S3E276 – Jonah 1-4: No, Not Them!

Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is prophecy Friday, and we’ll read about the guy who was swallowed by a fish! We will read the book of Jonah And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I have a comment or two to share with you, and a really serious prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode “No, Not Them!“   Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Cristian Palmer on Unsplash Comments on Jonah As you know, this book called Jonah is grouped in with what are commonly called the books of the Minor Prophets. Did you notice any of what we commonly think of as prophecy in today’s reading? Not much. Just one sentence, and it wasn’t until chapter three, verse four: “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” But let’s remember that a prophet is not only one who tells what will happen. A prophet is one who carries a message from God. And this, Jonah did. Jonah was a prophet, as much as any of the other biblical prophets.  Now, as for whether or not a man could actually be swallowed whole by a fish. First, in the original language, the word translated as “fish” is “dg” (pronounced dag). That actually is the Hebrew word for fish. So in my mind, that settles it. Jonah was swallowed by a great big fish. Is it  not entirely conceivable that God would be able to create a fish large enough to swallow a man? Of course it is. Some people say that it must have been a whale. I don’t know why it’s easier to believe that whale swallowed him than a fist, but ok. According to gotquestions.org: “There are at least two species of Mediterranean marine life that are able to swallow a man whole. These are the cachalot (also known as the sperm whale) and the white shark. Both creatures are known to prowl the Mediterranean and have been known to sailors since antiquity.” The entire article there at gotquestions.org is worth a read. We first heard of the man Jonah in 2 Kings 14:25, where we were told that he was from Gath-hepher in Galilee. He brought a message of mercy to Israel during the reign of king Jeroboam II (who practiced the worship of the golden calf).  In this book that bears his name, we read how God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and rebuke them and call them to repent. But Jonah’s response was “No, Not them!” The Ninevites were considered the worst of the worst. He didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy. And so he ran away, in the opposite direction from Ninevah. But through his experience with the fish, Jonah learned that following God is the better choice. So when God called him a second time to go, he went. But then Jonah became angry when Nineveh did repent, and at God’s mercy in forgiving Nineveh. From the introductory notes at bible.com: “Jonah’s role in the book is to represent the attitude of many in Israel toward other nations. Instead of accepting their own calling to help these nations come to know the true God, they considered them enemies and expected God to destroy them. The book teaches that God’s love extends beyond Israel to other nations, indeed, to the whole creation. God’s final question to Jonah is intended for all the book’s readers.” What was the final question? “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” I’m so glad that God has offered redemption to all nations, because that offer was extended to me, and to you. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-4 NASB Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00Why would anybody think they could get away from God? INTRO S12E275 – 0:10Coming to you from Lifespring Central in Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Prophecy Friday and we’ll read about the guy who was swallowed by a fish. We’ll read the entire book of Jonah, four chapters. Of course, I’ll have an On This Date In Church History segment. I have a comment or two to share with you and a really serious prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode, “No, Not Them”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e275. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin. JONAH 1 (NASB) – 0:55Jonah, chapter one. (1) The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, (2) “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” (3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (4) The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. (5) Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. (6) So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.” (7) Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. (8) Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” (9) He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.” (10) Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. (11) So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. (12) He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” (13) However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. (14) Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.” (15) So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. (16) Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. (17) And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. JONAH 2 (NASB) – 3:20Jonah, chapter two. (1) Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, (2) and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord,And He answered me.I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;You heard my voice.(3) For You had cast me into the deep,Into the heart of the seas,And the current engulfed me.All Your breakers and billows passed over me.(4) So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’(5) Water encompassed me to the point of death.The great deep engulfed me,Weeds were wrapped around my head.(6) I descended to the roots of the mountains.The earth with its bars was around me forever,But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.(7) While I was fainting away,I remembered the Lord,And my prayer came to You,Into Your holy temple.(8) Those who regard vain idolsForsake their faithfulness,(9) But I will sacrifice to YouWith the voice of thanksgiving.That which I have vowed I will pay.Salvation is from the Lord.” (10) Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. JONAH 3 (NASB) – 4:29Jonah, chapter three. (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 himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. (7) He issued a proclamation 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. JONAH 4 (NASB) – 5:53Jonah, chapter four. (1) But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry....