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THEBOOKOFJONAH
Lesson6,Chapter3
Wehavediscussedonafewoccasionsnow,thatJonahisn’treallyaboutwho
JonahreallyisbutratherisaboutwhoGodreallyis.IntheBookofJonah,
perhapstheprimarythemeisabouthowGodthinksaboutgentiles;asubject
thatJonahisnotonboardwithbecauseYehoveh’sperspectiveisutterlyhateful
toJonah’s.Secondarily,Jonahspeaksaboutthenatureofredemptioninaway
thatislargelyunknown…andoftenantithetical…tothemodernChurch.
IfGod’sviewongentilehumanityandonredemptioncouldbebestsummedup,
itmightbeinthe18
th
chapteroftheProphetJeremiah.Clearlyinthe9
th
century
B.C.anewunderstandingoftheplaceofgentilesinGod’splanofredemption,
andwhatthekeyfactortoredemptionwas(whichisrepentance)wasforming.
WefindthesenewunderstandingsinAmos,Jonah,andJeremiahespecially
becausetheseProphetslivedandprophesiedinthesameera.
CJB
Jeremiah18:1-11ThiswordcametoYirmeyahufromADONAI:
2
"Getup,
andgodowntothepotter'shouse;thereIwilltellyoumore."
3
SoIwentdown
tothehouseofthepotter;andtherehewas,workingatthewheels.
4
Whenever
apothemadecameoutimperfect,thepottertooktheclayandmadeanother
potwithit,inwhatevershapesuitedhim.
5
ThenthewordofADONAIcametome:
6
"HouseofIsra'el,can'tIdealwithyouasthepotterdealswithhisclay?-says
ADONAI.Look!You,houseofIsra'el,arethesameinmyhandastheclayinthe
potter'shand.
7
Atonetime,Imayspeakaboutuprooting,breakingdownand
destroyinganationorkingdom;
8
butifthatnationturnsfromtheirevil,which
promptedmetospeakagainstit,thenIrelentconcerningthedisasterIhad
plannedtoinflictonit.
9
Similarly,atanothertime,Imayspeakaboutbuilding
andplantinganationorkingdom;
10
butifitbehaveswickedlyfrommy
perspectiveanddoesn'tlistentowhatIsay,thenIchangemymindanddon'tdo
thegoodIsaidIwoulddothatwouldhavehelpedit.
11
"Sonow,tellthepeople
ofY'hudahandthoselivinginYerushalayimthatthisiswhatADONAIsays:'Iam
designingdisasterforyou,workingoutmyplanagainstyou.Turn,eachofyou,
fromhisevilways;improveyourconductandactions.'
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InthispassagefromJeremiah,YehovehisexplainingbyillustrationthatHeis
likeamasterpotterworkingwithalumpofclay.IftheworkofHishands
respondstoHiswill,thenonethinghappens…theclayvesselisallowedto
continueandtoserveitspurpose.But,ifthatsamelumpofclaydoesn’trespond
properlytotheMasterPotter’shandsanotherthinghappens…Hewilltakeitback
toitsoriginalformlesslumpandremakeit.RememberingthattheHebrewword
fornationisgoyim,whichinherentlymeansgentilenation,thenwelearnfrom
JeremiahthatforGodasthemetaphoricalpotter,howHeviewsthatcreated
vesselandhowHeactsfororagainstit,isthesameforHischosenandset-apart
Israelasitisforthenations.Theprincipleis:asitisfortheHebrews,itisalso
forgentiles.
Let’sreadJonahchapter3.
READJONAHCHAPTER3all
Whatweimmediatelyfindisanewbeginning…asecondbeginning.Thefirst
beginningwaswhenYehovehinstructedJonahtogotoNinevehwithamessage
ofdoom,butJonahrefusedandinsteadattemptedtoescapetosomewherethat
hewouldn’thavetobeunderYehoveh’sinfluence.Thesecondbeginningishere
inchapter3,whenGodgivesJonahthenearlyidenticalinstructioninnearly
identicalwords,offeringJonahasecondchancetodotherightthingandbe
obedient(whichhedoes).
IthinkitsometimesgoesunnoticedthatGodnotonlycreates,Healsore-creates
asthemeanstoofferhumansasecondbeginning…asecondchance.Howweall
longforsecondchanceswhenwefailmiserably.Jeremiah18touchedonthat
andwefindthatthishappensfrombothaspiritualANDaphysicalperspective.
WelearnintheNewTestamentthatfollowersofYeshuaarebutspirituallumps
ofclaythathavebeenreturnedtotheMasterPotterforre-creation.
CJB
2Corinthians5:16-18
16
Sofromnowon,wedonotlookatanyonefroma
worldlyviewpoint.EvenifweonceregardedtheMessiahfromaworldly
viewpoint,wedosonolonger.
17
Therefore,ifanyoneisunitedwiththeMessiah,
heisanewcreation-theoldhaspassed;look,whathascomeisfreshandnew!
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18
AnditisallfromGod,whothroughtheMessiahhasreconciledustohimself
andhasgivenustheworkofthatreconciliation…
Clearly,whatissaidin2Corinthiansisfromaspiritualperspective.Yet,wealso
findthatGodphysicallyre-creates.WhatGodisofferingJonahinthis,hissecond
chance,istotranslatehisnewspiritualunderstandingtonewphysicalbehavior.
Fromknowingthetruthtodoingthetruth.Wealsoknowthatjustasall
mankind’sfirstbeginningwillendinphysicaldeath(withoutexception),there
willbeasecondbeginningforsome.Thatfirstbeginningtakesthehopelessly
corrupted(becauseweareallborncorrupted),anddeliversit(us)fromourjust
desserts…eternaldeath…throughthesacrificiallifeanddeathofanother
(Yeshua).Thesecondphysicalbeginning(are-creation)isonlyforGod
worshipperswhotrustinMessiahYeshuafortheirsalvation(allotherswillbe
condemnedandtheirsoulsandbodieslostforever…nosecondchance).
SometimeafterourphysicaldeathandthereturnofChristfromHeaventorule
andreignonEarth,wewhowaiteagerlyforHimwillbegivenglorifiedbodiesthat
areincorruptible.Weretainthesamesouls…weremain“us”…butourbodieswill
bere-newedtoevenbetterthanbeforewhenwehadbeensusceptibletopain,
injury,disease,anddeath.Yehoveh’snatureisoneofofferingsecondchances
andsecondbeginnings,andthatopportunity(whileprioritizedtogofirsttoIsrael)
isalsoofferedtothegentileworldatlarge,underthesameconditions.Evento
wickedNineveh.
Verse1begins:
CJB
Jonah3:1ThewordofADONAIcametoYonahasecondtime…
ComparethistothefirstbeginningthatistheopeningwordsofJonahchapter1:
CJB
Jonah1:1ThewordofADONAIcametoYonahthesonofAmitai.
Let’srecallthattheword“Word”oughttobecapitalizedbecauseTheWordisa
propernoun;itisthenameofalivingmanifestationofGodjustasistheHoly
Spirit.ItisinterestingthatinveryearlyRabbinicalwritingswhentheywere
speakingofthispassage,theywouldinterpretitasthoughitsaid:TheShekinah
ofAdonaicametoYonah.Thatis,intheRabbinicHebrewthinkingtheShekinah
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isanamedlivingmanifestationofGodjustasistheHolySpirit,anditwasthis
divineentitythatcametospeaktoJonah.So,whatcametoJonahwasnot
words…notspeech…sortoffallingoutoftheskyintohisearsormind,butrather
GodcametohimintheformofTheWord.PleasealsorecallthatintheHebrew,
thewordadonai(meaninglord)isalsonotthere;rather,itistheword
Yehoveh…God’sformalname.
Thedifferenceintheopeningverseofchapter3versuschapter1isthatsince
chapter1establishedwhichoftheprobablyhundredsifnotafewthousandsof
Jonah’sthiswas(thesonofAmitai),chapter3assumeswealreadyknowthat.
Chapter3also,ofcourse,addsthewords“forasecondtime”,toindicatethat
GodwasapproachingJonahoverthesamematterafterJonahhadseverely
botcheditthefirsttime.
ItisatthispointthatmanyBiblescholarsstarttowonderaboutthetimingofall
this.Thatis,WHENdidJonahgethissecondchance?Somesayitwas
immediatelyafterthebigfishvomitedhimoutonthebeach;otherssaythatit
wassomeindefiniteperiodoftimelater.Perhapsthebestindicatorofthetimeis
thatinthefamedMurabba’atscrollofJonahwefindthat,curiously,thereisa
substantialspacebetweenthefinalsentenceofchapter2andthefirstofverseof
chapter3.ScholarsofthemoreancientstyleofbiblicalHebrewliteraturesay
thatwhenthisspaceisinserted,itisforthepurposeofmeaningthataperiodof
timetookplacebetweenthe2verses.Otherwise,withoutthatindicationofa
spaceoftime,itwouldimplythatvirtuallyonthesamedaythatJonahwas
spit-outontoabeachGodcametoHimtoofferHimado-over.Therefore,it
seemsprobablethatsomeamountoftimepassedbeforeJonahwouldagainbe
toldtosetoutforNineveh;andequallyprobablethatJonahhadreturnedtothe
HolyLandwherehereceivedthissecondcommandtogo.
