Yonah's
1:1Now
the word of Yahweh came to Yonah the son of Ammittai, saying, 1:2"Arise, go to
1:3But
Yonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to
Yafo, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down
into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. 1:4But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea,
and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was likely brake
up. 1:5Then the mariners were
afraid, and cried every man to his mighty one. They threw the cargo that was in
the ship into the sea, to lighten it. But Yonah had gone down into the
innermost parts of the ship, and he was lying down, and was fast asleep. 1:6So the shipmaster came to him, and said to
him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your mighty ones! Maybe
the mighty ones will notice us, so that we won't perish."
1:7They
all said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for
whose cause this evil is on us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on
Yonah. 1:8Then they asked him,
"Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your
occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are
you?"
1:9He
said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the Mighty One of Heaven,
who has made the sea and the dry land."
1:10Then
were the men exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "What is this that you
have done?" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of
Yahweh, because he had told them. 1:11Then
said they to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to
us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 1:12He said to them, "Take me up, and
throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that
because of me this great tempest is on you."
1:13Nevertheless
the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the
sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 1:14Therefore
they cried to Yahweh, and said, "We beg you, Yahweh, we beg you, let us
not perish for this man's life, and don't lay on us innocent blood; for you,
Yahweh, have done as it pleased you." 1:15So
they took up Yonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging. 1:16Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and
they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh, and made vows.
1:17Yahweh
prepared a great fish to swallow up Yonah, and Yonah was in the belly of the
fish three days and three nights.
2:1Then
Yonah prayed to Yahweh, his Mighty One, out of the fish's belly. 2:2He said,
"I called because of my affliction to
Yahweh.
He answered me.
Out of the belly of She'ol I cried.
You heard my voice.
2:3For
you threw me into the depths,
In the heart of the seas.
The flood was all around me.
All your waves and your billows passed over me.
2:4I
said, 'I have been banished from your sight;
Yet I will look again toward your holy temple.'
2:5The
waters surrounded me,
Even to the soul.
The deep was around me.
The weeds were wrapped around my head.
2:6I
went down to the bottoms of the mountains.
The earth barred me in forever:
Yet have you brought up my life from the pit, Yahweh my Mighty One.
2:7"When
my soul fainted within me, I remembered Yahweh.
My prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.
2:8Those
who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
2:9But I will sacrifice to you with
the voice of thanksgiving.
I will pay that which I have vowed.
Salvation belongs to Yahweh."
2:10Yahweh
spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Yonah on the dry land.
3:1The
word of Yahweh came to Yonah the second time, saying, 3:2"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city,
and preach to it the message that I give you."
3:3So
Yonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh
was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey across. 3:4Yonah began to enter into the city a day's journey,
and he cried out, and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be
overthrown!"
3:5The
people of Nineveh believed the Mighty One; and they proclaimed a fast, and put
on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 3:6The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he
arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with
sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 3:7He
made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and
his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste
anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; 3:8but
let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry
mightily to the Mighty One. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and
from the violence that is in his hands. 3:9Who
knows whether the Mighty One will not turn and repent, and turn away from his
fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"
3:10The
Mighty One saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. The Mighty
One repented of the evil that he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it.
4:1But
it displeased Yonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 4:2He prayed to Yahweh, and said, "Please, Yahweh,
wasn't this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried
to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious Mighty One, and
merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and you repent of the
evil. 4:3Therefore now, Yahweh,
take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live."
4:4Yahweh
said, "Is it right for you to be angry?"
4:5Then
Yonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there
made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what
would become of the city. 4:6Yahweh
the Mighty One prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Yonah, that it
might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Yonah
was exceedingly glad because of the kikayone. 4:7But
the Mighty One prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine,
so that it withered. 4:8It happened,
when the sun arose, that the Mighty One prepared a sultry east wind; and the
sun beat on Yonah's head , so that he fainted, and requested for himself that
he might die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
4:9The
Mighty One said to Yonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the
vine?"
He said, "I am right to be angry, even to
death."
4:10Yahweh
said, "You have been concerned for the vine, for which you have not
labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a
night. 4:11Shouldn't I be concerned
for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty
thousand persons who can't discern between their right hand and their left
hand; and also much cattle?"
