As we look at this we see there's quite a bit going on, so to start off, Jonah is fleaing from God's presence because he has several issues when it comes to the Ninevites, 1. the Ninevites have been known to capture and torture the Hebrew people to death and sacrifice them to their fish god Dagon. 2. Jonah is not only affraid for this reason, he also has deep seated hatred for them because they have probably killed alot of his family and friends.
Also as you follow this, you'll notice that as it progresses Jonahs life now takes a downward spiral from the moment he gets on board the ship, he goes down into the ship, which is headedto southern Spain (Tarshish)(downward), while the crew who are expert seamen, are doing everything they can to make safe passage through this storm of which they have never seen the likes of.
Every one but Jonah has prayed to their god, and is affraid of this Storm, so the crew realizing this confront him about it, and he informs them that he is a hebrew and that this storm is because him, and they should cast him out of the ship in order to stop the storm.
Of course these seamen have heard of the the hebrew God, Jehovah and know how his reputation, so they later toss Jonah out, causing the storm to cease, an example of Gods perfect timing and miracles.
At this point, most fish are in the bottom of the sea due to the storm, except for the one that God has prepared which swallows him up, and calms the sea at the moment Jonah hits the water.
Jonah was in the belly for 3 days and 3 nights , because thats how long it's taking Jonah to come to his senses, and eventually live up to the vow he made to God as a prophet in training.
Ofcorse at this time God is trying to show Jonah, or get him to realize who he should be more affraid of, God, or the Ninevites.
At this time, for jonah to preach to the Ninevites, is like someone going to Berlin and preaching Judaism during WW2, or preaching Christianity in iraq today, and that's why Jonah is terrified of them!.
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Also as you follow this, you'll notice that as it progresses Jonahs life now takes a downward spiral from the moment he gets on board the ship, he goes down into the ship, which is headedto southern Spain (Tarshish)(downward), while the crew who are expert seamen, are doing everything they can to make safe passage through this storm of which they have never seen the likes of.
Every one but Jonah has prayed to their god, and is affraid of this Storm, so the crew realizing this confront him about it, and he informs them that he is a hebrew and that this storm is because him, and they should cast him out of the ship in order to stop the storm.
Of course these seamen have heard of the the hebrew God, Jehovah and know how his reputation, so they later toss Jonah out, causing the storm to cease, an example of Gods perfect timing and miracles.
At this point, most fish are in the bottom of the sea due to the storm, except for the one that God has prepared which swallows him up, and calms the sea at the moment Jonah hits the water.
Jonah was in the belly for 3 days and 3 nights , because thats how long it's taking Jonah to come to his senses, and eventually live up to the vow he made to God as a prophet in training.
Ofcorse at this time God is trying to show Jonah, or get him to realize who he should be more affraid of, God, or the Ninevites.
At this time, for jonah to preach to the Ninevites, is like someone going to Berlin and preaching Judaism during WW2, or preaching Christianity in iraq today, and that's why Jonah is terrified of them!.
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