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THEBOOKOFJONAH
Lesson5,Chapter2
BeforewecontinueinJonahchapter2whenweexamineJonah’sPsalmorprayer
ofThanksgivingthatconsumesthebulkofthechapter,Iwanttospeaktoyou
aboutaprinciplethatisembeddedinwhatwe’vestudiedsofarinorderforusto
noticesomethingnotonlyinteresting,butvitallyimportanttoourunderstanding
ofYehoveh,GodofIsrael.AsIhavementioned,theBookofJonahisfarmore
aboutwhatGodisreallylikethanwhatJonahisreallylike.WhatIwantto
highlight,then,isthenotionofthepowerofoursincererepentancetoGodwhen
webreakHismoralcode,thusoffendingHim,andthennoticinghowHeresponds
toit.
OneoftheelementsofJonahthatmakesthislittlebooksoperplexingtomany
BiblescholarsisthisstrangemixofhowGoddealswithJonahversushowGod
dealswithNineveh,andthenJonah’sreactiontoitall.What,Ithink,contributes
mightilytothemuddlehastodowithGod’sdecisiontosendJonahtoNinevehin
ordertogivethemtheopportunitytorepentsothatGodmightshowthese
gentilescompassionandmercy;somethingthatJonahthoughtwasreserved
onlyforIsrael…God’schosenandset-apartpeople.But,beyondthat,itseemsto
methatdespite5centuriesoftheirgrowingfamiliaritywiththeirGod,Jonahand
Israelhadanincompleteunderstandingofjusthowthequalityofrepentance
actuallyworked,anditisreflectedintheirdoctrinesandteachingspriortothe8
th
centuryB.C.beforeabetterunderstandingofitseemedtobeemerging.Letme
explain.
JonahwaswrestlingwithafairlynewdoctrineinIsraelthatseemstohavecome
aboutverylateinthe9
th
orveryearlyinthe8
th
centuryB.C.BeforeIgofurther
withthisdiscussionIwanttogivemuchcredittotherenownedBiblescholar
DavidNoelFreedmanforhisoutstandingresearchonthesubjectofJonahand
repentance.ThenewdoctrineIspeakofcouldbenamedinEnglish:“theGod
whorepentsabouttheevil”.InthebiblicalHebrewitwascalledniham‘alhara‘a.
So,howdidthisnewtheologicalunderstandingaboutrepentancecometolight?
Clearlyhumanitydoesnothavethecapacitytounderstandverymuchaboutthe
mindofGod…eventhoughsomuchaboutHismindandperspectiveiswrittenfor
usintheHolyScriptures…withoutmuchpassingoftimeinbetweennew
revelationsofunderstandingthatseemtosurfaceatirregularintervals.Unlike
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thelargelydiscreditedtheologicalnotionofDispensationalismthatDarby
introducedinthemid-1800’s(whichmuchoftheChurchtoday,amazingly,still
hangsonto),wherebyitisGodwhoprogressesbychangingthewayHe
administersHisjustice…evenchangingtherulesofthegameattimesindifferent
eras…infacttherealityisthattheBibleshowsusthatitishumanswhoseemto
progressfromeratoerainourunderstandingGod’snever-changingmindset.
Theseprofoundrevelationsthatseemtocometoussuddenlyandunexpectedly
areprobablyadirectresultofaperfecttimingthatGodwillsaccordingtostages
ofRedemptionHistory…aschedulethatonlyHeknowsandcontrols…orperhaps
ithappenswhenHedeterminesthatHisworshippershavehadsufficienttime
(andusuallywe’retalkingcenturies)toreallyponderGodandwhatweknow
aboutHimthusfar.So,inthe8
th
centuryanadditionalunderstandingofGod
seemedtoemergeasitconcernstheideaofrepentanceanddivinejustice.
