Jonah. Jeroboam II was northern Israel's most powerful king . God sent a storm to rock the boat and the sailors were distressed. Jonah dealt with some things that Christians face regularly. Jonah is considered to be the most effective prophet in the bible in that he convinced a whole city to repent and change their ways so that they may avoid the wrath of God. 3 important lessons from the life of Jonah, the prophet who was swallowed by a whale. When asked to do something he found undesirable, he ran from it. I made a front and back of the whale out of poster board and then stabled the sides except for the mouth area. Jonah, that prophet that tried to run away from God, continues to bring us lessons on obedience, running away from God's commands, a hatred that stops one from sharing the Gospel, and many more. The people believed Jonah, turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them. Jonah was the son of Amittai, who came from Gath-hepher in Zebulun (called Gittah-hepher in Joshua 19:10-13 ). Cut out two matching pieces and stapled the sides, except for the top. One of the important (and puzzling) things about the Jonah story is that Jonah doesn't try to argue with God--he just hops up and runs away. While modern skeptics may find it impossible that a man could survive inside a great fish for three days, Jesus compared himself to Jonah, showing that this. 'https://' : 'http://') + 'www.wufoo.com/scripts/embed/form.js'; Anything really. The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. The experiences of the prophet represent a kind of death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Noah is the founding pastor of Mosaic Church, a multi-ethnic church in urban Grand Rapids, MI. The Prophet Jonah , 12th century. When God called Jonah to go and warn the violent and . Jonah is indeed a very interesting book in the Bible. The book of Jonah recounts the story of a disobedient prophet who, upon being swallowed by a whale (or a "great fish") and vomited upon the shore, reluctantly led the reprobate city of Nineveh to repentance. The primary theme of the story of Jonah and the Whale is that Gods love, grace, and compassion extend to everyone, even outsiders and oppressors. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jonah-and-the-whale-700202. Verses 39-41 of Matthew 12 tell us, But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. James Bartley never made another trip to the sea and settled down to shore life as a cobbler in his native city of Gloucester, England. Jonah 's Flight. - Crosswalk the Devotional God the makes the plant wither and asks him why he should not spare Nineveh which has six thousand people who cannot discern between their right hand and left hand. Jonah was swallowed by the whale and spent three days and three nights in the deep. He reminds us that God has a missionary's heart and a plan for the Gentiles, a lesson the apostle Peter had difficulty learning (Acts 10-11). Well, when I go to heaven, I'll ask Jonah." The teacher replies, "What if Jonah didn't go to heaven?" The girl says, "Then you can ask him." For three days Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. It's hard to read this dramatic tale without wondering what Jonah's life is like when he isn't in a huge fight with God. Instead of drowning, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, which God provided. Many people miss a similar lesson when reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Buy on Amazon Kindle/E-book also available The Disciples of Ra! 2. 'header':'show', A newborn blue whale is 23 feet (7m) long and weighs up to three tons (5950lbs or 2700kg),which is about the size of a full grown hippo! Some scholars believe the Ninevites paid attention to Jonah because of his bizarre appearance. The story of Jonah and the whale is about a Hebrew prophet named Jonah, who God commands to travel to the great city of Nineveh to preach repentance to its inhabitants because of their wickedness. The only way to know is find other documents, LOTS of other documents about Jonah or who wrote it, or a census/something similar. What happens if they dont? Sometimes a clear stance is taken by the study Bible or professor on which theory is of sound doctrine and which isnt, while other times it will just be said that the clear answer is unknown or is debated. Paste Jonah onto a clothes peg or eraser or small piece of crushed aluminum foil (or anything to give Jonah some weight). FACTS REGARDING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK. Found in the collection of The Sistine Chapel, Vatican. * Blue whales can "talk" to other whales by using sounds that travel up to 700 miles! This fish was prepared, lay ready underwater close by the ship, that he might keep Jonah from sinking to the bottom, and save him alive, though he deserved to die. God commanded the whale, and it vomited . Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh. Great story! It contains an exhilarating mix of sea-themed songs featuring sun, waves and a bunch of scurvy pirates. We examine the context of the incidents around Jonahas as documented in various sources, the background to the city of Nineveh in Mesopotamia where he was sent, and to analyse the moral message . Young James BartIey was in the first longboat to reach the side of the prey. I drew the outline of the boat freehand. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. Here is part of the prayer in Jonah 2. The whale sounded and eight hundred feet of heavy line streaked out of the line tub before he ended his dive. III. V. The casting of him into the sea, for the stilling of the storm (v. 11-16). Jul 18, 2013 - Play the Jonah and the Whale youth group games with kids pre-school through teen. 3. I especially read this from your defense of Jesus, claiming he could have been speaking to Jonah as factual, but not REALLY speaking to it as factual. Jonahs life, after all, is saved by a miracle, and we shall hear of him again for all this. The_Prophet_Jonah_(painting_by_Demetrios_Stavrakis)-. It is interesting to note that one of the most important gods of the kingdom that bordered the Mediterranean Sea was Dagon, the fish god. He believed from the start that God was just and merciful, and that he knew this outcome would occur all along. For the first six or seven months of life, a baby blue whale drinks about 100-150 gallons (380-570 liters) of his or her mom's fat-laden . 5 0 obj It is difficult to prove which Old Testament text is original when 2 books contain similar wording. He stayed at the belly of the fish for three days and three nights and in there, he said a prayer to repent. The point is, the story is not impossible. Thanks for the heads up and the encouragement, EG. However, most importantly, the Bible says that "the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah" ( Jonah 1:17 ). Jonah 1:17, referenced as 2:1 in the Hebrew Bible, uses the Hebrew word dag to refer to a broad range of sea creatures. Nancy: But Mr. Dean said that even if a whale could have swallowed Jonah, there are no whales in the Mediterranean Sea, and that is where Jonah was swallowed. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. Thanks for sharing! http://www.atacrossroads.net/fact-or-fiction-four-ways-to-view-old-testament. on 10 Facts About Jonah (from Book of Jonah). Fleeing his task, Jonah hopped aboard a commercial vessel bound for Tarshish, in the west (Jon. Jacob, Jonah, and John aren't getting along very well in Heaven, and one day God gets tired of it and kicks them out. You lay out an ambivalent response to this question at best, and unless I am misreading, seem in the end to agree with those who dont find the Book of Jonah factual. They threw out cargo to lighten the ship in hopes it would continue to float, but finally determined that it was likely someone on board that was causing the problem. The story of Jonah. Not surprisingly perhaps, the biggest mothers on earth give birth to the biggest babies. All rights reserved. When consequences resulted, he sought God for aid and relief. Some things that support this view include that the book mentions no specific author (nor do references elsewhere), the extreme age of the book (it is assumed it was written between 400-200 BC long after the events around 770 BC), and the fact that the book puts Jonah in a somewhat negative light. The pursuit and arrest of him for that disobedience by a storm, in which he was asleep (v. 4-6). 10. FunTrivia is a collaborative community effort, where we are constantly updating questions to keep them accurate. He praised God, ending with the eerily prophetic statement, " Salvation comes from the Lord." (Jonah 2:9, NIV ) Jonah was in the giant fish three days. (Excerpt from Matthew Henry's Commentary), 3 Indispensable Heart-Qualities for Joyful, Effective Ministry Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah . God called out to Jonah and scolded him for being so concerned and worried about just a plant while God was concerned with the heart condition and lives of 120,000 people who lived in the city of Nineveh. In modern days, the village of Gath Hepher is now known as Mash Had. Finally, he lapsed into unconsciousness until he again came to his senses almost a month later. How many of us could stand to learn that lesson? Tagged With: Bible, Book Of Jonah, historicity of the bible, is the bible fact or fiction, jonah, jonah and the whale, Jonah: A Veggietales Movie, The Book Of Jonah. He walked through Nineveh proclaiming that in forty days the city would be destroyed. (NLT), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. However, when people continue to rebel despite the consequences, God will raise up someone else to carry out the task. It is not good enough to pick and choose the parts of the Bible you wish you to apply and the parts you dont, nor is it good enough to fudge logic and tell people to believe things that dont stack up rationally. Pixabay. Jesus actually identified Himself with the prophet's three-day sojourn in the belly of the great fish, noting it as a foreshadowing of His own death . Jonah is indeed a very interesting book in the Bible. He went down to the seaport of Joppa and booked passage on a ship to Tarshish, heading directly away from Nineveh. In this article, you will learn more about Jonah and how his story is significant in the Bible. When people disobey, there will be consequences. ~ Ceto, Wikipedia. When Jonah was chosen it was just as much for his benefit as the Ninevites. The story ends with God expressing concern even about the wicked. Had his reason been cowardice, though still wrong, it would have been . God sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah. The story of Jonah is one of the most notable stories in the bible. