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'formHash':'z14vc2fm0wysuzy', The Old Testament book entitled Jonah was written in late 700 BC, possibly by the prophet Jonah. 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. 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. The Prophet Jonah (painting_by_Demetrios_Stavrakis)-Wikimedia. Instead of drowning, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, which God provided. God commanded the prophet Jonah to preach in Nineveh, but Jonah found God's order unbearable. I had to put my blog comments on the back burner for a while as I was swamped with other things. Jonah shall be worse frightened than hurt, not so much punished for his sin as reduced to his duty. It is believed that he was the only prophet Jesus likened to himself. Learn more about the life of Jonah in this 7-lesson Bible study. He walked through Nineveh proclaiming that in forty days the city would be destroyed. December 3, 2012 By Noah Filipiak 5 Comments, I recently posted on the question, Am I going to hell if I dont believe Jonah was eaten by a fish?. Jacob, Jonah, and John aren't getting along very well in Heaven, and one day God gets tired of it and kicks them out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get every new post delivered to your Inbox. 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. They concluded that Jonah was the one who was making their journey difficult and thus tossed him overboard where he was swallowed by a big fish. If we take this literally (and we should) this was probably a rather unpleasant experience. Am I going to hell if I don't believe Jonah was eaten by a fish? These whales include the killer whale, narwhal, beluga whale and sperm whale. He spends three nights in the belly of the fish and with nowhere left to run, not even death, he finally repents. As the Book of Jonah opens, the first thing God says to Jonah is (1:2) "Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it, for their wickedness has come before Me." Greg Laurie, See Jonah Reap Paste Jonah onto a clothes peg or eraser or small piece of crushed aluminum foil (or anything to give Jonah some weight). 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 point is, the story is not impossible. The sailors had other gods, but they were aware that Jonah served the God of Israel. One person was pointed out; who was this? 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. And their pregnant women will be ripped open. Wanting to know who was the cause of their troubles, the crew of the ship cast lots. It also includes a sperm whale facts worksheet as a bonus. Jonah was happy with the vine, but the next day God provided a worm that ate the vine, making it wither. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. However, most importantly, the Bible says that "the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah" ( Jonah 1:17 ). Nineveh, the city to which he was sent, was a Gentile city. (2021, June 4). Therefore, jonah teaches people that even if one has gone beyond redemption, one can still be forgiven. Pour water into a bowl. 5 0 obj ~ Hosea 13:16. 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. Thanks for sharing! 'autoResize':true, Jonah is known in the bible as the man who disobeyed God and refused to go to Nineveh as he did not think that the people in the city deserved forgiveness. Our aim is to share the Word and be true to it. But God sent a great wind out onto the sea, and the ship felt like it was going to be broken apart! Jonah tried to run, but God stuck with him and gave Jonah a second chance. 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." (end of article summary). 3. 4 Of course, the sperm whale is not the only candidate. God sent a great storm upon the ship and the men decided Jonah was to blame so they threw him overboard. The mariners cast lots and it landed on Jonah. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. It's always wise to obey the One who loves you most. Had his reason been cowardice, though still wrong, it would have been . Absolutely no personal details about the prophet are given in the Book of Jonah at all. 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. Arguments against reading Jonah as history: One theory is that Jonah was written after the exile to Babylon (Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah) as a fictional work to counter the nationalistic zeal of Ezra and Nehemiah. The shocking truth about "medicine", viruses and vaccines. This isnt a gotcha post, I truly want to understand how you square a reading of Jonah as other than accurate with a belief in inerrancy. Great points Dstu098, I wrote about Noahs Ark as well: 3. 2. God had compassion on them and did not destroy them. You can read more in-depth Bible verses from the Scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the Bible. The story of the great fish is miraculous only in the sense that God supernaturally provided a whale to swallow Jonah. However, it is seen from the book of Jonah that even though he had sunk as low as he could by not agreeing to the instructions given to him by God, he was still forgiven. While on the ship, a serious storm developed through the hands of God and the crew had to cast lots. Some scholars believe the Ninevites paid attention to Jonah because of his bizarre appearance. Dr. Stephen Davey, Jonah: Sometimes Prophets Start Over Whale "poop" is used in perfumes. Long-living Creatures. They asked him why he was the reason for the storm, and he explained what he had done. Gods sovereign control is showcased throughout the story. Clearly, Jesus accepted this story as an accurate description of a real, historical event. Instead of drowning, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, which God provided. 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. 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. Together we made the kit and shaped it into a whale shape. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here (Matthew 12:38-41). to the quiz link under the stated answer and then click "Report error" at the bottom of that page. Plus, a great fish/large whale would not normally have been found in the eastern Mediterranean. For she has rebelled against her God. They realized the power of God and offered a sacrifice to Him. Bible Based.We believe in solo-scriptura. on 10 Facts About Jonah (from Book of Jonah). III. Though scholars aren't sure exactly where Tarshish was (theories range from Tarsus in present-day Turkey, to Carthage on the northern coast of Africa), everyone agrees it lay to the west, across at least part of the Mediterranean. 'async':true, To me the story of James Bartlett would be the one that is questionable. Of course we could still believe that Jonah was indeed swallowed by a whale, but seeing the original message makes you wonder about the entire story and its message. Jonah's repentance is . Matthew 12:39-41 Jonah's experience is a type of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Paste the top piece of the whale on a paper cup, then the bottom piece (see picture below). - Crosswalk the Devotional A command given to Jonah to preach at Nineveh (v. 1, v. 2). x&qy_OwM"spIwijMd(#*y;lmfKajF\K_8Sy3=W/_o~rey\p'zOc,Z,=u3Nyj33l{vig!&{_y>?/_L*iO_~u%6?9_AxX/_ov{?o}OW~_}OLo^U/xfrd>~pJyM%2oKY_[;%/w_t>xS[pG)u8ZS37q{owzW_7]`W%ze.Og>yGn{ oI8^wR}G^}}ZMj_mCT,?/_Q+uneYOOO}J}z(es*Dqr^/w?~_/.2Ttj3eYN9P(v[c_W~Ky&??OO~/YeS]MgYlcZ=vU$d?~_?*usx\C2%?;fCwsy*:*r/;D;-e=,.2_? Pinterest. 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. But in the end, he learned a valuable lesson about the Lord's mercy and forgiveness, which extends beyond Jonah and Israel to all people who repent and believe. Then, God said, "Jonah, go preach to the people of Nineveh. Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from Jonah's encounter with the great fish and the people of Nineveh. %PDF-1.3 "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. Noah is the founding pastor of Mosaic Church, a multi-ethnic church in urban Grand Rapids, MI. A deadly race began between the Star of the East and the immense whale. Zavada, Jack. })(document, 'script'); 2023 Johnny Cirucci. These are extrapolations and conventions that have been passed down through the ages that have no basis in the original passages. Bob wrote: " For Jonah and the Whale lesson, I purchased a pizza kit and pepperoni. Cut a piece of string about 18 inches long. 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. Clearly this event was miraculous and not a naturalistic phenomenon. Leviticus 18:1-23 lists all sorts of sexual perversions, incest, homosexuality, bestiality and the like. He does not want to go to Nineveh to preach and sway the people to repent. Paste the top piece of the whale on a paper cup, then the bottom piece (see picture below). This study examines the book of Jonah in the light of its origins and how it can relate to our modern lives. 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. Yes I do believe Jonah was swallowed by a fish, but the purpose of this article can be found in one of my closing questions: Is it important that a new Christian believes Jonah is historical fact? However, Jonah is angry when they do so as he knows that God was going to punish the city and after they repent, God spares them. Try our 7 Day free Trial: http://sharefaithkids.comDownload the full Jonah Sunday School lesson: http://www.sharefaith.com/set/jonah-and-the-whale-childrens-. 