Priortothattime,Israel’ssagesandProphetssawtheemphasisofjusticein
God’smindaspunishmentorretributionforeachofhumanity’swrongdoings
(andespeciallysinceMt.Sinai,assuchwrongdoingsconcernedGod’schosen,
Israel).Thenewunderstandingwasthatrepentancecanbeequivalentto,orhas
equalvaluewith,punishmentorretribution.Thatis,itmaybepossiblefora
sinnertoescapedivineretributionortherequirementtopayapenaltyfortheir
trespass,withasufficientlevelofsincererepentance.Let’stakeamomentto
clear-upanymisconceptiononthebiblicalprincipleofrepentance.Thebulkof
RomanWesternChristianity(whichisreferringtovirtuallyallthedenominations
ofChristianitythatgentilesoftheWesternworldarefamiliarwithandsubscribe
to)gobyadoctrinethatexplainsrepentanceasprimarily,ifnotpurely,achange
ofmind(orheart)inordertoreceiveGod’sforgiveness.Nochangeofour
behaviorisrequiredforforgiveness.And,whilenotrecommended,wecan
legitimatelygorightonlivingasbeforeweknewGodandHisSonYeshuaas
Savior,andremainunitedwithHimingoodsteadandexpectnoreactionfrom
Godforcontinuinginoursinning.However,upuntilgentileChristianityinvented
thiserroneousself-servingspinonthenotionofrepentance,itwasfully
understoodthat,biblically,toGodtheonlywayrepentancewasconsideredas
sincereandacceptablewaswitharealtangiblechangeinourlives…inour
behavior…frombadtogood.So,thismeansthattotheIsraelitesofthe8
th
centurythatifonedeterminedtochangetheirbehaviortobeintunewithGod’s
will,thenthisrepresentedtheirrepentance,andthisnewbehaviorCOULD(but
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didnotnecessarilyguarantee)thatGodwouldpardonanoffenderwithoutdivine
punishmentofsomesort.IntheolderHebrewtraditionsanddoctrines…priorto
theverylate9
th
centuryB.C…wefindadifferentviewamongtheHebrewsabout
whogetspunishedbecausewefinddifferentthinking(adifferentunderstanding)
aboutwhatitisthatpropelsGodtoactinresponsetothosewhosinagainstHim.
Butwhatiscommonthroughoutallthoseeras…thatis,itisanunderstanding
thathadbecomeembeddedandbasicandthefoundationuponwhichalllater
understandingwouldcome…isthateachperson,eveneachnation,getswhat
theydeserve.AndGodhadpreviouslysetdownanoffenseversuspunishment
guidelineintheTorahbasedonthefoundationalprincipalofproportionate
justice.Thatis,thelevelofpunishmentreflectstheseverityofthecrime.That’s
truenotonlyintheoldestoftheHolyScriptures,butit’salsoanunderlying
dynamicoftheNewTestament.Aswelearn,everyonemuststandbeforethe
greatjudgetoaccountforouractionsduringourlifetime.
Let’sconsideranexampleaswiththecaseofSodomandGomorrah.Thepeople
arethoroughlyevilinGod’seyes(withsexualimmoralityasclearlytheprimary
displayoftheirwickedness).GoddebateswithAbrahamaboutthosewhomust
bepunished…someorallresidentsofthoseancientcities.Nopartoftheir
bargainingsessiondealswithrepentance.Thatis,anopportunityforthepeople
ofSodomandGomorrahtorepentandSTOPbeingsowickedisnotoffered.The
onlyquestionis,howmanyrighteouspeoplemustbeinthecityinorderforthe
citytobespared?Cantherighteousnessoftheveryfewrighteouspeople
perhapsoverridetheevilofthebulkofthosepopulations?Tosomeextent,God
goesalongwithAbraham’sproposal,yetnothingismentionedaboutthe
possibilityofrepentancesothatthose2citiesmightsurvive.
InanothercaseexamplethatcameseveralcenturiesafterSodomandGomorrah,
MosespleadswithGodwhenthepeopleofrecentlyredeemedIsraelworshipped
agoldencalftheyhadbuilt.WhatprocessoccurredtoarriveatthedirectiveGod
issuedtoMosestohavemanyofthosecalf-worshipperskilledforthisgrave
offense?Veryinterestingly,MosesintercedesandactuallyasksGodtorepent
fromwhatHeplannedondoingtoIsraelfortheirhorribleevil.
CJB
Exodus32:12WhylettheEgyptianssay,'Itwaswithevilintentionsthathe
ledthemout,toslaughtertheminthehillsandwipethemoffthefaceofthe
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earth'?Turnfromyourfierceanger!Relent!Don'tbringsuchdisasteronyour
people!
