Jonah

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nonicknametouse

Guest
#1
#1
I love Jonah, because he is a reminder of how we complicate our lives. God sometimes has very simple tasks for us, but because of fear or whatever the reason may be, we run.

Jonah ran from the Lord. He put others in harms way because of his anger and rebellion, He found himself in the belly of a whale all because he did not trust God.

It makes me laugh because when Jonah finally did obey, it took him about 9 seconds to carry out God's will.

He proclaimed, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be over turned".This is all he needed to do to please the Lord, but he chose to complicate his life.

Have you ever found yourself in this situation and why do you think Jonah was so angry with the Lord for saving Ninevah.
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#2
#2
I guess no one is interested in Jonah. His story is so interesting so what gives.

Why does't anyone have anything to share about this.
 
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wdeaton65

Guest
#3
#3
I think it is one of the ways GOD shows us hidden things. First Jonah was the most successful prophet of the old test. Also GOD sent him via a great fish to tell them to stop worshiping a fish god dagan to funny Jonah is and was a great guy I cant wait to meet some of the prophets Blessings
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#4
#4
Can you show me the scripture that teaches this.
 
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wdeaton65

Guest
#5
#5
Just take a look at the pope from the side that is what was found in 1849 when Ninevah was discovered for many years all the people of the world who believed the book of Jonah were the butt of many a jokes just Google Ninevah and you can see who they worshiped have fun. ps they were pretty wicked
 
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danschance

Guest
#6
#6
Jonah is a interesting case study in how God can use us even though we go against God's wishes. Samson is another.

If you are interested, I started a thread about something God revealed to me about Jonah. I had read thru the book of Jonah and had also been praying that God would remove any false beliefs I had. Sometime later I saw a skeptic post a thread (not on CC) we he attempted to prove that no one could stay alive inside the belly of a whale. As I read the title of this thread, God spoke saying "Jonah died". At the same time I recalled Jesus saying "As Jonah was in the belly of the whale, so shall the son of man be.

Jonah was a type of Christ. This means that even though he was a real person, his life or a part of it symbolized an aspect of Christ's life. We all know Jesus died and rose again but for reasons beyound my understanding, Christians have a disconnect about Jonah. Many think God kept Jonah alive, even though that is never stated, anywhere in scripture.

Just something to think about as you study Jonah.
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#7
#7
How could Jonah have died. God's word says that Jonah cried out to the Lord and the Lord commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:10 He was alive praying to God asking for His help.

Jonah went on to do the Lord's work.
 
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wdeaton65

Guest
#8
#8
danschance you are right that is what the hebrew says Jonah died
 
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danschance

Guest
#9
#9
nonicknametouse said:
How could Jonah have died. God's word says that Jonah cried out to the Lord and the Lord commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:10 He was alive praying to God asking for His help.

Jonah went on to do the Lord's work.
Click to expand...

Yes, Jonah did live for a while but where does it say God kept Jonah alive for 3 days and nights? As I mentioned Jesus said "For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights." Mathew 12:40

So if you believe Jonah was alive in the belly of the whale, then Jesus must of also been alive in his grave or the bible is wrong. You can not believe Jonah was alive and Jesus dead considering Mathew 12:40 or you are making Jesus out to be a liar.

Keep in mind Jonah was a type of Christ.
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#10
#10
Explain why the bible says that the fish vomited Jonah out. Jonah went on to do God's will. And make a note of this , I would never call God a liar.
 
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RachelBibleStudent

Guest
#11
#11
jonah dying and then being brought back to life by God is one possible interpretation of the text...

in his prayer jonah indicates that he sank to sheol...sheol is a kind of 'realm of the dead'... if jonah was being literal then this implies that he drowned before being swallowed by the fish and revived...

the other possibility is that jonah was exaggerating and he wasn't really in sheol...
 