Inverse2,Jonahistold(again)tosetoutforNineveh.However,thereisa
differencebetweenthenatureofwhatheistoldtodothefirsttime,versusthe
secondtime.OneofthepremierexpertsinancientbiblicalHebrewandidiomis
Jack.M.Sasson.Heexplainsthatinchapter1,theessenceofwhatJonahistold
heistotaketoNinevehisadeathwarrant.However,inchapter3,heistoldto
takeNinevehamessage.And,hecontinuesthatthemessageisnot
characterizedinanyparticularway.Thewordfortheoracleheistotake(onboth
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occasions)isqeri’a.Whatchangesbetweenthetwoinstanceswherethatwordis
usedisthatinchapter1,theprepositionthatisattachedtoqeri’ais‘el;whilein
thesecondinstanceitis‘al.Withoutgoingintoallthedetailheofferstoexplain
thesubtledifference,thedifferencebetweenthetwoisasI’vealreadyexplained.
ItchangesthemeaningofthefirstcommandtotaketoNinevehamessageof
condemnation,to(inthesecondcommand)takeGod’sutterance(averyneutral
term)toNineveh.Anyreaderofthisstory…ancientormodern…isthenleftin
suspenseastothissecondmessage’scontents.Itseemstomethatthepoint
thatoughtnottobelostisthatJonahisNOTatfirsttoldthis2ndmessage’s
contents;butlaterwhenitisrevealedtohimheistoproclaimitpreciselyasthe
Lordtellshim…he’snottoadlib.ThefirsttimeJonahisgiventheduty,the
messageisclearlyominous,thesecondtimeitmayhavehadadifferenttone.
OnewouldhavethoughtthatJonahwouldhavebeenfarhappiertotakea
messageofdoomtoNineveh,thantotakethemsomethinglessharsh.Butaswe
arelearning,Jonahdoesn’treallywanttotakeanymessageatalltothem
becauseHeKNOWSYehoveh’scharacteristobemercifulandhedoesn’twant
theretobeanypossibilityofmercytowardstheseNinevitegentiles.Evenso,he
goesandhesayswhathe’ssupposedtosaybecausehelearnedthattoresist
God’sdirectinstructionistoinviteincrediblesuffering.
Verse3confirmsthatJonahindeedwenttoNineveh.Thelasthalfoftheverse
speaksofthecitybeingsolargethatittakes3daysjusttocrossit.Thisis
anotherpointatwhichbiblicalscholarswinceandsuggestthatthiscannotbe
true,andsotheydoubtthebook’shistoricalauthenticity.Let’stalkaboutthis
3-daysissue.
Variousscholarshavetriedtoreconcilethiswithrealityinordertokeepthe
historicalnatureoftheBookofJonahintactratherthanreducingittoafictional
moralstory.OnethoughtisthatthekindofcustomaryhospitalityinAssyria
required3daysoftraditionalactionsonthepartofthehostandtheguest.On
thefirstandthirddays,somekindofdisplaysofpersonalhospitalityalongwith
gratefulnessfromthevisitoroccur,leavingonlythe2
nd
dayforthevisitortodo
anybusinessthathecametheretodo.Thus,3dayswastherequiredminimum
stayandthatiswhatthe3daysareabout.
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AnoffshootofthistheoryisthatJonahwasperhapsseenasadiplomatofsorts
andthatasimilarroutine,butofroyalhospitality,alongwithaseriesof
diplomaticmeetingsandgreetingsandfeastswasrequired,andthistook2of
the3days.Whatbothofthesetheoriesdo,however,istotrytogetaroundthe
plainreading(theP’shatreading)oftheScripturepassagethatleaveslittleway
outofunderstandingthatthismustbespeakingaboutthescale…thesize…of
thisimportantcity.And,theideathatitwouldbea3daysjourneytogetfrom
oneendofthecitytotheotherisludicroussoasolutionmustbefound.