MosescontinuesbyaskingGod,“Ifyouareagreeable,forgivethem.Butifnot,
thenwipemeoutofyourbook.”Moses,althoughinnocent,expressedhis
willingnesstobearthesinofthecalf-worshippersonhisshouldersasa
substitute.GodandMosescontinuetodiscusswhattodo.God’sresponseisthat
thecommandmentsHejustrecentlygavethemwillnotbebrokenwithout
punishment,andthatdeterminationisHisalonetomake;Mosesgetsnosayin
thematter.Yourjob,Moses,isnottobeartheirpunishment,itisonlytopoint
outwhichpersonsledandparticipatedinthisunforgivablesinofbuildingand
worshippingthatcalf,sothatGodinflictstheirjustdue(death)uponthem,but
theinnocentwillnotbeaffectedalongwiththeguilty.
Theconceptthatrepentanceofthesinnerjustmightproduceacorresponding
divinerepentance(achangeofGod’sresponsetoatrespassagainstHim)is
reallynotsomethingthatMosesnorthepeopleofHiserayetunderstoodwas
actuallyverymuchpartofGod’seternalsubstance,characterandmindset.The
BookofJonah,whichexplainsanewerprogressivelyunderstoodtruthaboutGod
andHisnature,actuallysupportsthisnewdoctrineinIsraelofreciprocal
repentance:ifyousincerelyrepentbychangingyourbehavior,Godwillrepent
(inthesenseofrelentingfromwhatHehadplannedtodotoyou).But…andthis
iswhereJonahgetsitsowrong…repentanceisopentoeveryone…notjusttothe
peopleofIsrael…andthisincludesthosehatedNinevites.Ifeventheywillhear
God’swarningandact(theywillrepent),thentheyhaveasmuchrighttothe
possibilityofGod’srepentanceofHisintentionstopunishtheirsinsharshlyas
doesIsrael.Jonahsimplycannotacceptthis.Heisopposedtothisconceptat
everylevelofhisbeing.
Here'sthething:God’strueworshippersknowmore…orcanknowmoreifwe
caretoinquire…aboutHismindtodaythandidMoses,orJonah,orPaul.Much
historyhaspassedthathasallowedustoponderwhatweknowaboutGod
(thankstothosesamepeopleIjustmentioned)andtoaddtothatunderstanding
asweever-so-slowlybecomehumanlycapableofabsorbingit.Theadventof
Christwasreallywherethisnotionof‘repentancebyuscanbringonGod
relentingofourjustdues’wasfleshedoutfurther,ifnottoitsultimatereality,in
theformofSalvationinYeshua.Atthebottomofthistruthwasthatdespiteour
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sincererepentance,aprice…adebt…wasstillowedtoGod.Thegoodnewswas
thatwithtrueandlastingrepentance(provenbyapermanentchangeinour
behavior),GodwouldkickthecanofretributiondowntheroadsothatallofHis
stored-upretributionwouldbeplacedononeperson’sshoulderstobear…andit
wouldn’tbeonourshoulders.ThoseshouldersbelongedtonolessthatGod’s
onlybegottenSon,YeshuaofNazareth.Priortothat,itwasknownthataprice
hadtobepaidforforgivenessofsinsandthatpricewaspaidintheformofthe
SacrificialSystemlaiddownintheTorah,mainlyintheLawofMoses.But,the
ancientIsraelites’understandingofthatsystemwasincompleteandnarrow.
TheyviewedtheSacrificialSystemmuchlikeweviewfinesfortrafficviolations.
Thatis,wecertainlydon’tviewpayinga$300fineforspeedingas“forgiveness”
butratherweviewitasthepenaltythatwemustpaytoourlocalgovernmentfor
ouroffense.Itisacostweeachmustbearforourlawlessbehavior.Forthe
Israelites,sacrificingthosecountlessinnocentanimalsontheTemplealtarwas
the“fine”…thepenalty…theypaid.Theydidn’tquitegetitthatitwasreallythe
poorinnocentanimalthatgaveitslifethatwasthepaymentforwhattheguilty
IsraeliterightlyowedtoGodaspunishmentfortheiroffense.Yet,theHoly
Scriptures,especiallyProphetslikeIsaiah,explainedtheideaofaninnocent
sacrificeofalivingcreatureasasubstituteforthepunishmentweeachowedto
Godforoursins,asopposedtoitbeingafine.JesusChrististhatuniversal
substitute,butonlyforthosewhotrustinHim.
