JONAH, ALSO KNOWN AS THE RUNNING PROPHET, LEARNED HIS LESSONS THE HARD WAY. HE KNOWS FOR SURE THAT HE CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM GOD. BUT HE DID IT ANYWAY, HE TRIED TO ESCAPED FROM THE LORD.
THE GREAT STORM:
GOD RAISED A STORM TO TRAILED JONAH, TO STOP HIM FROM FLEEING AND TO REDIRECT HIS WAY TO NINIVEH. THE STORM CREATES A MIGHTY WAVES CRUSHING THE SHIP. FEARED OF THEIR LIVES, THOSE ON BOARD THE SHIP PRAYED TO THEIR OWN GODS EXCEPT JONAH.
CAST LOT:
THE CREWS CAST LOT TO KNOW WHO BROUGHT THE TERRIBLE DISASTER. EVEN THE STICK USED IN THE CASTING LOT, POINTED JONAH AS THE CULPRIT. SO, ON HIS REQUEST, HE WAS THROWN TO THE SEA.
THE GREAT FISH:
GOD CALLED THE GREAT FISH TO ARISE FROM THE DEEP AND SWALLOWED JONAH. HE DWELT THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH. THERE, HE PRAYED FOR FORGIVENESS. GOD COMMANDED THE FISH TO BRING HIM IN THE SHORE AND SPEW HIM UP.
THE TREE:
THIS TIME JONAH PREACHED TO THE NINIVITES, TELLING THEM THAT IF THEY WILL NOT TURN THEIR WAYS FROM WICKED THINGS, GOD WILL DESTROY THEIR CITY IN 40 DAYS. JONAH WAITED OUTSIDE HOPING THAT GOD WILL DESTROY THE CITY. THE HEAT OF THE SUN MAKES HIM FAINTED. GOD THEN RAISED A TREE AND HIS LEAVES GIVE JONAH ENOUGH SHADES.
THE WORM:
GOD RAISED A WORM EATS ALL THE LEAVES OF THE TREE PROMPTED JONAH TO WAKE UP WHEN HE WAS HIT BY SUN RAYS. HE WAS VERY ANGRY. AT THIS POINT, GOD SPOKE TO HIM. TELLING HIM THAT HE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE PLANT BUT NOT THE PEOPLE OF NINIVEH.
LESSON LEARNED:
GOD IS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND SLOW TO ANGER. HE GIVES ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO TURN AWAY FROM OUR SINS. IN CONTRAST, JONAH PICTURES A TYPICAL PERSON LIKE US. WE ARE QUICK TO ANGER BUT SLOW TO FORGIVE.
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