In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua]
was in the beginning with God.
JONAH
The Book of Jonah is the fifth of the twelve books of the
Minor
Prophets in the Old Testament. The name of Jonah comes from the Hebrew
word Yonah meaning, “dove” or “sign of God”. Jonah was a prophet from
the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. The
prophecies of Obadiah, Joel, Jonah,
Amos, Hosea,
Isaiah and Micah
overlapped in an era from c. 845-670 BC with Jonah c. 782-753 BC.
The message of Jonah was directed entirely to the
Gentile nation of
Assyria. It shows how God’s love applies to all mankind because God is
not a respecter of persons. God commissioned Jonah to proclaim judgment
on the city of Nineveh. However, Jonah knew that God would relent if
Nineveh repented. He did not have the compassion for Nineveh that God
had because Assyria was an enemy of Israel. Jonah disobeyed God by
attempting to travel to Tarshish by sea. God disciplined Jonah by having
him thrown overboard during a storm and swallowed by a great fish. Jonah
repented in the belly of the fish and proclaimed, “Salvation is of the
Lord”. After three days and nights, God had the fish vomit Jonah onto
dry land. Jonah delivered God’s message and Nineveh repented. As a
result, God spared the city of destruction. The experience of Jonah
demonstrates that God is sovereign. He can use us to accomplish His will
either as a servant or as an instrument; the former will be a blessing
while the latter can be painful.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, specifically referred to Jonah during His
ministry. As Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days and nights,
Christ proclaimed that He would be in the heart of the earth for three
days and nights. This was in reference to His death, burial and
resurrection. His resurrection means our salvation; “Salvation is of the
Lord”. We only need to turn to Him and accept His gift of
salvation.
Jonah 1-2: Jonah’s disobedience; the storm; the great fish; the
prayer of Jonah
Jonah 3-4: Jonah’s message to Nineveh; Nineveh’s repentance; Jonah’s
anger at God’s mercy