Inourera,yetanothernewunderstandingaboutGod’smindhascomeabout.It
isthatwhilesomeoneelse(Yeshua)didpaythepriceforouroffensesagainst
TheFather,thatdoesn’tmeanthatwenowhaveaget-out-of-jail-freecard.We
HAVEobligationsifwehopetomaintainthatpardonwereceivedthroughthe
punishmentthatYeshuareceivedonourbehalf.Theperformingofour
obligationstoTheFatheristheevidencetoHimofthesincerityofourrepentance,
andtheseobligationsarebasedonouractionsandbehavioraccordingtothe
rulesandlawssetdowninGod’smoralcode:theLawofMoses.
Anynewunderstandingofalmostanykindtakestimetoproliferateamong
populationsofpeople.Here’samodern-timesexample:onlyinthelastdecadeor
sohasthefieldofQuantumPhysicsfinallybecomeacceptedasrealandnotsome
kindofvoo-doopseudo-science.Thewaythatsub-atomicparticlesofthe
Universeoperate,asexplainedbyQuantumPhysicsandasopposedtotheway
thatClassicPhysicssays,hasactuallyalwaysbeenso;nothingabouttheactual
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operationoftheUniversehaschanged.But,thisnewunderstandingisonlyfairly
recentlydiscoveredanditdisputeswhathadbeentakenasimmutablefact.
Naturally,ashumansarewonttodo,onlyahandfulofbravephysicistsbelieved
whattheywereseeingenoughtowanttoactuponit.Thebulkofphysicists
denieditallbecauseitwascountertotheirestablishedscientificdoctrines…it
washeresy.OvertimethetruthofwhatQuantumPhysicsrevealedbecame
undeniableandsoithasprogressedfromoutlier(andvirtualheresyintheworld
ofscience)tomainstreamacceptanceasfactintheworldofphysics.
Wecan,today,useQuantumPhysicsasagoodanalogytotheriseofwhatis
typicallycalledHebrewRoots;amovementofGodworshipperswhohaveanew
understandingofsomethingthathasalwaysbeen.Thoseofuswhohave
discoveredtheseancienttruthsaboutGodhavenotfoundsomethingthatisnew
andprogressivethathasneverbeforeexisted;butratherwehaverediscovered
somethingthatisoldandhasalwaysbeenso.Yet,thebulkofour
brethren…followersofJesus…stillrefusetoacknowledgetherealityofitbecause
itfliesinthefaceofcenturiesoftheirdoctrine.So,tothem,itisheresy.Wemust
bepatientasmoreeachdayopentheirmindstothisnextstepofunderstanding
thatIthinkishappeningbecausewehaveenteredthefinalphaseofhuman
existenceasweknowit.Thisisnotsomethingtogetfrustratedorto
hyperventilateabout;itissimplythewayhumansarewired,havealwaysbeen
wired,aswe’refindingsomenewthingsabouthowGodiswired…andhasalways
beenwired.And,asmuchasthisnewunderstandingisentirelytoourbenefit
don’teverthinkthatourknowledgeasadherentstothisnewunderstandingis
nowcomplete.There’ssomuchmoreunderstandingtocomeandweneedtobe
opentoit.
Let’scontinuewithourstudyofJonahinchapter2.
RE-READJONAHCHAPTER2all
Godusesanimalsfromtimetotimetobringaboutmiracles,ortohelpadvance
anarrative,ortohelpexplainapurpose.Hereinchapter2Goddirectsa
whale…orsomekindofenormousfish…tointerveneintotheaffairsofhumans.In
alaterchapterYehovehwillevenuseasimpleplant.
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Jonahnowrestsinthebellyofagiantsea-creature.Swallowedalive,ratherthan
asapunishmentitisactuallyameansofrescue.Infact,Iwouldarguethatthe
relationshipbetweenJonahbeingentombedinthewhalefor3daysandnights
andYeshuabeingentombedinthegroundismorethanthesameamountoftime
theyshared.Bothhavetodowithactsofresurrection,butindifferentways.
Verse3,theopeningwordsofJonah’sPsalm,whichisaprayerofThanksgiving,
are“OutofmydistressIcalledtotheLord,andHeansweredme”.Byno
coincidence,thisisalsotheword-for-wordopeningofPsalm120.Idon’twantto
beremissinpointingoutthatintheoriginalHebrewtheword“lord”(adonai)is
notthere;thewordthatisthereisYehoveh,God’sformalname.Especially
consideringtheera,andhowthepagansailorsonboardtheshipthatJonahhad
beenon,alsocalledouttotheirgods,itisimportanttotheancientIsraelite
hearerorreaderoftheJonahsagatobeclearlyinformedthatitwasthegod
YehovehwhomJonahcalledoutto,andwhoheardJonah,andnotsomeother
god.