2. Animal Flesh Eater Arrested: Felony Charges Serious Injury To 3 Month Old! ~ Ceto, Wikipedia. Use our printable 8.5 X 11 certificate to award students upon completion of the Jonah Lessons. The citizens of Nineveh persecuted and tortured the people of Israel. Jonah got swallowed by a whale." The teacher says, "That's just a story from the Bible. Click the arrow to listen to Jonah and the Whale Fun Facts. In the belly of the whale, Jonah repented and cried out to God in prayer. Then an ominous slacking in the line signaled the monster was going to surface. In other words, Jonah caught more fish in his net than ever before . There are two sons who learn hard lessons about compassion and mercy in Luke 15. This was the place that Jonah was living when he was called by God to fulfil his mission to the people of Nineveh. Dr. Tony Evans, Jonah and the Whale: Real or Symbolic? We know that when Jonah was thrown off of the boat there was a great storm, so there were probably some "foamy" waters. To some, the story of Jonah finds a place in the Scriptures, not as a factual narrative but as a myth or allegory. Teach your child/children about the story of Jonah and the Whale with this fun and engaging unit study. The story of Jonah and the whale is a Sunday School favorite. Joppa was a sea port along the coast of Judah, one of the areas belonging to the twelve tribes of Israel. The Biblical figure of Jonah and the Book that bears his name are some of the most interesting in human history. The Bible states that a great sea monster swallowed the prophet Jonah but did not devour him. 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. The terrified crew cast lots, determining that Jonah was responsible for the storm. Unlike other prophets, however, Jonah responded by attempting to flee from his assignment. Learn Religions, Jun. First, they tried rowing to shore, but the waves got even higher. The hot weather climate made it imperative that the whale be cut up at once. You know where Tarshish was? Am I going to hell if I dont believe Jonah was eaten by a fish?, parts of the Bible you wish you to apply and the parts you dont, Beyond the Battle: A man's guide to his identity in Christ in an oversexualized world, Why Christians meet for church on Sundays instead of a Saturday Sabbath, http://www.atacrossroads.net/far-fetched-noahs-ark-enough-to-dismiss-jesus/, http://www.atacrossroads.net/fact-or-fiction-four-ways-to-view-old-testament. Keto (Ancient Greek: , Kt, sea monster) Latinized as Ceto is a primordial sea goddess in Greek mythology, the daughter of Gaia and Pontus. He did not want to go to the city of Nineveh and deliver the message that God had given him as he felt that the people were his enemies and if he went and swayed them to repent, then God would not carry out his threat. Toothed whales, have teeth, which are used to hunt and eat squid, fish, and seals. var scr = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0], par = scr.parentNode; par.insertBefore(s, scr); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fill the fish tray with blue colored water (or use plain water). {]);\?6/hR~7q`kqN?d:EqZ8*{oiLzt-nCO(Y |Mm`jGg+t{w/z|*O~ t?hm 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. Young James BartIey was in the first longboat to reach the side of the prey. Colin Smith, God In Pursuit, Part 1 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. Jonah and the Whale Bible Story Study Guide. Therefore, he is critical in teaching Christians that God will always come to pass no matter what obstacles seem to be along the way as he is all-powerful. When people disobey, there will be consequences. "In my trouble I called out to the Lord, and He answered me" is the opening of Jonah's prayer from the fish in 2:3. There is a book in the Bible that bears his name and he also appears in 2 Kings as a prophet from Gath-Hepher. His tale is often referred to as Jonah and the Whale, but many people are unaware of the background of the popular Sunday school tale. On his tombstone in the churchyard at Gloucester is a brief account of his experience at sea and a footnote, which says: James Bartley -1870-1909 A Modern Jonah. Answer: Joppa. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? I remember being surprised by what the NIV Archeological Bible said about the book of Jonah so I just copied and pasted it into a blog post to get people thinking. One of the many peculiar stories of the Bible is the story of Jonah and the Whale . Most prophets in biblical history only had a few converts who listened and believed in what they were sent to say. I found a small mistake at the end of the quote of the seaman's story: "James Bartley -1870-1909 - A Modem Jonah." . Some scholars like Alexander Hislop believe that the worship of Dagon is reflected in modern sects like the Catholic Church with at least one example being quite striking: YHWH is the Chess Master. Concluding questions for you to ponder and/or comment on below: Filed Under: Did Jonah and the fish actually happen? If it is pure fiction, its author could have used this prophet as a character because he wanted to make a point about divine compassion: God, in showing mercy to the Ninevites, humbled this angry, super-patriotic, prophet. 