JONAH’S STORY: A QUINTESSENTIAL APPLICATION

–STORY–HISTORY

–ALLEGORY

–ELI’S TWO SONS–EGYPT–ISRAEL–CANAAN

THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, VOL. 1, p. 400

THE ARK OF GOD

God reproved Eli for his criminal neglect of family discipline. Eli reproved his sons, but

did not restrain them.

DESIRE OF AGES, p. 308All who obey as He did are likewise declaring that the law is "holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. On the other hand, all who break God's commandments are sustaining Satan's claim that the law is unjust, and cannot be obeyed. Thus they second the deceptions of the great adversary, and cast dishonor upon God. They are the children of the wicked one, who was the first rebel against God's law. To admit them into heaven would again bring in the elements of discord and rebellion, and imperil the well-being of the universe. No man who willfully disregards one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven.

DISOBEDIENCE EQUALS DECEPTION

PROCLAIM: WORD

• DISOBEDIENT

• DISCEIVED

• DOWNWARD DESECENT

• DIVINE PRESENCE

• DETOUR

• DISPLEASED: JONAH 4:1[EXCEEDINGLY]

JONAH’S REMEDY: SURRENDER & COMPLY

JONAH: OUT PICKETING

• PROTEST: GOD

• PROVOKE: NATURE’S WRATH

• CASE IN POINT:

• ADAM & EVE

• ELI’S SONS

• JONAH

JONAH 1:12…For I know that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon you.

JONAH’S CRIMINAL NEGLECT

• WINDS: TOPPLING THE SHIP

• SEA: SINKING THE SHIP

• MARINERS: DROWNING AT SEA

• CAPTAIN: PRAYER [FAST ASLEEP 1:6]

• GENTILES: GET CLOSER TO GOD

• LIVES OF THE NINEVITES WERE IN PERIL

THE MARINERS TOOK THEIR CHANCES.

PROBING:FINDING PROBABLE CAUSE

JONAH 1:7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil [is] upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

ROMANS 2:24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

INTERROGATION

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

JONAH 1:8

• WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN…EVIL…?

• WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?

• WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?

• WHAT IS YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN?

• WHAT RACE OR ETHNIC GROUP…?

PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, p. 494, 495THE FALL OF JERICHO

God's command had been disregarded by one of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the nation was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor: "They have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also." Instruction was given to Joshua for the discovery and punishment of the criminal. The lot was to be employed for the detection of the guilty. Step by step the investigation went on. Closer and still closer came the fearful test. First the tribe, then the family, then the household, then the man was taken, and Achan the son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah, was pointed out by the finger of God as the troubler of Israel.

JONAH’S BLASPHEMOUS TESTIMONY

JONAH 1:9

And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry [land].

1 JOHN 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.

• JONAH: PROVIDENCE

HE BECAME A PATHOLOGICAL PERJURER

JONAH: RESOLUTE NOT REMORSEFUL

JONAH 1:11, 12

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea;

• Gentiles: Try to reach land [JONAH 1:13]

• Gentiles: Beseech JONAH’S God VS.14

• Gentiles: ROMANS 1:20 [INVISIBLE POWER]

• Wise men: East [Star] MATTHEW 2:1, 2]

SAME SCENARIO: TWO DIFFERENT OUTCOME

• JESUS: BOAT [MIDDLE OF A TEMPEST ASLEEP]

JESUS AWOKE

• JONAH: BOAT [MIDDLE OF A TEMPEST ASLEEP]

JONAH REMAIN ASLEEP

PERILOUS TIMES: DO YOU PONDER OR PLUNGE..?

SEA PITJONAH 2:1, 2

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

PSALMS 23:4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

SEA PIT: JONAH BLAMES GOD

JONAH 2:3For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas;…

DOWNWARD SPIRAL: PROPHET/PERJURER/PRISONER/PIT [BARS] 2:6

REVELATION 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

NEVER ASK OTHERS TO SURRENDER BEFORE YOU COMPLY!

JONAH’S MEMOIRS

JONAH 2:8, 9

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD.

JONAH 2: 10

And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry [land].

JONAH: PAROLE

JONAH 3:1-10 [KINDERGARTEN]

• JONAH: SENT TO NINEVEH [SAME TEST]

• NINEVITES REPENT: AFFLICT THEIR SOULS & TURN FROM THEIR WICKEDNESS

• GOD SPARES NINEVEH TO JONAH’S SURPRISE

JONAH’S REACTION: SHOCK AND AWE

JONAH 4:1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

JONAH’S BEHAVIOR CONTRASTED:• KIND HEARTED…HEART WAS KINDLED• PATERNAL…PAROCHIAL• PERSONABLE…PECKISH• POSITIVE…PIGHEADED• PASSIONATE…PESSIMISTIC• PRICELESS…SUICIDAL

JONAH 4:3

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better for me to die than to live.

• BITTER NOT BETTER

• MEANER NOT MEEKER

GOD’S PROPHET BECAME ANGRY BECAUSE PEOPLE WHOM HE THOUGHT WOULD REJECT GOD, ACCEPTED HIM.

EVANGELIST VS. ACTIVIST

STORY: JONAH 4:6-11• JONAH 4:9 [PLANT ] & JONAH 4:11 [PEOPLE ]

IS THIS MESSAGE JUST A:• STORY?• HISTORY?• ALLEGORY?

IN TIMES OF PROSPERITY, FEAR TAKES A BACK SEAT, WHILE GREED MOVES INTO THE DRIVER’S SEAT. WHILE IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY, FEAR TAKES A FRONT SEAT, WHILE GREED MOVES TO THE BACK SEAT.

ROMANS 11:33

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

OTHER WORLDS:

• NOAH: WICKED & PROSPEROUS

• SODOM: WICKED & PROSPEROUS

• NINEVITES: WICKED & PROSPEROUS [CRIMINAL NEGLECT] JONAH 3:4

• JONAH PREACHED [OVERTHROWN] 40 DAYS

LOYALTY: POSITION BUT DISPOSITION

E.G.W: BIBLE COMMENTARY, VOL. 5, p. 1131.9Position does not make the man. It is Christ formed within that

makes a man worthy of receiving the crown of life, that fadeth not away. . . .

JONAH’S PRECIPITOUS DECLINE: • DOWN TO JOPPA [JONAH 1:3]• DOWN INTO THE BOAT [1:3]• DOWN INTO THE SIDES OF THE BOAT [1:5]• CAST DOWN INTO THE SEA [1:15]• DOWN INTO THE FISH BELLY [1:17] 3 DAYS• DOWN INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA [2:3]• DOWN: BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN [2:6]

LESSONS: JONAH’S MEMOIRS

1. FAITH NOT FEELINGS [FREE VS. FARE] JONAH 1:32. DIFFERENCE: JONAH & JESUS

BOTH: PROPHETS/SLEEP/DUTY [1:3]3. GOD CALLS: MAN/MESSAGE/MOVEMENT [3:1-3]4. GOD CALLS: DENY SELF…DEVOTE SAVIOR [4:1]5. COMRADES NOT COWARDS6. GOD IS SEEKING FUGITIVE: RUNNING

AWAY/RUNNING OUT OF TIME7. GAVE COMPLIMENTS TO CAMOUFLAGE

CRITICISMS [JONAH 1:12 CAST ME INTO THE SEA]8. JONAH’S CONFESSION: [JONAH 2:7]

CONSEQUENCES OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE

• WRONG WILL ALWAYS LEADS YOU DEEP DOWN