JonahsaysthathissituationisactuallybeinginthebellyofSheol.Inyetanother
Psalmwereadthis:
CJB
Psalm86:13Foryourgracetowardmeissogreat!Youhaverescuedme
fromthelowestpartofSh'ol.
The‘lowestpartofSheol’isinthelowestcircleoftheUniverseastheancients
envisionedit.Allthedead,righteousorunrighteous,eventuallywoundupin
Sheol.BecauseSheolissaidtohaveabelly(ametaphor),anditisparalleltothe
bellyofthegreatfish(areality),thenwemustunderstandthatJonahisnot
exaggerating;tohisownmindheisdead(orasgoodasdead)andburied
(entombedinsideawhale).So,foraHebrewSheolisnotonlythegraveinthe
ground,itisalsotheportaltoanetherworldofthedead.Theydidn’treallymake
suchdistinctionbetweenthetwothings.Thistellsussomethingimportant:
Jonahseeshimselfasdead.Howelsecouldhepossiblyhaveunderstoodhis
situation?Thereisnowayahumanbeingcouldbeswallowedbyawhaleandbe
aliveandbreathinginsideitsbelly.So,hedidn’tthinkhewasreallystillalive;
ratherhewasexperiencingthemysteryofdeaththatstillallowedforconscious
thought(whichisexactlyastheancientsthoughtofexistenceinthe
netherworld).Ifwecangraspthis,thentheremainderofhisPsalmofchapter2
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resonatesbetterwithinus.Deathishisperspective.Therefore,thatherealizes
thatheisgoingtobedeliveredandrevivedisnotthatheisgoingtoavoiddeath,
butratheritisthatheISdeadandisgoingtoexperienceresurrection.
ThisscenarioputsJonah’sexperiencemuchclosertothatofYeshua’s,doesn’tit?
So,formeitwassurprisingtorealizethatthispointofviewaboutdeathand
resurrectionwasnottheratherpredictableperspectiveandinterpretationfroma
Christian,butratheritisthemorewidespreadinterpretationofeventsbyancient
JewishscholarsandRabbis.Infact,thisunderstandingrunscountertothe
teachingwereadintheBookofJob.
CJB
Job7:9Likeaclouddissolvinganddisappearing,sohewhodescendsto
Sh'olwon'tcomebackup.
HereinJob,theideaisthatonce-dead,always-dead.Thegraveisaone-way
street.Thereisnoreversingtheprocedureandgoingfromdeathbacktolife.
Onceapersondies,hiscircumstanceschangeimmediatelytoapermanent
condition.ButwhereasJonahspeaksofahope,Jobsawnone.
BackinJonah,verse4,JonahsaysthatheunderstandsthatitwasGodwho
hurledhim…thatis,Godcasthimoutoftheshipwithviolenceandintotheroiling
sea.Thiswasnotaccidental.It’salmostasthoughJonahthoughtthatitwas
actuallyGod’swillthatheshouldhavedrownedalongwiththecrewbut
somehowheavoidedit,andsonowGodtriesagaintokillhim…butthistimeby
havinghimliterallythrownintothewaters.Infact,inthenextfewwordsJonah
speaksaboutbeingengulfedbytheseawaters.Heinvokesthewordsofanother
Prophetwhenhesaysthatthebillowsandthewavespassedoverhim.Thatis,he
indeedfeltthesensationofdrowningandassumedthatwashisfate.
