This evening we will begin our journey through the book of Jonah. I can honestly say this is a book that has been questioned more throughout history than any other book. I am convinced that mankind has enveloped his mind in broad education and done more damage in this way than any other. I am not against education or having any particular length or completion of school. However, education without the wisdom of God applied leads mankind to foolishness. We are so educated now that we believe babies who cannot discern their left from their right, can distinguish their proper gender. We are so educated now that we have thrown around the idea that mankind originated from the slime of this world, and on the backs of apes. Education has thrown out much greater fallacies than what they attack the word of God over. In this story we find a prophet in rebellion, a prophet in perdition, a prophet in a mission, and a prophet in bitterness. I think tonight we might touch on two aspects of this book, and some of these we may return to. First, I want us to see the validity of this book. Secondly, I want us to see the value of this book.
Let us examine the validity of this book
I think we should first discuss the scriptural validity of this book. While we will see historical and physical validity the scriptural validity settles it all for me. In truth when dealing with the miraculous, if God is involved then there is little to stretch our faith in. It was once said, God said it, I believe it so it is true. I have to say this is completely wrong, God said it, it is true. It makes no difference whether you believe it or not, if God said it then it is true.
First, I think we should take a look at the scriptural validity of the prophet Jonah by his contemporaries.
- 2 Kings 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
Tradition tells us that Jeremiah wrote this book. In truth we do not know who actually wrote this book, but we do not doubt any other part of I kings or 2 Kings. Look at the miraculous that took place in 1 and 2 Kings:
- The Widow of Zarepheth’s meal is extended for three years
- The Widow of Zeraphath’s son is raised from the dead
- The Battle on Mount Carmel and the fire falling from heaven
- The famine and return of rain after 3 years
- Fire called down from Heaven to consume the captains sent to Elijah
- Elisha makes the waters pure
- The widow’s oil is multiplied
- The Shunamites son is raised from the dead
- The poisoned pottage is corrected
- Naaman is cured of his leprosy
- The iron axe head swims
- The Syrian army destroyed at Samaria
- Man raised from the bones of Elisha
- Hezekiah is healed and the sun turns back
If we are to discredit the mention of Jonah in this book then we have to discredit each and every one of these miracles. For those Christians who are willing to discredit this book and this story, I ask would you discredit the battle on Carmel or the raising of the Shunamite’s son?
If we would discredit Jeremiah or whoever the author of this book is, would you discredit Christ himself.
- Matthew 12:28-42 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 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 whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Here Christ himself validates that not only was this story accepted by himself but it was apparently accepted by those he was speaking to. Why would he tell a story and lean upon a fictional story that these individuals did not accept? The answer is he would not.
Secondly, we should examine the historical validity of this book. Now I want us to understand that I do not agree with each of these individuals mentioned but these only serve to show that historically this book was accepted.
- We find that the apocryphal book of Tobit makes mention of Jonah. I do not accept this book as scripture and I do not think that this book has any value to us as Christians however it does show that historically this book was accepted.
- We find that two historians accepted and wrote of this book.Both Philo and Josephus wrote of this story and accepted it.
Thirdly, we find physical proof that Jonah could have been swallowed by a whale.
In 1928 Mr. G. H. Henn wrote: “My own experience was in Birmingham about twenty-five years ago, when the carcass of a whale was displayed for a week on a vacant land in Navigation street, outside New Street Station. I was one of twelve men, who went into its mouth, passed through its throat, and moved about in what was equivalent to a fair-sized room. Its throat was large enough to serve as a door. Obviously it would be quite easy for a whale of this kind to swallow a man”.
In the book of Sixty-three years of Engineering it was made aware that some whales can swallow something eight feet in diameter and it has been found that one whale had a shark skeleton sixteen feet long in it.
In 1891 there was a store of a whale ship coming upon a whale and finding and losing a sailor. After a few days of cutting into the whale it was found that the lost sailor was inside the whale alive.
We cannot deny the validity of this book of what took place in this story. I think the key of this book is found where it says, The LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. If God is involved he could have done whatever he chose. I cannot limit the ability of an all powerful God.
Let’s examine the value of this book. I think there are three areas of value in this book. It is interesting that this book is contained within the minor prophets and yet contains no word of prophecy towards Israel or the end times. However, this book is prophetic in nature and in picture.
First, we find the value in that we are shown the price paid. In this book we are shown an individual who is swallowed by a whale/great fish, and I am convinced dies. I am convinced that Jonah dies within this belly and is dead for three days and three nights. Now, I believe God could have prepared a whale to keep him alive but I believe for the sake of the picture we find that he dies. Look back once again in Matthew 12
- Matthew 12:40 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.
Now we are aware of who the Son of Man is, this is Jesus himself. However, the heart of the earth is one that throws people off a lot.
- Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
- I Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
- Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Now you need to understand the value to this. Many individuals will say Christ did not die, he only fainted on the cross. I want you to understand first, Christ died on the Cross. At that time we know that an individual who died either died and entered into Paradise or entered into Hell. This is made clear in Luke 16. We also know that Christ told the thief on the cross that he would join him in Paradise that very day. I am convinced that he dies and finds himself in Paradise with Abraham. However, the price to be paid was a devil’s hell. I believe he goes to hell and takes the keys of death and hell, and when he resurrected he sets the captives free and those in Paradise go to heaven with him and hell enlarges itself. This is why I believe that hell is in the center of the earth.
Secondly, it has value in the passion shown.
- Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
- Jonah 3:3,9-10 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey…… Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
I want to be clear about something here. In this period of time God’s people were the nation of Israel. He chose Israel, he loved Israel, and he still loves Israel. We do not find God sending anyone to any other nation to proclaim a message of repent or else. Obadiah proclaims judgment with no chance of repentance. Amos proclaims against the enemies of God with no chance of repentance. However, Jonah is sent to this nation with the message of repent. I am convinced this is because of the fact of verse 11
- Jonah 4:11 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?
I am convinced that God has such a love for the innocent that he did not desire to destroy the wicked for the fact that so many innocent children were inside this city.
Thirdly, it has value in the path given
- Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
- Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Two times God comes to Jonah and says GO. The result of not going is terrible for Jonah. Now we look at Jonah and we proclaim, what a disobedient person he was to not go and preach to these people. Remember Jonah was an Israelite, a chosen nation. Nineveh was a wicked pagan city and Jonah hated them for what they had done and who they were. He did not live under grace that said turn the cheek. No he lived under the law that said an eye for an eye. Jonah looked on that city and saw people who deserved destruction and judgment. In fact if they were destroyed it could benefit Israel greatly. Now you have been commanded to GO. Not to the people who have attacked and plundered your nation but rather to people who were just like you, lost in their sins. Yet, we do not GO, we do not get up and GO. We sit and gorge ourselves on the fatness of the Word, while they spin faster and faster towards hell. What a shame we live in this manner. We are worse than Jonah. What value does this book have, the value in showing us the result of disobedience.
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