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September 25, 2013

Prodigal Prophet - 1a



Portugal Sailing Vessel

The Prodigal Prophet
  ~           ~           ~
Jonah pursues the wrong path
(Part-1a)

Jonah is a type of Christ and the similarities can be seen by way of contrast throughout this wonderful book. Jesus Christ is the promised Jewish Messiah as foretold by their prophets of old; the evidence having been written in the bible for us all to see and believe. “I worship the ancestral God believing all things according to that having been written in the Law and the Prophets.” Acts 24:14.

He was a prophet during the reign of JeroboamII 793-758BC and he prophesied the restoration of Israel’s bor
der north and south to the time of King David and King Solomon 2K14:25 He was from Gath-Hepher not far from Nazareth which means he was a Galilean and the pharisees were wrong because there was a prophet who came from Galilee. The name Jonah means dove and his fathers name Amittai means truth. I could not find any information regarding his father which means that Jonah could be the son of a prophet, (or not).

Author: Unknown; could be Jonah; there are arguments for both sides.
Theme: The sovereign rule of God over His creation and mankind.
Setting: Nineveh; Capital City of the Assyrian Nation. Eastern
bank of the Tigres River; modern-day northern Iraq, Kirdistan.
Jonah’s message: 40 days’ and Nineveh will be overthrown.
Time: Approximately 760 BC.



Book of Jonah: Outline
Chapter 1: Jonah pursues the wrong path;
Part-1a: Vs. 1-3 - Part-1b: Vs. 4-17
Chapter 2: Jonah pursues the right path; 2:1-10
Chapter 3: Jonah pursues the Ninevites; 3:1-10
Chapter 4: Jonah pursues his own death; 4:1-11

Text: Jonah1:1-3  
1) “The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying; 2) Arise, go to Nineveh the great city
and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fair and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

1)The word of the LORD: - "The word", Hebrew translation: "dabar" (noun m).
Def; singular speech, discourse, saying, the sum of that which is spoken (Strong’s-1697).
This was a divine utterance from Yahweh to Jonah that will introduce miraculous prophetic events. "Surely
the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos3:7

came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying: Jonah is God’s missionary of mercy to the city of Nineveh. The blessing's of God were always meant to include the entire world and every human being; “and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”Gen12:3 His message of salvation is meant to have an international audi-
ience; “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us so that your ways may be known on earth your salvation among all nations; so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him" Ps.67:1,2,7

2) Arise, go to Nineveh the great city: - “Arise”, Hebrew translation: “qum” (verb). Def; stand up and let us go. His mission will take him away from the comforts of his home country and put him directly into harms way. One author stated that, going into the capital City of Nineveh was like going into the jaws of a lion. The Book of Nahum tells about the cruelty of the City of Ninenevh ”Woe to Nineveh the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims; All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty." Nahum3:1,19

and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me: The message from Jonah to Nineveh is urgent and sobering; “40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The city that he will cry against is known for being cruel beyond imagination and their wickedness has now come to the attention of the Sovereign ruler of the universe. Historically the Assyrian nation, present-day Iraq, has been Israel’s nemesis. The city must rep-
ent and be saved or remain under God’s judgment and parish and Jonah is God’s messenger of Good News.

3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD: Jonah has a few obvious personal 
and spiritual issues with Yahweh that will cause him to suffer needless setbacks to his life and ministry.                         
                                                      
                                                                 (continued)

A Bible study by: Glenn

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