CJB
2Samuel22:5"Fordeath'sbreakerswereclosingoverme,thefloodsof
B'liya'alterrifiedme,
Verse5saysthatJonahassumedhehadbeenbanishedfromGod’ssight.The
HebrewwordtranslatedasbanishedintheCJBisgarashanditmeanstobe
expelled,orforcedout,ordrivenaway.Thatis,itisapurposeful,ifnotviolent,
actofforcedseparation.ThismadesensetoJonah.Becauseofhisrashand
rebelliousactoftryingtorunawayfromGodratherthandoingHiswillandgoing
toNineveh,Jonahfelthisdeathwasthelogicalanddeservedpunishment…kind
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ofafinaldismissalfromtheLord’spresenceinproperportiontotheseriousness
ofhisoffense.Becauseofthebeliefsinthateraaboutdeathandwhereadead
persongoeswhentheydie(Sheol),itwasassumedthatcertainlyadeadperson
wouldneveragainbeintheLord’spresence.Thus,whenwereadthisverse,for
anIsraelitetobecastawayfromGodautomaticallyincludedneverseeing,let
alonevisiting,theTempleinJerusalemagain.Attheendofverse4,whenJonah
says“butIwillagainlookuponyourholyTemple”,itiswiththerealizationthat
whathefirstthoughtwashiseternalfate,wasnottobeso.Further,being
foreverseparatedfromGodandTemplealsomeansthatworshippingHimand
praisingHimarenolongerpossible.Whileitmayseemthathislifehascometo
aclose,permanently,withthosedevastatingconsequencesthataccompany
death,thatisnotwhatisgoingtohappentohim.
It’simportantforustopauseandthinkforafewminutesabouttheimpactof
whatisbeingsaid.IhavementionedinotherTorahClasslessonsthatthere
existsnostatement,example,andreallynomentionofaconceptofdyingand
goingtoHeavenintheOldTestament.So,inadditiontoputtingalietothe
commonChristianbeliefthatJewsthinktheyaretryingtoworktheirwayto
HeavenbyobeyingGod’srules(asopposedtoacceptingChrist’sofferofgraceto
gettoHeaven),nothingofthatsortistrue.Death,whetherasarighteousGod
worshipperornot,broughtwithitgenerallysimilarresultsandnoneofitwas
verypleasant.WhatJonahassumedwashappeningathisdeathiswhat
Israelitesgenerallythoughtfromtimeimmemorialandwasstillthebeliefright
upthroughChrist’sday.Why?Becauseforthemostpart,everyoneintheMiddle
Eastthoughtmoreorlessthesamething…andtheygreatlyfearedit.Thisiswhy
whenYeshuadeclaredthattherewasaneternallifewithGodthatdidn’t
essentiallyinvolveimprisonmentunderground,whichalsomeantbeingapart
fromGod…themorepleasantimprisonmentinAbraham’sBosomfarsuperior,of
course,tobeingsenttothehighlyunpleasantPlaceofTorments…butstillbeing
incaptivity…Hisfollowerswereecstaticandthoughtthatthiswasoneofthemost
wonderfuloutcomesoftheirMessiah’sadvent.Further,asyouheard,evenifa
personwascountedasrighteousandplacedintoAbraham’sBosom,because
deathwasinherentlyuncleaninritualstatus,thenthereisnopossibilityofbeing
inholyGod’spresencebecauseitwoulddefileHisperfectholiness.
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Therefore,whatPaulteaches(absentfromthebody,presentwiththeLord)is
exactlytheoppositeofwhatHebrewshadbelievedtobethecaseinhisdayand
goingbackasfarasAbraham…andforthemostpart,stilltothisveryday.Itis
hardtooverstatewhatatrulyamazingreliefandhopethatafollowerofYeshua
wastoldtoexpectafterdeathratherthanwhattheyhadbeenbelieving.Indeed,
itdidremovethestingfromdeath.Ontheotherhand,sincethishopewas
reservedstrictlyforthosewhotrustinHim,thenyoucanalsoimaginehowmuch
thisbeliefcausedajealousorangryseparationbetweenBelieversinYeshuaand
allotherJews.And,thistooremainstothisday.
Verse6continuestoexplainthedeep-seadrowningexperienceofJonah.Hewas
trapped,seaweedwrappedaroundhimandweighinghimdown,unabletobreath,
andnothingbutaliquidatmosphereofseawaterallaroundhim.Terrifying.He
wasdyingandheknewit.Weofcoursedon’tknowhowlonghewasbelowthe
surface,orhowfardownhehadsunk,beforethatgreatfisharrived.The
followingversesaysthathewassinkingfast,evendowntothebaseofthe
mountains.Thebaseofthemountainswas,totheancientsofhisday,considered
astheverybottomoftheocean,andthat’swhathemeantbythosewords.
