Today, I will be talking about Prophet Jonah, a Hebrew man who loves God and is even chosen by God.
Jonah was sent by God himself to tell the people of Nineveh to turn away from their evil way, and God said:
Their wickedness has come up before me. “ Jonah 1:2.
There are many prophets in the Bible, but Jonah seems to be different, because he was angry with God for sparing the city of Nineveh.
Jonah 4:1 KJV
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Jonah also knows and understands that God is merciful and forgiving.
Keep reading to learn more about how God prepared a big fish to swallow up Jonah because Jonah disobeyed God lol.
And how Jonah ended up in the belly of the big fish, and he prayed to God.
God gave Jonah a mission to go to Nineveh, but Jonah hid from God.
Yes, God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to preach against their wrongdoing, because they didn’t know what was good and right. jonah 4:11
Therefore, the people of Nineveh are doing whatever they think is good in their eyes, and so is their king.
How was the reaction of Jonah, or was he willing to complete what God was calling him to? No
Jonah refused to go and obey God. He fled from the presence of God, and he went to
Tarshish, pay the ship fee.
Thus, we can know that Jonah does have the money.
Jonah thought he could flee from God, lol; however, God sent a big storm at sea, and the ship almost sank. Jonah 1:4.
However, the Bible says that when there was a mighty tempest in the sea, at that time Jonah was sleeping. 😴.You know, Jonah knew the reason for the great storm ⛈️: God caused it.
Furthermore, he knew well that if the men who worshiped the false gods threw him into the sea, the sea would surely be calm. So, what is the reason why John refuses to obey God’s calling?
I think it can be that he hated the people of Assyria, because the city of Nineveh is the people of Assyria, and is the enemy of Israel.
Or perhaps he fears that if he goes preaching there, he may be scared of what the Assyrian people do to them. However, this is just my opinion, so please read the book of Jonah in the Bible.
Jonah got swallowed by a big fish
You know, when the men throw Jonah into the sea, I believe God already prepared a big fish to swallow up Jonah.
So, what is the great fish the Bible is talking about?
Well, that fish is actually the whale. And here is proof.
Matthew 12:40 KJV
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
When Jonah was in the belly of the whale, what was it like? I think it is completely dark, and I think he is wet, and truly, he is uncomfortable.
If an ordinary man swallowed by a whale, I don’t think he could survive that long. Because inside the whale, you can’t breathe because it is filled with water, according to my research.
Jonah survived 3 days and nights, which is a miracle and amazing. What was Jonah doing in the whale?
He was praying to God and even praising the God of Heaven, and I think Jonah regretted not obeying God, and he repented.
God heard the prayer of his prophet Jonah, spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:10.
Jonah obeyed God and went to Nineveh
Yes, after Jonah was on the dry land, because God rescued him from the whale
God spoke to Jonah again, this time commanding him to go to Nineveh.
However, this time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s voice. Nineveh was very far, and it would take Jonah three days and nights to get there, and he did.
As soon as Jonah arrived in Nineveh, he spoke to the people. I think he yelled out and said that in 40 days, Nineveh would be overthrown. Jonah 3:4.
The surprising thing is that the people believe in him and even make it known to the king of Nineveh.
As soon as the king heard this, he believed in Jonah the prophet and commanded all the people, including the animals, to fast.
The king himself was clothed in sackcloth and ashes. Yes. The people of Nineveh repented of their sins and the bad things that they used to do, and they all turned away from the violence and evil ways.
God, seeing this, decided not to destroy the city of Nineveh. I think God forgives them and lets them go.
It touches the heart of God when we see people repent and turn from their wickedness. Our God is merciful and compassionate. No one is like unto Our God.
At the end of the story, Jonah was displeased that Nineveh was spared from destruction. I think it would make Jonah happy to see that Nineveh was destroyed; however, who knows Jonah’s heart but God?
I think later Jonah understands, and that God is a merciful God, and a good God, because God saith to him.
Jonah 4:11 KJV
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
What is the lesson from Prophet Jonah?
If we don’t obey God, there is a punishment, like Jonah was punished by having to stay in the belly of the whale for the whole three days and nights in complete darkness.
And thus, I think Jonah didn’t eat for three days, so he was starved. However, he can drink from the belly water.
Furthermore, God is a second chance, because the city of Nineveh did repent and God forgave them.
This, God, is compassionate, understanding, and merciful. Thanks for reading my article. When we obey the voice of God and do what is right, blessedness shall come upon us, and it shall be well with us.