Therefore,yetanothertheoryisthatthisisNOTtalkingaboutthedirectlinear
distancefromonesideofthecitytotheother,butratheritisabouttheperimeter
ofthecitywalls.Evenso,ifthatperimeterwallwasthatlong,itmeantthatitwas
probably40milesormore.So,yetanotheroffshootofthattheoryisthatthis
includedwhatwemightcallthesuburbsofthewalledcityofNineveh.Itistrue
thatinancienttimesawalledcitywastoprovideprotectionformorepeoplethan
onlythosewhoresidedinsideitswalls.WeseethiswithJerusalem,whichhad
largesuburbsthatstillcalledthemselvesJerusalem.Itwastypicalthatshouldan
invadercome,thepeoplewholivednearbybutoutsidethecitywallssaw
themselves,andwereacceptedas,membersofthecity.So,theywereexpected
tocomeinsidethosewallswhenprotectionwasneeded.Customarily,itwas
usuallytheelites,thegovernmentofficials,andthewell-to-domerchantsthat
hadtheprivilege(read:themoney!)toliveinsidethosewalls.
But,ashardasitmightbetobelieve,thereissomeevidencetosupportwhatis
saidinJonah.R.D.BarnettandL.C.Allenbothrefertoarchaeologicaland
ancientcuneiformsourcesthatindicatethatNinevehwasabout3milesacrossat
itswidestpoint,andabout8milesincircumference.Whilethathardlyseemslike
itwouldtake3daystowalk,thereisyetanotherpieceofevidencethatdatesto
the1200’sA.D.thatisfascinating.WhatI’mabouttoreadtoyouunalteredand
verbatimistakenfromaCrusadercopyofawidelyreproducedandknown
historyoftheworldthatwaspreparedin1210A.D.calledHistoirethatwas
producedfortheCrusadersthatbivouackedattheancientcityofAkkothattoday
isthenorthernmostpointofIsraelontheMediterranean.
“Mylords,itisappropriateformetotellyouofthenobilityofthiscitythatwas
foundedandbuiltinthelandofAssyria.OneoftheriversofParadise,the
Euphrates,fullofallsortsofcreatures,ranalongthewallsatoneside.Thecity
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wassetontheriveranditthereforetookthreelong,fulldaystotraverseit.Itdid
nothavelesssizeonalltheremainingsides,wereonetogoandmaketheturn
aroundit,;exactlyastheprophetJonassaysandtestifies.Onthesideofthe
river,whoseflowisgreatandbroad,werefoundedthesumptuouspalaceand
thetallhalls.Onanothersectionwerethetallandbroadwallandthelarge
towers,highandsquare,thatresteduponit.Therewereonehundredgates,of
bronzeandcopper,whichshutandopenedwheneveronewished,fourtothe
east,andfourtothewest,thatwemoreimposing.Onthesewereelaborate
towers,thickandgreat,extendingupwardstowardsthesky.Alargevineyard
andbeautifulgardenwithfruitsofallsortswerewithinthewallsofthecityand
thefortress.Thecitywasproudandrichinpossessions,sustainedbynoble
men”.
Whilenoneofthiscanbeprovedtoday(ordisprovedforthatmatter),yetIhave
alwaysfounditwisetoleavealonesomethingintheBiblethatmightstretchour
abilitytobelieveit,butontheotherhandthereisnohardevidenceagainstit.
Moreoftenthannot,archaeologicaldigsfindastoundingfeatsofengineering
thatnomodernpersonthoughtpossibleusingwhatevertheprimitivetoolsand
machinesofthateramighthaveaffordedthem.And,theyfindancientwritings
thatvalidatewhatreadinourBibles.Andyet,undeniably,thestructuresand
constructionworksexist.ThegiganticandimposingEgyptianPyramidsstill
remainanunsolvedmystery,yetmillionsofpeoplehaveseenthemwiththeir
owneyesandclimbedalloverthem(yourpresentspeakerincluded),unableto
fathomhowtheycouldhavebeenbuiltsolongago.Themind-bogglingrealityof
thepyramidsevencausessomeotherwisereputablearchaeologiststosuggest
thatperhapsitwasaliensfromanotherplanetthatplayedaroleintheir
construction.NinevehwasknownasamostwonderousplaceinJonah’seraand
longafterward,andhoweverpreciselyonewantstounderstandtheseveral
mentionsofNinevehasagreatorimportantor(insometranslations)enormous
city,itseemedtobeoneofkindthatsatunmatchedintheancientworld.I’lltake
Jonahathiswordevenif,asJackSassonthinks,Jonahwasusingtheterm
3-dayswalkasonlyanidiomofhisdaythatmeantthatsomethingwasunusually
bigoritwasasubstantialdistanceaway.Thatis,itislikeussayingsomethingis
“acoupleofmilesaway”or“it’lltakeacoupleofhourstogetthere”.Itismore
ageneralcharacterizationoftimeordistancewithoutbeingspecific.