WhenthePsalmcontinuesandJonahspeaksofthebarsoftheearththatare
behindhimforever,itismeanttocontrastwiththebarsofSheol.Therefore,
becausetheHebrewwordiseretz,thebettertranslationislandorsoil.Land
equalslifeaboveground;Sheolequalsdeathbelowground.Wedon’treadinthe
Bibleofanythingaboutdoorsorbarsthatprotectpassageintooroutofthe
realmoftheland,butwedoreadaboutthe“gatestoSheol”andthe“gatesof
death”thatclosetoimprisonthedepartedwithoutmeansofescapebacktothe
realmofthelandandtheliving.And,wehavetotakethismuchmoreliterally
thanmetaphoricallybecauseindeedthisishowancientpeoplethoughtofit.
Therefore,thenextphrasehastobetakenasprobablyJonah’shappiest
realization(oratleastitshouldhavebeen).Becauseforhim,itmeansnothing
lessthanresurrectionfromthedead.
Inverse7,Jonahcomesface-to-facewiththemostoutstandingofOurLord’sso
manywonderfulattributes:Hisgrace.Jonahrealizesthathisrescue,his
“resurrection”,isgoingtohappen,anditisgoingtobecausedbythesameGod
whohurledadeadlystormagainsthimafewhoursearlier.Thisisagreatplace
tohighlightthatgracewasnotaNewTestamentcreationthatbeganwithYeshua.
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Graceis,andhasalwaysbeen,anattributeofYehovehanditisfoundationalin
howHerelateswithmankind.Butitalsoisimportantthatweceasetryingto
characterizeGod(andJesusforthatmatter)ashavingonlyoneoverriding
characteristic:love.OverandoverintheBible,weseeseveralfacetsofGod’s
naturerevealed.Ifwewanttoboilitdowntothemostfundamentalthenitmust
begraceandwrath…opposites.Sometimeswemightbeabletosaymercyand
wrath,becausegraceandmercyaresocloselyrelated.Jonahisexperiencing
wrath,andthengrace,withinhoursofoneanother.JesusChrist,inHistimeon
earth,camewithamissionofgrace.WhenHecomesnext,itwillbewitha
missionofwrath.So,whenweinsistthatGodisloveandonlylove,itdescribes
aGodwhodoesn’texist.ItalsosayswehaveaGodwhodoesn’tholdus
accountableforourbehaviorandchoices….withthereasoningthatloveand
accountabilitycannotco-exist.Yes,ofcourseloveisanotherofGod’sgreat
attributes,butitdoesn’tnegateHiswrathaspartofHisjustice.
Jonahsaysthatashefelthislifeebbingaway,hismindrecalledtheLord.Thatis,
asheisinthemidstofaliterallifeordeathstruggle,whenofcourseallofone’s
focuswouldbeonself-preservation,HismindturnedtoHisGod,Yehoveh.How
oftenwehearofpeopleinnear-deathexperiencesspeakabouttheirlives
flashingthroughtheirminds;orrememberingtheirparentsorsomesuchthing.
Whileithappensinafewseconds,itfeelslikeitisallhappeninginslowmotion.
Ittrulyisanexperiencethatwecancall“remembering”,andIthinkthat’show
weoughttounderstandwhatJonahissayinghere.ThereisanotherPsalmthat
hassuchasimilarthought,thatIthinkitmightcementthisperspective.
CJB
Psalm143:1ApsalmofDavid:ADONAI,hearmyprayer;listentomypleas
formercy.Inyourfaithfulness,answerme,andinyourrighteousness.
2
Don't
bringyourservanttotrial,sinceinyoursightnoonealivewouldbeconsidered
righteous.
3
Foranenemyispursuingme;hehascrushedmylifeintotheground
andleftmetoliveindarkness,likethosewhohavebeenlongdead.
4
Myspirit
faintswithinme;myheartisappalledwithinme.
5
Irememberthedaysofold,
reflectingonallyourdeeds,thinkingabouttheworkofyourhands.
6
Ispreadout
myhandstoyou,Ilongforyoulikeathirstyland.(Selah)
7
Answermequickly,
ADONAI,becausemyspiritisfainting.Don'thideyourfacefromme,orI'llbe
likethosewhodropdownintoapit.
Lesson5-JonahChapter2
12/13
Jonah’s,asdidDavid’s,mind…inthemidstofimminenttragedyorevendeath…
suddenlyrememberedhislongexperiencewithGodandGod’srevealednature,
andthisgavethembothhopeandcomfort.
BecauseGodwaspicturedaslivingintheTempleinJerusalem,thenJonah
pictureshisprayer(thisPsalm)asbeingheardbyGodasHesitsinthatTemple.