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danschance

Guest
#12
#12
The fish vomiting out Jonah is a real event and also a symbolic resurrection of Christ coming out of the "heart of the earth" alive, even tho' HE was dead. The ressurection of Christ is the single most important event in Christianity. With out the resurrection we have no salvation from our sins. Satan has been making up lies about the ressurection of Christ, since it happened.

Jonah did indeed go on to do God's will. Jonah's message of repentance brought the people of Nineveh to repentance and they were saved from the wrath of God. Just as the work of Christ brings us to repentance and salvation.

Jonah was a type of Christ and in scripture we have many examples of this. Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his only begotten son. The Israelites had to sacrifice a lamb with out spot or blemish (a perfect lamb) and cover the door posts with the lamb's blood so the angel of death would pass over The lamb is a type of Christ and the door posts were a type of cross. The old Testament is rich with examples of this nature and Jonah is certainly in this category.

I was not saying you were a liar. I was saying the bible is very clear in that it says "AS JONAH WAS....SO THE SON OF MAN WILL BE.." To me it is crystal clear..now! Before I believed as many do that Jonah was somehow kept alive in the belly of the whale by God. Too bad I never got the truth on this until God Himself had to reveal it to me.

I am glad you are reading the bible and pondering what you have read.
 
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RachelBibleStudent

Guest
#13
#13
jonah was angry when God spared nineveh because jonah hated the assyrians...the assyrians had a reputation for being some of the most unpleasant people of all time...

i like how God responded to jonah...he created and then destroyed a plant that gave jonah shade...and then challenged jonah with a question to the effect of 'why do you care more about plants than you care about people?'
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#14
#14
Was never taught this about Jonah before, but I will pray about it and re-read it. God's word is so deep in meaning and I so want to learn it. I always tell people that if it takes you 5 mins. to learn something , it will take me 20 mins. to learn it. Just the way I am. My reading comprehension is not great, however the Lord is working on it through His word. I am not an intellect, I am a crazy artist. I would rather paint words than read them. lololol Thanks for your patience and I may contact you for more info on this if it is okay.


To danschance
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#15
#15
just cuz you heard a voice (while reading a skeptic's thread) that says that Jonah died in the belly of the whale doesn't mean its from God.

if you really read it, it doesn't say WHALE it says FISH.

Jonah 2 doesn't mention that Jonah died or was MADE ALIVE again.

The passage in Matthew 12 talks about LOCATION not state of being.

Jesus is the FIRST to be resurrected.

Jonah was a "type of Christ"?

do you mean that Jonah foreshadowed what Jesus would do?

Just as Abraham almost sacrifice of Isaac forshadowed what Jesus did?
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#16
#16
Jonah 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And he said:
“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
[SUP]5 [/SUP]The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.

[SUP]7 [/SUP]“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.

[SUP]8 [/SUP]“Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”

[SUP]10 [/SUP]So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.


it looks like he is referring to the FISH as Sheol.... if you look at Matthew 12 there is already a difference. no fish belly but the earth's belly which shows that there can also be a difference not only in exact location but also state of being as in one can be alive and the other dead, because Jesus was DEAD when he was placed in the ground while Jonah was thrown ALIVE over board and swallowed ALIVE by the fish.
 
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danschance

Guest
#17
#17
just cuz you heard a voice (while reading a skeptic's thread) that says that Jonah died in the belly of the whale doesn't mean its from God.
Click to expand...
"My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me." John 10:27 This was not the first not the last time I heard God speak to me. Every time God speaks to me, I am in awe. Every time he has shown me things in the bible it has almost always pointed to the work of Jesus. Never once has it lead me to believe in strange doctrines. Instead it has supported and bolstered my faith.

Case in point, I was reading about Samson and how he found some honey inside the carcass of a dead lion. God showed me what this means and why He put it into scripture. From the death of the lion (The Lion of Judah, Jesus) His death brings us honey (the sweet things of God, forgiveness of sins and a reconciled relationship with God). God has shown me other things, like why peter found a coin in the mouth of a fish or why David took five stones with him when he faced Goliath and other things. God still speaks and He has never stopped.


if you really read it, it doesn't say WHALE it says FISH.
Click to expand...
In Hebrew and Greek, there is no word for whale. Whale is an english word. The Hebrew word for great fish can be translated as whale or sea monster, depending on context.