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Inverse4,JonaharrivesatNineveh.Wehavenoideaoftimeframe.But,one
needonlylookatamaptoseethesubstantialdistanceNinevehisfromtheHoly
LandorevenfromJoppa.ItishighlyunlikelythatJonahwouldhavetakenaship
togethimupthecoastbecauseitwouldn’thavehelpedmuchtohurryhis
journeyalong.Besides:ifyouwereJonah,howanxiouswouldyouhavebeento
evergetbackontoaboatagain?Unlikemanyoftheworld’sgreatriversthat
terminatesatanoceanwherebyanocean-goingvesselcanthenturnandsail
inland,upthatriver,theEuphratesdoesn’tevermeetwiththeMediterranean
Sea.Whateverhisroute,ittooksometimeforJonahtogettoNineveh.
Theversegoesontosaythatafteronedayheproclaimedthemessagethat
Ninevehwouldbeoverthrown,ormaybethatafteronlyoneday’sjourneyinto
thecityheproclaimedthemessagehewassenttogive.Weareagainfacedwith
whatitisthatthementionof“one-day”isreferringto.SomeJewishscholars
thinktheone-dayneedstobeunderstoodasmeaning1/3
rd
ofthedistanceinto
thecitythatthepreviouslymentioned3-daysjourneygaveasbeingthesize
acrossthecity.Therefore,wearetodeducethatitalsomeansthatabout1/3
rd
ofNineveh’spopulationhadheardGod’smessagetothem.Anothermeaning
someBiblescholarspreferisthatJonahbarelygotstartedonpreachingthe
messagebeforethepeoplerespondedtoit.Thatis,theyrepentedbeforehehad
thechancetospreadthemessagetotheentirecity.Canthisbetrue?Apagan
cityisimmediatelyacceptingofaforeigner’soraclewarningofadisasterdueto
theirbadbehavior…andthisdisasterwouldbecausedbyagodtheyhadnot
previouslyknown?GodsayssomethinginterestingaboutthisthroughHis
ProphetIsaiah.
CJB
Isaiah65:1-5"Imademyselfaccessibletothosewhodidn'taskforme,Ilet
myselfbefoundbythosewhodidn'tseekme.Isaid,'HereIam!HereIam!'to
anationnotcalledbymyname.
2
Ispreadoutmyhandsalldaylongtoa
rebelliouspeoplewholiveinawaythatisnotgood,whofollowtheirown
inclinations;
3
apeoplewhoprovokemetomyfaceallthetime,sacrificingin
gardensandburningincenseonbricks.
4
Theysitamongthegravesandspend
thenightincaverns;theyeatpigmeatandtheirpotsholdsoupmadefrom
disgustingthings.
5
Theysay,'Keepyourdistance,don'tcomenearme,because
Iamholierthanyou.'Thesearesmokeinmynose,afirethatburnsallday!
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GodcontinuestorevealHisnaturetous;andhereinIsaiahGodsaysthatHe
makesHimselfaccessibletopeoplewhodon’tknowHim.Inthatday“toknow”
agodmeanttoworshiporobeyhimorher.Heevencallstopeoplewhodon’t
seekHim.Thosethatdon’tobeyHismoralsanddirectivesareanirritationtoHim.
MightitbethattheNinevitesweren’tquiteasunpreparedtohearfromJonah’s
godaswemightthink?HowdopeoplewhohaveneverknownYeshua
suddenly…inaflash…cometoknowHimanditchangesthemimmediatelyand
profoundly?!Becauseweknowthisexperienceisnotuncommonamongthose
whohavebecomethebodyofBelieversinYeshua,whywouldwethinkitunlikely
fortheAssyriansoftimespastthatYehovehcouldbecomeknownandrealto
themnearlyimmediatelyafterhearingfromHim?
