Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 5 February 2017 / No comments
Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish in Nineveh
After the Captain of the ship, crew members and Seafarers realized
that Jonah was the cause of the storm they were facing, they followed Jonah’s
advice to throw him into the Sea. God then sent a big fish to go and swallow
him and he stayed in the belly of the fish for three days.
Right inside the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God that
He might deliver him. God responded by sending the fish to go and vomit him
ashore. Then God told Jonah, the second time, to go and preach to the people of
Nineveh to mend their ways or perish. This time, Jonah went to Nineveh.
Jonah preached to the inhabitants of Nineveh to repent from
their wicked ways and mend their ways otherwise, within forty days, God was
going to destroy the city. The people of Nineveh heard the voice of Jonah and
turned away from their sins and believed in God. They declared a fast and wore
sack clothes, from the least to the greatest. When the king of Nineveh heard
what was going on, he joined the whole nation. By a decree, he extended the
fast to even the beasts of the land. He advised the nation to repent so that
God’s wrath against them could be averted.
When God saw the sincerity of the people of Nineveh, he changed
His mind and decided not to destroy the city anymore. However, Jonah was not
happy that Nineveh was saved. He departed to the outskirts of the city and built
a booth under which he sat, waiting for the destruction of Nineveh. God saw his
discomfort in the blazing Sun and caused a plant to grow and cover him from the
Sun rays. Jonah became happy because of the shade provided by the plant.
The next day, God killed the plant and exposed Jonah to the
elements and Jonah became displeased again. He was angry on account of the
death of the plant. God now questioned Jonah why he could be sad on account of
the death of a plant which he did not labour to create and not be concerned about the
120,000 inhabitants of Nineveh and wish that they perish?
God was trying to tell Jonah that if he was worried about a
mere plant that he did not have any hand in growing, then it was within His
power to be worried about the people of Nineveh enough not to let them perish.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
FROM THE STORY
1. God is the God of the entire world and he does not
distinguish between the people of Israel and other nations.
2. God has the capacity to forgive even the most grievous
sins.
3. God has control over all his creations and can use any to
work in a manner He pleases.
WAYS IN WHICH THE
NATURE OF GOD IS REVEALED
1. God owns the world so he can use any of his creations to
accomplish his purpose.
2. God is not confined to any geographical location, He is
everywhere in the entire world.
3. Nobody can truly run away from the presence of God.
4. God can orchestrate any situation that should compel
people to believe him and turn to him.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. Recount the experience of Jonah in the belly of the
fish and in Nineveh.
b. In which three ways was the nature of Go
revealed in Jonah’s experience?
