 days in the belly of a fish - Jesus was 3 days, 3 nights in the heart of the earth.
11) - They were both separated from God and the world -Jonah, belly of a fish - Jesus a tomb.
12) - God told the fish to spew Jonah onto dry land - God resurrected Jesus from the dead.
13) - The Ninevites heard the gospel and repented - The Church is born at Pentecost.



Conclusion: Hebrews 12:6 - "because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Ardent bible scholars and student's agree that Jonah was intimately aware of God's attributes. Therefore, one possible explanation for Jonah's disobedience is this; that by going as far away from the City of Nineveh as he could get it would make him physically unavailable to speak God's message to Nineveh. From Jonah's first step of disobedience until his prayer of repentance from the belly of a fish, it was God's Sovereign will at work for good in the life of His Prophet Jonah. 

Application: God is Omnipresent; always run to God for help never, attempt to run away from Him. Quote:”Running away from God is like running into darkness.” God is Omniscient: He knows what we need before we even ask. God is Omnipotent; Turn back to God now for He is able to restore the joy of our salvation if we confess our sins to Him.



A Bible study by: Glenn Faurot

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