The Sign of Jonah

Jonah’s Disobedience

Now The Word of The LORD (God Almighty) came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that Great City, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me (God Almighty).” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish, from The Presence of The LORD (God Almighty). He (Jonah) went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he (Jonah) paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, from The Presence of The LORD (God Almighty).

The Storm At Sea

But The LORD (God Almighty) sent out a Great Wind on the Sea, and there was a Mighty Tempest on the Sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the Mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo, that was in the ship, into the Sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the Captain came to him (Jonah), and said to him (Jonah), “What do YOU mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God (God Almighty); perhaps your God (God Almighty) will consider us, so that we may NOT perish.” And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him (Jonah), “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do YOU come from? What is your country? And of what people are YOU?” So he (Jonah) said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear The LORD, The God of Heaven, who made the Sea and the dry land.”

Jonah Thrown Into The Sea

Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him (Jonah), “Why have YOU done this?” for the men knew that he (Jonah) fled, from The Presence of The LORD (God Almighty), because he (Jonah) had told them. Then they said to him (Jonah), “What shall we do to YOU, that the Sea may be calm for us?” For the Sea was growing more tempestuous. And he (Jonah) said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the Sea; then the Sea will become calm for YOU, for I know that this Great Tempest is because of me.” Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could NOT, for the Sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried out to The LORD (God Almighty) and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do NOT let us perish for this Man’s (Jonah’s) Life, and do NOT charge us with innocent blood; for YOU, O LORD, have done as it pleased YOU.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the Sea, and the Sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared The LORD (God Almighty) exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to The LORD (God Almighty) and took vows.

Jonah’s Prayer And Deliverance

Now The LORD (God Almighty) had prepared a Great Fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in The Belly of The Fish, Three Days and Three Nights. Then Jonah prayed to The LORD, His God, from The Fish’s Belly. And he (Jonah) said: “I cried out to The LORD (God Almighty) because of my affliction, and He (God Almighty) answered me (Jonah). “Out of The Belly of Sheol I (Jonah) cried, and YOU (God Almighty) heard my voice. For YOU (God Almighty) cast me (Jonah) into the deep, into the heart of the Seas, and the floods surrounded me (Jonah); all Your (God Almighty’s) billows and Your (God Almighty’s) waves passed over me (Jonah). Then I (Jonah) said, ‘I have been cast out of Your (God Almighty’s) Sight; yet I (Jonah) will look again toward Your (God Almighty’s) Holy Temple.’ The waters surrounded me (Jonah), even to My Soul; the deep closed around me (Jonah); weeds were wrapped around my (Jonah’s) head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the Earth with its bars closed behind me (Jonah) Forever; yet YOU (God Almighty) have brought up My (Jonah’s) Life from The Pit, O LORD, My God (God Almighty). “When My (Jonah’s) Soul fainted within me, I remembered The LORD (God Almighty); and my prayer went up to YOU, into Your (God Almighty’s) Holy Temple. “Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy. But I (Jonah) will sacrifice to YOU (God Almighty) with the voice of thanksgiving; I (Jonah) will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of The LORD (God Almighty).” So The LORD (God Almighty) spoke to The Fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah Preaches at Nineveh

Now The Word of The LORD (God Almighty) came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that Great City, and Preach to it The Message that I tell YOU.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to The Word of The LORD (God Almighty). Now Nineveh was an exceedingly Great City, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the City (Nineveh) on the first day’s walk. Then he (Jonah) cried out and said, “Yet Forty Days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

The People of Nineveh Believe

So the people of Nineveh Believed God (God Almighty), proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the King of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the King and his Nobles, saying, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do NOT let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God (God Almighty); yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God (God Almighty) will turn and relent, and turn away from His (God Almighty’s) Fierce Anger, so that we may NOT perish? Then God (God Almighty) saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God (God Almighty) relented from the disaster that He (God Almighty) had said He (God Almighty) would bring upon them, and He (God Almighty) did NOT do it.

Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he (Jonah) prayed to The LORD (God Almighty), and said, “Ah, LORD, was NOT this what I (Jonah) said, when I was still in my country? Therefore I (Jonah) fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that YOU (God Almighty) are a Gracious and Merciful God (God Almighty), slow to anger and abundant in Loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take My (Jonah’s) Life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Then The LORD (God Almighty) said, “Is it right for YOU (Jonah) to be angry?” So Jonah went out of the City (Nineveh) and sat on the east side of the City (Nineveh). There he (Jonah) made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the City (Nineveh). And The LORD God (God Almighty) prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his (Jonah’s) head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But as morning dawned the next day God (God Almighty) prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. And it happened, when the Sun arose, that God (God Almighty) prepared a Vehement East Wind; and the Sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he (Jonah) wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me (Jonah) to die than to live.” Then God (God Almighty) said to Jonah, “Is it right for YOU (Jonah) to be angry about the plant?” And he (Jonah) said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” But The LORD (God Almighty) said, “YOU (Jonah) have had pity on the plant for which YOU have NOT labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I (God Almighty) NOT pity Nineveh, that Great City, in which are more than One Hundred and Twenty Thousand (120,000) persons, who cannot discern, between their right hand and their left, and much livestock?”

Two Lessons

There are actually two lessons, We can learn from Jonah’s Story. First, “The Sign of Jonah”, Jonah was in The Belly of a Great Fish, Three Days and Three Nights. Our Lord Jesus Christ told the People, look for “The Sign of Jonah”, meaning Jesus, after His Crucifixion and burial, He would be Risen from the grave (His Resurrection), on The Third Day, by God Almighty, Himself. Second, when God Almighty tells YOU to do something, YOU better do it, because YOU do NOT want to be put into The Belly of a Great Fish, do YOU?

YOU see, as Believers (Children of God Almighty), God creates a specific path (God’s Path) for each of Us to walk. This also includes places He wants Us to go, things He wants Us to do and yes, Good Works for Us, to perform. God Almighty can and will, Speak to YOU, at any given moment, remember this! He may ask YOU, to speak to a specific person, or a specific group of people. He may send YOU, out of your city, or out of your county, or out of your State, even out of your own Country, probably out of your “Comfort Zone”, so be prepared for this, at All times! All of Us, Believers, are to be prepared, to Preach The Gospel of Jesus Christ, to everyone, everywhere, at any given moment! We, Believers, are to have Our “Spiritual Bags” packed, ready to go, wherever God Almighty Calls Us to go, at a moment’s notice!

We, Believers, are to be Jesus Christ’s Light upon the World, which means sharing with people, about God’s Amazing Saving Grace, through God’s Free Gift of Salvation! Preaching The Gospel of Jesus Christ, to everyone! Believers, as Children of God Almighty, We know the surety, the guarantee, of Everlasting Life, which comes ONLY through Our Lord Jesus Christ! We know for certain, We will be in God’s Immediate Presence, with Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, God’s Holy Angels, and the rest of The Children of God Almighty, Forever, for Eternity! We should each feel, ready to “Spiritually Burst”, trying to restrain Our enthusiasm of wanting to share this Wonderful News, with each and every single person We encounter!

I have a few questions, for YOU. Is God Almighty putting upon your heart, to do something out of your “Comfort Zone”? Perhaps, God Almighty is asking YOU, to use your Spiritual Gift(s) to Preach The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe, God Almighty is asking YOU to learn how to share The Gospel of Jesus Christ, about God’s Amazing Saving Grace, through God’s Free Gift of Salvation. My advice to YOU is this, when God Almighty is telling YOU, to go somewhere or do something, in order to further The Kingdom of God Almighty, YOU better listen, because YOU do NOT want your own personal “Sign of Jonah”, do YOU?