Jonah 2 doesn't mention that Jonah died or was MADE ALIVE again.
Click to expand...
You're right. But Jonah does say he went down to sheol. ""I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice." Jonah 2:2. Jonah also mentions he went down to the roots of the mountains. Ever see a whale swim under a mountain?
The passage in Matthew 12 talks about LOCATION not state of being.
Click to expand...


I think you mean this passage, "As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish..." . In the greek it means the same as in the english. It is not perfectly clear as to exactly what Jesus meant. Did He say that as jonah was in the belly of the earth so he would be in the grave, as if it is just a holding place or did He mean "Exactly as Jonah was (dead) ...So shall the Son of man be". If you want to believe that it is your choice. I simply believe it to mean that as Jonah was dead in the whale, So Jesus would be dead in the grave because it fits better with Jonah being a type of Christ. The symbolism works out much better, in other words. So no matter what you personally believe, it will be your own private interpretation.
Jesus is the FIRST to be resurrected.
Click to expand...

Are you saying there were no "ressurections in the Old testament? Actually, there were several. The boy who died was ressurected by Elijah (1Kings 17:17-24). Elisha brought a son back to life (2 Kings 4:35). The man who touched Elisha's bones also was brought back to life (2 Kings 13:14,20-21)
Jonah was a "type of Christ"?

do you mean that Jonah foreshadowed what Jesus would do?

Just as Abraham almost sacrifice of Isaac forshadowed what Jesus did?
Click to expand...


Yes. The bible is full of this type of symbolism and other types of symbolism.
 
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danschance

Guest
#18
#18
Ariel82 said:
Jonah 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And he said:
“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
[SUP]5 [/SUP]The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.

[SUP]7 [/SUP]“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.

[SUP]8 [/SUP]“Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”

[SUP]10 [/SUP]So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.


it looks like he is referring to the FISH as Sheol.... if you look at Matthew 12 there is already a difference. no fish belly but the earth's belly which shows that there can also be a difference not only in exact location but also state of being as in one can be alive and the other dead, because Jesus was DEAD when he was placed in the ground while Jonah was thrown ALIVE over board and swallowed ALIVE by the fish.
Click to expand...

OK< lets say you are totally right and it just means belly.

Then how do you explain:
"[SUP]6 [/SUP]I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.

I am pretty sure there are no roots of mountians inside a belly of a whale or bars of earth that are closed forever. The next verse can easily be explained as a ressurection : "Yet You have brought up my life from the pit"

Keep in mind the word "pit" above is also the word sheol in Hebrew.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#19
#19
Job 33

[SUP]14 [/SUP]For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
[SUP]18 [/SUP]He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword. [SUP]19 [/SUP]“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
[SUP]20 [/SUP]So that his life abhors bread,
And his soul succulent food.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.


[SUP]23 [/SUP]“If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
[SUP]24 [/SUP]Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom’;
[SUP]25 [/SUP]His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’
[SUP]28 [/SUP]He will redeem his[SUP][b][/SUP] soul from going down to the Pit,
And his[SUP][c][/SUP] life shall see the light.


[SUP]29 [/SUP]“Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
[SUP]30 [/SUP]To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.



it shows that people's souls wander towards Hell without physically dying and God is the one who brings them from that path of destruction and out of the Pit by His Light.
 
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nonicknametouse

Guest
#20
#20
To Ariel82 I know that is why i am researching this. I was blessed to have very mature christians teaching me God's word. I never was taught that Jonah died in the belly of the fish. Jonah prayed inside the fish, so if he drowned before the fish swallowed him, then how is he praying. And if he died in the belly of the fish why would the fish vomit him out, would he not just be digested and eaten. And the biggest problem I have with this is that Jonah is a type of Christ. It does not sound right to me. I just wanna learn God's truth.
 
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