TheissueisnotWHEREGodhearsprayers,butratheritisthatGodiswillingto
hearfromthisrebelProphetwhen,becauseofthesizeoftheoffense,aGodwith
attributesotherthanthoseofYehovehmightjustifiablyturnadeafeartoJonah’s
plea.So,verse9offersacontrastbetweenYehovehandthefoolishgodsothers
worship.Thatis,theseothergodsofmen’sfollycannotofferthegraceand
mercyoftheGodofIsraelbecausethat’snottheirnature.Jonah,oddlyenough,
isshowingadeep-seatedloyaltytoYehovehbymeansofturningtohimatthis
desperatemoment.HeisrespondingtotheattributeofGod’sgracethrough
worshipandprayer.Continuinginverse10,Jonahmakesitclearthathegetsit
thatapersonreceivingGod’sgracecannotsitbackinpassivityandfigurethat
nowthatheisrelievedfromhisanxietyanddanger,hecanjustcontinueonas
before.IfourrepentanceandacceptanceofHisgraceisreal,thenwewill
continuetoreturnthankstoHimthroughanewlyreformedobedience,and
throughanongoingattitude,andacts,ofgratefulness.Therefore,Jonahis
sayingthatnotonlywillhegivethanksnow,buthewillcontinuetogiveGod
thanksbyfollowingthroughwithhisvows,andbysacrificingasheshould.
ThefinalwordsofpraisetoGodsay:“SalvationbelongstoYehoveh”.InHebrew,
itisthepoeticformofwhatwetranslateassalvationthathespeaks.Hesays:
“yeshu’atah”,whentheusualformis“yeshu’ah”.Thesetwotermscarrythe
samemeaning.However,Christianshavetheknee-jerkreactiontothisas
thinkingofthesavingkindofsalvationthatChristoffered;thatisnotthesense
here.Rather,wewouldbebetterofftotranslatethisas“deliverance”,asin
rescue.WhatJonahisprofessingisthatYehovehistheONLYdeliverer…thereis
noother.Thereisnoothergodthatcanoffer,andthereisnoothersourceof,
deliverance.WemustalsoincludeinthisunderstandingthatYehovehcontrols,
orisinchargeof,deliverance.Hewilldecidewhoreceivesdeliveranceandwho
doesnot.Jonahhasbeenoffereddeliverance,andhehappilyacceptsit!
Lesson5-JonahChapter2
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Thefinalverseofchapter2leavesthispoeticPsalmandreturnstoregular
narrativeprose.Allthewhile(3daysand3nights)thatJonahhadbeenthinking,
sortingout,andprayingthegreatfishhadbeen,underGod’sdirection,
swimmingtowardsshore.TheideaofananimalrecruitedbyGodtoservea
humaninalife-givingwayhappensafewtimesintheBible,aswithElijah.
CJB
1Kings17:2-4
2
ThenthewordofADONAIcametohim:
3
"Leavehere,turn
totheeast,andhideinVadiK'ritneartheYarden.
4
Youaretodrinkfromthe
stream,andIhaveorderedtheravenstofeedyouthere."
InthecontextoftheeventofJonah’sadventure,wereadnowthatthewhale
spewedhimoutjustasearlierhehadswallowedhimin.Itisareversalofthe
action.Usingtheword“vomitedout”isnotthebestchoicebecauseitgivesus
theimpressionofJonahbeingsetontheseashoreinaverynastykindofwayas
hemightdeserve.Wherehewasdeposited,exactly,wedon’tknow.Itcould
havebeenrightbackinthesamecoastalareahedepartedfromorhecouldhave
beendepositedupthecoastclosertowherehewouldnowgo:Nineveh.
Towrapuptoday’slessonI’llsayonlythis:Jonahdeserveddeath,butinsteadhe
receivedmercy.Thatisexactlythepositionofallhumanity.GodofferedJonah
graceandmercybutonGod’sterms;notsomewaythatJonahwasallowedto
determine.Thisisalsothewayitisforallhumanity.Godhasprovideduswith
oneway…Hisway…forustoavoidtheeternaldeaththatwedeserve.Wecannot
createotheroptions,norwaitforotherpossibleoptionstosuddenlyappear.The
Father’swayofdeliveranceforusistotrustinHisSon,Yeshua.Ouronlyother
optionistochoosedeath.
We’llbeingJohanchapter3thenexttimewemeet.