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Jonah told them to throw him overboard. I had to put my blog comments on the back burner for a while as I was swamped with other things. Jonah is a well-known figure in the Old Testament, who is responsible for writing the 32nd Book most likely between 793 and 758 BC. Throughout history, a Satanic Elite Buy on Amazon The ultimate conspiracy is also the most horrible: a Satanic Elite controls all access to power. About Jonah - A Fishy Tail This modern Jonah And The Whale musical adaptation has a balmy, summertime feel to it. The Bible states that a great sea monster swallowed the prophet Jonah but did not devour him. Nineveh was a world empire for about 300 years. Found in the collection of the Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice. The story of the great fish is miraculous only in the sense that God supernaturally provided a whale to swallow Jonah. Their little ones will be dashed in pieces, That's more than 330,000 pounds (150,000 kg). According to Matthew, Jonah is the only prophet that Jesus likened to Himself. Clearly this event was miraculous and not a naturalistic phenomenon. Joppa was a sea port along the coast of Judah, one of the areas belonging to the twelve tribes of Israel. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? When it came, he did as God wanted from him. Real Questions. o The book of Jonah. When Jonah sat to rest God provided a vine to give him shade. About UsContact UsPrayer RequestsPrivacy Policy, Latest AnswersBible LessonsBibleAsk LIVEOnline Bible. Salem Media Group. Some look to Jesus reference to Jonah in Matthew 12:39-41 to be an open and shut case that the book Jonah was historical. The second century B.C. . The story of Jonahas is narrated amongst billions of followers of the Abrahamic faiths, namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 1 Unlike the sperm whale, which is not usually aggressive, the great white shark is . But where? Two 'dens' are picked (opposite each other) and the rest of the children are split between them. Instead (the Bible doesn't say why) Jonah jumped on a ship heading "unto Tarshish," [ 2] so God sent a great wind which whipped up "a mighty tempest in the sea, so . * Whales cannot breathe underwater. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy. Fred Alberti, The Story of Jonah Told By The Cutest Little Girl, What does Jonah teach us about the character of God? In the belly of the whale, Jonah repented and cried out to God in prayer. Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament to completely minister on foreign soil. Then an ominous slacking in the line signaled the monster was going to surface. I want you guys to do something amazing. Jonah is used in the bible to show the sovereignty of God in that even though he had refused the calling that he had been given, God still used him as a channel to bring redemption to the people of Nineveh. Baleen whales include the blue whale, humpback whale, bowhead whale, gray whale, sei whale, fin whale and others. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the book, Jonah describes his experience with being told by God to take word of coming judgment to the city of Nineveh, where the peoples evil had gotten out of hand. The Assyrians were a brutal Canaanite people whos practices in conquest made you want to not be conquered by them. Like I think Jonah and the Whale from the Bible was written as a play. Jonah and the Whale. But God sent a great wind out onto the sea, and the ship felt like it was going to be broken apart! acVszcAy"uUc*0r Bartley said that as he was cast into the water from the long boat he saw a tremendous mouth open over him and he screamed as he was engulfed by it. It should be stated, however, that I found some of the science information very interesting (sperm whale gullets are big enough, the scientific foreshadowing commentary, dying sperm whales vomit up food, sperm whales and great white sharks are found in the Mediterranean Sea, etc). Answer: Joppa. "I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. With a fun and lively script that is perfect for young performers, Jonah - A Fishy Tail introduces a whole host of new characters, including a beautiful senorita, an irritating . It is likely that Jonah told the story to his family and friends over the years, and eventually someone decided to write it down so it would not be lost. However, there are things that people are unaware of about Jonah like his background as the story only concentrates on how Jonah was swallowed by the fish that took him to Nineveh. Let us stand still and see this salvation of the Lord, and admire his power, that he could thus save a drowning man, and his pity, that he would thus save one that was running from him and had offended him. If you find Clearly, Jesus accepted this story as an accurate description of a real, historical event. The plot centers on a conflict between Jonah and God and conveys a message of salvation not only for the chosen people of Israel but also Israel's enemies. (2021, June 4). To me the story of James Bartlett would be the one that is questionable. Because Jonah obeyed God and took the message to Nineveh, it continued for a few more generations. The book presents pagans as ready to repent and portrays the Israelite prophet as disobedient, angry, and vengeful. A secondary message is that you can't run from God. God scolded Jonah for being concerned about a vine, but not about Nineveh, which had 120,000 lost people. Explore. Jonah. 4. And God won't give up on you either. Jonah was called on a mission very similar to that of other prophets: he was to cry repentance to a people ripening in iniquity. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. The story of Jonah and the Whale, one of the oddest accounts in the Bible, opens with God speaking to Jonah, son of Amittai, commanding him to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh. After they threw him in, the sea immediately settled. While most of the prophets were primarily dealing with the Israelites, Jonah is a notable exception. This very prophet is where modern English gets the expression 'a Jonah' from: it means the particular person who has brought bad luck, or a curse, into the group. He then felt sharp stabbing pains as he was swept across the teeth and then slid feet first down a slimy tube that carried him to the whales stomach. The story of Jonah is often likened to that of Jesus in that the experiences that Jonah went through from his trip to Nineveh to warning the people of the city, represent the kind of death, burial and resurrection that Jesus went through. 6. Jonah came from the village of Gath Hepher, which was located about three miles north of Nazareth in lower Galilee. The Hebrew word that is translated Jonah means dove or pigeon (they are the same family of birds). He could have simply been referring to a story and lessons they all knew very well and to a character they knew very well. i.e. He begs God to kill him, which He does not. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". If a man were to survive in the oral cavity of any fish especially a sperm whale which dives. }i$uJw_?'Ok]1M6`:]L2RO7oO~O9{?|LPAYcH>8Vyz~~>'y~"zC3mPR+%ZOkwOG]ao|VLGc4L~kc}[s-"U738V=: /3[O[7-2?6Py~>gO~nu|ef.R @,^JNC$ud;nx( @v_g?If=};tNO&|e;u])=P}_w5s?o1{8Yic97o>4 S.s~o?~x:~s_gYYg6# ?y'v/Oo?TSG^:R?zYOoO9?z)0l|ltl ^aO$j&LG3_96sd6IY,_g^ki?sYvL;&K_=_"~%_?&Owozo%L*?MWJ>gt_i's9.1?4{]^v@i5lS,nW?-_ Jonah was no-more swallowed by a whale than Adam and Eve ate an apple. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. In the same way, Jesus died on the cross and spent three days and three nights in the grave, then resurrected. He does not want to go to Nineveh to preach and sway the people to repent. Jonah is the only prophet whom Jesus likened to Himself. of Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai". And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.". Thus we don't have to give it an explanation limited by modern experience or knowledge. To gain a better understanding about the prophet who is mentioned in one of the most known of Biblical tales, consider the following facts about Jonah the prophet who was swallowed by a whale. , This goddess should not be confused with various mythological beings referred to as ketos (plural ketea); this is a general term for sea monster in Ancient Greek. He included not only the fact that the prophet spent three days in the belly of the fish, but also confirmed that the city of Nineveh repented at his preaching. Jonah buys passage aboard a ship sailing to Tarshish. Therefore, this makes him one of the iconic prophets in the old testament. Jonah came from a small village known as Gath Hepher which was located close to Nazareth as it was only three miles apart. 8. Jonah instead refuses God's mission and tries to escape by boarding a ship traveling in the opposite direction. Without warning there was a splintering crash which sent the longboat spinning into the air. For three days, Jonah dwelt in the creature's belly, until he repented. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel's greatest enemies and Jonah wanted nothing to do with preaching to them! When Jonah heard God's call to go to Nineveh, he went to Joppa and took ship for where? A fish could be any large sea creature, like a shark. Maybe Im misunderstanding you, and I would understand if you choose to ignore my post, as I am nowhere near Lansing, MI and wont be attending your church soon, but as an aspiring theologian who spends much time studying the Word, as well as words about the Word, I am confused. Also, another point of connection with this activity is when the big fish spit Jonah up onto dry land. Bob wrote: " For Jonah and the Whale lesson, I purchased a pizza kit and pepperoni. The brevity of the Book of Jonah is apt to lead the casual reader to the conclusion that there is nothing of particular significance here except the diatribe about the whale that swallowed Jonah. Pour water into a bowl. Christ in the Prophets - Jonah. 1:3).Subsequently, a violent storm broke out that was . 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?. Cut out Jonah and the top and bottom pieces of the Whale. Remember that God wants you to be open and honest with him. The students cut and arranged the half pieces of pepperoni to . Jonahs spiritual and emotional immaturity is glaring through the end of Chapter 3 and all of Chapter 4 and the Lord must continue to teach him what compassion really means. It is granted that to nature this was impossible, but not to the God of nature, with whom all things are possible. And he predicts that King Jeroboam II . Using the puzzle page from the Jonah and the whale craft printable (free Jonah template pack), have your kids draw the scene then cut the pieces out. The people of Nineveh heard, understood, and repented in sackcloth and ashes. Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted (Bible Study Book) Paperback January 1, 2010, The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy Hardcover October 2, 2018, Jonah (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) Paperback December 5, 2017, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries) Paperback October 19, 2009, 30 Inspirational Vinyl Quotes for Your Wall. Confined to a cabin for several weeks and bound so he could not injure himself in his wild flounderings, Bartley gradually regained his senses. What's the first thing Jonah says to God after receiving this prophecy? The prophet Jonah lived in the Galilean city of Gath-hepher (about four miles north of Nazareth) during the reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C. Jonah now became angry and bitter because God did not destroy the Ninevites who were Israel's enemy! To some, the story of Jonah finds a place in the Scriptures, not as a factual narrative but as a myth or allegory. God commanded the prophet Jonah to preach in Nineveh, but Jonah found God's order unbearable. Jonah is the only Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament sent by God to a Gentile nation. First, they tried rowing to shore, but the waves got even higher. His anger prompts him to beg God to kill him but instead, God decides to teach him a lesson. Together we made the kit and shaped it into a whale shape. The fish releases Jonah onto dry land, where he then travels 500 miles to Nineveh so that he can jumpstart a revival in the city. Then God forgave Jonah and the fish returned him onto the land. Teach your child/children about the story of Jonah and the Whale with this fun and engaging unit study. You know where Tarshish was? The Bible's plain teaching is that, yes, Jonah was truly swallowed by a whale (or a great fish). In Vietnam, whales are considered sacred creatures and believed to bring luck, safety, and prosperity. The city was comprised of around 120,000 people. Then God forgave Jonah and the fish returned him onto the land. Am I going to hell if I don't believe Jonah was eaten by a fish? They toss him overboard, and he is swallowed by a giant fish (the whale). "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. Jonah did his best to escape one great fish, only to be swallowed by another. It is well known that Jonah went from his home country to another region to warn the people of the wrath that was about to fall on Nineveh because of their sins. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. Jonah and the whale - It happened! Attach and tie a string (about 12 inches long) at the top of a straw or stick to create a fishing pole. Getting caught up now. During this time of unrest, there was a prophet (the . A command given to Jonah to preach at Nineveh (v. 1, v. 2). Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. But Jonah received more than a mere mention. In this chapter we have, I. Arguments against reading Jonah as history: Jonah 3:9 is similar to Joel 2:14, suggesting that Jonah was a late work, written long after the lifetime of this historical prophet. The point of the story is that God can provide a supernatural means of rescue when his people are in trouble. In response, God sent a violent storm, which threatened to break the ship to pieces. The doctor ordered Bartley drenched with sea water, a treatment which restored his consciousness but not his reason, for he babbled incoherently. They will fall by the sword, The hot weather climate made it imperative that the whale be cut up at once. Jonah or Jonas, son of Amittai, is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran, from Gath-hepher of the northern kingdom of Israel in about the 8th century BCE.Jonah is the central figure of the Book of Jonah, which details his reluctance in delivering God's judgement on the city of Nineveh.Subsequently he returns to the divine mission after he is swallowed by a large sea creature (whale) and . At first, we see that Jonah is scared and prideful, which causes him to run from God. He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. Jonah's repentance is . Concluding questions for you to ponder and/or comment on below: Filed Under: Did Jonah and the fish actually happen? Instead, God teaches him a lesson. I was just a few days ago wondering about the story of Jonah, as I had recently come across the revelations concerning the mistranslations of the Bible and the original meaning. He was alive, but unconscious. It's not true." The girl says,"Oh yeah? Jonah feels that the people are his enemies and he believes God will not carry out his threat of destroying the city. At Jonah 1:17, it says: " And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah .". Freeze the ice cube fish. Maybe "based on a true story" maybe based on reality. Skip Heitzig. Jonah on the other hand, only told the people of Nineveh once that they had veered off the path of God and they were heading to destruction and they listened. When Jonah stopped outside the city to rest, God provided a vine to shelter him from the hot sun. He could breath, but the hot, fetid odor soon rendered him unconscious and the last thing he remembers was kicking as hard as he could at the soft, yielding stomach. Circa 1650. A whale, being a mammal, is a warm-blooded air breather that periodically resurfaces for air, so would have provided Jonah with oxygen, while its body heat would have prevented hypothermia. Its also pretty unrealistic that he didnt fall out of the animals mouth as it was chewing its food or that he wasnt chewed up for that matter and slip into the digestive tract where he would have been suffocated. (The Greek word for whale is ktos, meaning "a great sea monster." Although it could have been a whale, I do not think it wasfor the Scripture . Unlike all other Old testament books, Jonah revolves exclusively around a Gentile nation. God loves all people. Matthew 12:39-41 Jonah's experience is a type of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In the midst of judgment God remembers mercy. Jonah in this case being a potential prerequisite. "Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide." Out of the eater comes forth meat; for Jonah was alive and well in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, not consumed by the heat of the animal, nor suffocated for want of air.