ThenthereisthematterofthewarningthatGodgivestheNinevitesthatitthere
isonly40moredaysbeforethecityisoverthrown.40isasymbolicnumberin
theBiblethatindicatesagreatchangeoragreatpurgeiscoming.Itisalso
connectedwiththeideaofaperiodoftestingortrial,andthusalsoloosely
connectedwiththeconceptofrepentance.The40-daysconceptwasnot
confinedtoIsraelalone;itssymbolicmeaningwasratherwidespreadinthe
MiddleEast.So,itisprobablethatwhenJonahpreachedthemessagethatin
40-daysNinevehwouldbeoverthrown,thepeopleknewthattheideaof
repentancewasassociatedwithit.Thatsaid,wegetnomoreinformationabout
exactlywhatitwasthatJonahsaidtothepeople,oreventhattheirrepentance
mightstayGod’swrathuponthem.But,clearly,thatishowthepeopletookitto
mean.
Verse5tellsussomethingthatreallyisquiteastounding:thepeople
immediatelyrespondednotjustwithwordsandpromisesorevenprayer,but
withconcreteactions.TheybelievedGod,we’retold,andsothecitizensof
Ninevehbegantofastandtheyputongarmentsofsackcloth;bothbeingrituals
ofexpressingregretandmourning.Itisalsoanexpressionofcontritionand
admissionofguilt.Evenmoreastounding,asthewordofJonah’smessageandof
thecitizens’spontaneousreactiontoitreachedtheking,he,too,believedGod.
Hebelievedthemessageandhebelievedthatthisgodhadthepowertobring
aboutwhathewarnedwouldhappen.WhileIsaiah’steachingthatGodreveals
Himselfeventopeoplewhodon’tacknowledgeHimcertainlyplayedalargerole
ineveryonefromtheleasttothegreatestinNinevehtakingJonah’smessageto
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heart,wemustalsolooktotheircurrentcircumstancesforreasonsthatwould
makethemfearfulenoughtobeopentosuchapossibility.
IhavementionedinearlierlessonsthatinJonah’seraAssyriawasnotdoingwell.
Theyhadacoupleofweak(meaningincompetent)kingsinarow;theyhad
sufferedmilitarydefeats,andsomerecentfamines.Famineswerenotjust
eventstothesepeople;theywerealsoomens…badomens…asweresuchthings
assolareclipses.Thus,somecombinationofthesedisastrouseventsalongwith
badomensmadethepeopleandthekingsensitivetohearingthatyetanother
calamitywasintheoffing.Let’salsorememberthatNineveh(andbythat,
meaningAssyriaingeneral)hadareputationasbeingquitebloodthirstyand
barbarianintheirbehavior.This,ofcourse,wasreflectednotjustintreatmentof
theirneighbors,butalsowithintheirownsociety.Exactlywhatwickednesswas
occurringamongthepeopleofNinevehisnotstated;butwhateveritwas,itwas
seriousenoughtohavedrawnTheCreator’sspecialattention.
IalsothinkthatwhenJonahgavethemGod’smessage,thattheyinstinctively
knewoftheirimmoralstateandwrongbehavior,buthadputtheconsciousness
ofitontheshelfformanyyears.Thisisjusthowwehumansoperate.Wecanget
intoatrendandwickedmindsetwithoutfullyrealizingwhatwehavedone.In
time,itjustbecomesthenewnorm.ImustsaythatIseethisexactthing
happeningatleastintheWesternworld,includingmyownnationoftheUSA.I
havebeenblessedwithmanyyearsoflifethatallowsmetocompareoursociety
of70+yearsagototodaythroughactualexperience.Ilivedmychildhoodin
daysofpeace,ofneighborscaringaboutoneanother,ofparentsactually
parenting,ofschoolsactuallyteachingandnotindoctrinating,ofageneral
societalattitudeofacommunitywell-being,andasharedsenseofmoralitythat
wasbiblicallybased.Ofcourse,oursocietywasfarfromperfectwiththeshame
ofsystematicracismgoinguncheckedinmanypartsofmynation.Yet,whenthat
racismwasconfronted,manymillionsofAmericansrealizedourmoralwrongand
respondedwithachangedbehaviorandattitude.Ourgovernmentalso
responded…howeverimperfectly.Naturally,thatresponsewasunevenandnot
allAmericansacceptedourcorporatesinofracismandsodidnotrepentofitand
change.