3 important lessons from the life of Jonah, the prophet who was swallowed by a whale. He died eighteen years after his remarkable survival and terrifying adventure. 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 . Like I think Jonah and the Whale from the Bible was written as a play. The doctor ordered Bartley drenched with sea water, a treatment which restored his consciousness but not his reason, for he babbled incoherently. Typo fixed. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. 12:40 ), one of the largest sorts of whales, that have wider throats than others, in the belly of which has sometimes been found the dead body of a man in armor. https://www.learnreligions.com/jonah-and-the-whale-700202 (accessed March 4, 2023). Go said it is a great city, but it is wicked. A fish could be any large sea creature, like a shark. Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah . According to Matthew, Jonah is the only prophet that Jesus likened to Himself. The story of Jonah is full of many lessons that can be learned from the life of Jonah before, during, and after he takes the message of God to Nineveh. To some, the story of Jonah finds a place in . 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. As the stricken beast sought to free itself of the harpoon, Bartley and the other oarsmen rowed frantically to get out of reach of the massive flukes, the two-pronged tail which threshed the water to foam in the whales agony. Directions: First, make colored water by dropping a few drops of food coloring into a cup of water and stir well. Then God forgave Jonah and the fish returned him onto the land. The verses after my reference above (Deuteronomy 18:9-14) lists demonic worship that included casting infants into bonfires and calling on spirits through divination, orgies and narcotics. Jonah was one of only four writing prophets that Jesus mentioned by name during His earthly ministry (Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah were the others). The blue whale is the largest animal that ever lived and can grow to 90 or more feet and weigh as much as 24 elephants! If you feel an answer is not 100% Bible based, then leave a comment, and we'll be sure to review it. I found a small mistake at the end of the quote of the seamans story: James Bartley -1870-1909 A Modem Jonah. Should be modern Jonah. 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. 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. Nothing else is known about Jonah except this experience and that he was the son of a man named Amittai who was also a prophet who came from a place named Gathhepher. Proud member How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. He is a grad of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Unlike all other Old testament books, Jonah revolves exclusively around a Gentile nation. The other theory is that it is unnecessary to take it to be a (later) postexilic work or a critique of Ezra and Nehemiah. That's more than 330,000 pounds (150,000 kg). The second century B.C. The point of the story is that God can provide a supernatural means of rescue when his people are in trouble. 8. The Book of Jonah is almost entirely narrative with the exception of a hymn supposedly composed by the prophet while in the belly of a great fish. And he predicts that King Jeroboam II . Baleen whales include the blue whale, humpback whale, bowhead whale, gray whale, sei whale, fin whale and others. In Vietnam, whales are considered sacred creatures and believed to bring luck, safety, and prosperity. hmm.firmament.Ive wonderedbut its supposed to go along with Pangaea and an overall global stable climate from real long ago..jonah, well, . When God did so, Jonah was very grateful but he became angry the next day after God sent him a worm to eat with a plant. 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. Jonah is indeed a very interesting book in the Bible. He was alive, but unconscious. It withers as a result and Jonah tells God that it would have been better if he were dead. Jonah shows us that God's love is greater than our self-interest. Jonah in this case being a potential prerequisite. Work together and do something for the record books! Thanks for the heads up and the encouragement, EG. (NLT), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Oil on canvas, unknown artist. 104:26. o Connection Point: When water crashes around in the waves, it creates a foamy texture. When asked to do something he found undesirable, he ran from it. The experiences of the prophet represent a kind of death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The original Hebrew of Jonah 1:17 is dag gadl or fish, great but the Septuagint translation into Greek implied more of an unusual aspect to the creature; ktei megal from the root ketos. The lesson that God loves us while we are living in rebellion is of great hope to our nation today. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jonah-and-the-whale-700202. Many people miss a similar lesson when reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Jonah dealt with some things that Christians face regularly. All pages are offered in color and in black and . He believed from the start that God was just and merciful, and that he knew this outcome would occur all along. Jonah was in the giant fish three days. With these 60 interesting facts about whales, we will learn more about . (Excerpt from Matthew Henry's Commentary), 3 Indispensable Heart-Qualities for Joyful, Effective Ministry The Assyrians were a brutal Canaanite people whos practices in conquest made you want to not be conquered by them. The miraculous preservation of his life there in the belly of a fish (v. 17), which was his reservation for further services. and the Big Fish. Play: Jonah and the Whale. 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. He praised God, ending with the eerily prophetic statement, "Salvation comes from the Lord." Massive Marine Mammals. JONAH, or, in Hebrew, Yonah, was an Israelite prophet in the Bible who, as told in the book preserved in his name, was divinely commissioned to announce a prophecy of imminent doom to the Assyrian people of Nineveh (Jon. 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. Cut a piece of string about 18 inches long. Then God forgave Jonah and the fish returned him onto the land. It was of the Lords mercies that Jonah was not now consumed. 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. Jonah believed that the city would be destroyed as he had been told but he had not envisioned that the people of the city would ask for forgiveness from God and he would grant it. Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai". Jonah was swallowed by the whale and spent three days and three nights in the deep. 2. God loves all people. Here is part of the prayer in Jonah 2. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? It was an offshoot of the lands built up by Nimrod, who was known to be a mighty hunter. Jonah decided to run from God, and he found a ship that was going to Tarshish. The captain called the ships doctor who made an incision in the tough flesh. Whales can hold their breath for about 20 minutes. The little girl says, "You're wrong. This is like the theory that there was a canopy of water surrounding the earth before the huge flood because water at that volume surrounding the earth would cause a pressure so great that the blood would boil and for enough water to be on earth to cover Mount Everest you would have to dump the amount of water that would fit the volume of the moon. The massive mammals range from the 600-pound dwarf sperm whale to the colossal blue whale, which can weigh more than . 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. The account lacks evidence of a real understanding of Nineveh and is history. Jonah and the Whale Unit Study. Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. Required fields are marked *. If you wish to join them, you must be like themwilling to do the worst things imaginable to the most innocent lives possible. Accumulated ear wax can tell a whale's age. The captain shook him awake and told Jonah to call on his God, as the others in the ship had all called upon theirs. 'ssl':true}; To not believe it would be calling Jonah and Jesus liars. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. But God finds work for this leviathan, has prepared him, has numbered him (so the word is), has appointed him to be Jonahs receiver and deliverer. Jonah's story is told in the short (just 48 verses) but powerful book of Jonah. <> Tarshish was located on the far side of the Mediterranean sea. Therefore, this article will delve into some interesting facts about Jonah and how his story is important in the bible. Christ in the Prophets - Jonah. He could have simply been referring to a story and lessons they all knew very well and to a character they knew very well. These children are the 'Jonahs'. I highly recommend this Bible as it provides much more contextual details than a standard study Bible and is refreshingly honest about various theories regarding the Bibles historicity. One scholar explains, "The Hebrew text of Jonah 2:1 actually reads dag gadol, or 'great fish,' rather than a technical term for 'whale.' But since Hebrew possessed no special word for 'whale,' and since no true fishas opposed to a marine mammalis known to possess a stomach as capacious as a whale's, it is reasonable to adhere to the traditional interpretation at this . As a mythological figure, she is most notable for bearing by Phorcys a host of monstrous children, collectively known as the Phorcydes. When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. Of course we could still believe that Jonah was indeed swallowed by a whale, but seeing the original message makes you wonder about the entire story and it's . Both to Jonah (a struggling follower) and the Assyrians (an evil people).