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Nowinthe21
st
century,thereisnosharedsenseofmuchofanythinginour
society;ratherthereisextremepolarizationofthought,valueandvirtue.We
havenotonlybecomeasocietyinwhichthedefinitionofmoralityisupforgrabs,
butratherinwhichthepriorityoreventheexistenceoftheconceptofsucha
thingasmoralityisdisappearingrapidly.Thistrendhaslednotonlytoan
increasinglylawless,mindlessandviolentsocietythatinmanyinstancesfeelsso
chaoticandhelplessagainstitsonslaughtthatwethinkallwecandoistoaccept
allbehaviorsasOKandtodecriminalizecrime.Whatseemstogounnoticedis
thatthisrapidlyincreasingcivillawlessnessisaccompaniedwithourspiritual
lawlessnessasdefinedbyGod’slawsandcommandments.Iwouldarguethatit
isthespirituallawlessnessthatcamefirst,andwasthecauseofourcivil
lawlessness.Andyet…Ihavenodoubtthatdespitethewrongandevilthatis
beingcelebratedasgoodandnormaltoday,deepdownallhumansknowthat
whatishappeningiswickedandthatadayofreckoningiscoming.Rightnow,
today,manyAmericansarestartingtorealizethisandrespondingwithearnest
repentanceandseekingGodforanswers,andforHisdirectionandmercy.But,at
leastasmanyarechoosingtodouble-downontheirwickednessanddefyingthe
GodoftheUniverse,evendenyingHisexistenceaskindofarationalizationfor
theirnewfoundfreedomtodoevil.Bottomline:doyouwanttounderstandthe
peopleofNineveh?Thenjustlookaroundyou;weareNineveh.
So,whenJonahtookhismessageofdoomtothepeopleofNineveh,nodoubt
therewasn’taunanimous,universalreactionofallthepeople.Therewouldhave
beentwodifferent…opposing…reactionsofthecitizens.Thisisreflectedinthe
kingissuingaroyaldecreeforeverycitizentodowhatthosewhostoodconvicted
andcontritehadalreadybegunontheirown.Ifeveryonehadtakenonthat
attitudeofguiltandaccountabilityfortheirbehaviorthennoroyalcommand
wouldhavebeennecessary.Wedon’tmakelawsandrulesonmattersthatdon’t
evercomeup.Ontheonehand(apparentlytothemajorityofNinevites)what
hadbecometheiracceptedsocietalbehaviorthattheysawasnormaland
customary,whenbroughtintothelightofdaybyYehoveh’soracletothem,they
instantlyknewithadbeenwrongandalsoknewexactlywhattheyhadtochange.
Howcouldtheyknowthis?Becausetheconceptofmoralityandwhatwecould
callTheNaturalLawasissuedbyGodisliterallybuiltintoourhumanDNAand
cannotberemoved.Yet,wedohavethefreewillandasufficientbuilt-inevil
inclination(theHebrewscalledthisevilinclinationofourmindstheyetzerha-rah)
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wherebywecanchoosetoshunthatNaturalLaw,andthereforetodisobeyGod,
andbecomelawless.
Theking,himself,didmorethandecreewhathissubjectsweretodo;healso
humbledhimself.Hetookoffhisroyalrobesanddonnedsackcloth.Wearetold
thathegotdownfromhisthroneandsatinthedirt;asignofhumilityand
mourningbeforeGodonhigh.He,ofcourse,alsoorderedhisgovernmental
officialsandtheeliteofsocietytodothesame.So,fromtoptobottomof
Assyriansocietysorrowandrepentancewastheorderoftheday.Itwassincere,
andaswelearn,effective.Iwanttonoteyetagain,thatwhatseparatessorrow
fromrepentanceischangedbehavior.Icanbesorrowfulandregretfulofmysins
(usuallybecausesomethingbadhashappenedasaresult);butrepentingfrom
mysinsisanothermatterentirely.TheHebrewwordthatwetranslateasrepent
issuv.Unfortunately,thewaywetendtodefinerepentmakesitmostlya
spiritualmatterandoneofthemind(orasweliketosay,oftheheart).Suv
literallymeanstoturn.Itisanactionword;itinvolvesactualbehaviorandnot
justthought.Isupposeifoneweretodiagramthesequenceofrepentanceit
wouldbeginwithawarningofsomesortaboutourbehavior,thenourmental
acceptanceoftherightnessofthatwarningandouraccountabilityforourwrong
behavior,andthenachangeinourphysicalbehaviorbecausethatalways
necessarilycomesfromamentaldeterminationtodoonethingortheother.
InMatthewchapter5Yeshuatalksabouthowoursinfulactionsalwaysbegin
withoursinfulthoughts.Anger(amentalthought)isthebeginningofmurder(a
physicalaction).Lust(amentalthought)isalwaysthebeginningofadultery(a
physicalaction).Inthesameway,sincererepentancebeginswithamental
thought,buttheevidenceofitMUSTbecomeourphysicalaction.Andsince
biblicalrepentancemeanstoactivelyturnfromdoingeviltodoinggood,thenour
badbehaviormustceaseandbereplacedbygoodbehavior.Otherwise,our
repentanceisincompleteandthereforeisnotacceptedbyGodasrepentanceno
matterhowmuchwewishtoargueforoursincerity.TherealvalueoftheBook
ofJonah,andwhatNinevehdid,isNOTinhowJonahorinhowhumansbehave;
itisinhowGodreallyis…inhowHeoperates.Herewelearn(yetagain)thetrue
natureofrepentanceandhowGoddefinesit.Itdoesnogoodtodebatewithme
thenatureofrepentance;Ihavenopowertomakeorchangethedivinerules.If
Goddoesn’tacceptoursenseofrepentanceasactualrepentance,thenitisn’t.
Lesson6-JonahChapter3
13/14
AndHisrulesare,unequivocally,thatachangeofourbehaviorforthegoodis
required:period.OrtouseYeshua’swaytoexplainit,ifthereisnotanygood
fruitfromoursupposedsalvation,thentherewasandisnoactualsalvation.
ThereisnobetterexampleofthisthanNineveh.Foronething,how,exactly,did
GodjudgethatgentileNineveh’sbehaviorwasterriblywrongiftherewasno
objectivestandardforit?ThetypicalChristianargumentthatGod’sLawswere
onlyfortheHebrews,andnotforgentiles…whetherintheancientpastorstill
today…doesn’tholdbiblicalwater.UntiltheLawofMosessoextensivelycreated
awideanddeepwrittenmoralcodeforhumanity,therewasthebasicNatural
Lawthatiswithinusalltofollow.InthetimeofJonaharound5centurieshad
passedsincetheLawofMoseswasgiven;therefore,Ihavenodoubtwhatsoever
thatitwasthatstandardbywhichNineveh’sbehaviorwasbeingjudged.Notby
thepreciseletterofthe600orsolawsnecessarily;butprobablybythespiritand
essenceofeachlaw.
Verse7explainsthatthedecreethekingmadetothecitizensofNinevehwas
prettyextreme.Theyhadtofastsoferventlythattheycouldn’tevendrinkwater!
Notonlythat,eventhelivestockwastoparticipate.Whethercattle,sheep,or
goats,eventheyweretohavesackclothplaceduponthem.Icanthinkofno
greatercontritionbyanationthantohavetheirpeopleandtheireconomy(which
iswhatthoseanimalsrepresented)bendtotheGodofHeavenandEarth.Itis
interestingthatmanyoftheancientRabbispronouncedthisdecreetoinclude
animalsasagravemisdeed.Theyheldtheanimalsasinnocent,andthereforeas
beingunjustlycausedpainintheking’shopesofobtainingdivinemercytostop
God’splanofdevastatingNineveh.Andyet,accordingtothesimplereadingof
theHolyScriptures(theP’shat)weknowthatintheGreatFloodallbutaselect
luckyfewoftheanimalsonearthdrownedalongwiththeirhumancounterparts
duethewickednessofmankind.Theunpleasantrealityisthatthefatesof
animalsandhumanshavealwaysbeenintertwined.Theoperationofthe
Leviticalsacrificialsystemhighlightsthatfactsinceinnocentanimalslosttheir
livesinplaceofguiltyhumans.
CJB
Psalm36:6-7
6
ADONAI,intheheavensisyourgrace;yourfaithfulness
reachestotheskies.
7
YourrighteousnessislikethemountainsofGod,your
judgmentsarelikethegreatdeep.Yousavemanandbeast,ADONAI.
Lesson6-JonahChapter3
14/14
ThekingofNinevehknewenoughtosurmisethatwhenNinevehwasoverturned
byGod,manandbeastwouldperishtogether.Therefore,itmadesenseto
includeanimalsintheattempttoshowsufficientgriefandrepentancetoGod
thatperhapsHewouldrelentfromwhatHewasplanningtodo.Theveryactof
wearingsackcloth(andoffasting)representedself-denial…sometimescalled
affliction…inordertoshowthedepthofsincerity.But,nodoubt,thelengthof
timeoffastingwouldbeasshortasitwasintense.Humansandanimalscanlive
fordaysandweekswithoutfood;butnotwithoutwater.
We’llstopherefortodayandcontinueinJonahchapter3nexttime.