Pray To Yahweh When In Affliction
2:1-10 shows that when Yonah was in great distress almost to death, he offered up to Yahweh a prayer for salvation and of thanksgiving. Yahweh heard Yonah's prayer, and restored him back to dry land.
Likewise, when we are in great affliction, it is to Yahweh that we should offer up our pleading prayers. Also, in the process of so doing, we should also thank Yahweh for his blessings upon us.
Yahweh's Pronounced Judgements Are Initially
Provisional
4:1-3 shows that Yonah, in his prayer to Yahweh, did not then have a heart as Yahweh's, even though he knew what was in Yahweh's heart. For he knew that Yahweh is a gracious Mighty One, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness. He also knew that Yahweh repents of his evil pronouncements upon a people when that people repent of their evil ways. In other words, Yahweh's pronounced judgements are provisional, their realisation subject to those the judgement has been delivered against repenting of their evil ways.
Yonah's Heart Was Different From Yahweh's
But Yonah did not desire grace and mercy upon Nineveh! He wanted the city destroyed, even as he had proclaimed in obedience to the word of Yahweh.
4:3 shows that not only did Yonah have a heart different from Yahweh's, he also could not bear to continue living, seeing that his words, the words that he spoke against Nineveh at Yahweh's command, had not been fulfilled. In other words, he felt it would be too much shame to face, continuing on with his life yet his words had not been fulfilled.
There is a lesson here for Yahweh's servants.
Yahweh does not desire the death of people - anyone. He desires to give all people - everyone - salvation. Also, being gracious and merciful, he forgives us our iniquities, when we repent of committing them. And when we repent, he removes whatever provisional judgement that he had pronounced upon us, showing us his grace and mercy.
Yahweh's servants should understand this nature of Yahweh. Such that when Yahweh commands them to preach a calamity about to befall a certain people because of that people's evil, that calamity will only strike that people if they persist in their evil. If they repent of their evil, seeking Yahweh wholeheartedly, and do righteousness, Yahweh will not execute the calamity that he had pronounced upon that people, for he is gracious and merciful, and does not desire the death of anyone.
Therefore, when Yahweh's servants preach that a calamity will befall a certain people, they should also preach to that people the manner they can avert that calamity befalling them. They should teach that people that they should repent of their evil ways, and do righteousness. For by so doing righteousness will Yahweh, who is gracious and merciful, show his abundant grace and mercy upon them, and forgive them their sin, thereby averting that calamity from befalling them.
Yahweh's servants should be like Yahweh, not desiring the death of anyone, but teaching them to repent of their evil ways, that they may be forgiven their iniquity and granted Yahweh's salvation.
Yahweh Takes No Pleasure In The Death Of Anyone
Yahweh reiterates this lesson to his servants in Yechezkel 18:1-32, which reads,
18:1The
word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, 18:2"What
do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning Eretz-Yisra'el, saying, 'The
fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?' 18:3As I live, says the Sovereign Yahweh, you
shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Yisra'el.
18:4"Behold,
all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is
mine: the soul who sins, he shall die. 18:5But
if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right, 18:6and has not eaten on the mountains, neither
has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Yisra'el, neither has
defiled his neighbor's wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity, 18:7and has not wronged any, but has restored
to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to
the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 18:8he who has not given forth on interest,
neither has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has
executed true justice between man and man, 18:9has
walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just,
he shall surely live, says the Sovereign Yahweh. 18:10If
he fathers a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, and who does any one of
these things, 18:11and who does not
any of those duties, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his
neighbor's wife, 18:12has wronged
the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has
lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, 18:13has given forth on interest, and has taken
increase; shall he then live? He shall not live: he has done all these
abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.
18:14"Now,
behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father's sins, which he has done,
and fears, and does not such like; 18:15who
has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of
the house of Yisra'el, has not defiled his neighbor's wife, 18:16neither has wronged any, has not taken
anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to
the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment; 18:17who has withdrawn his hand from the poor,
who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my ordinances, has
walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he
shall surely live. 18:18As for his
father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is
not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.
18:19"Yet
say you, 'Why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father?' When the son
has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has
done them, he shall surely live. 18:20The
soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father,
neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the
righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. 18:21But if the wicked turn from all his sins
that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful
and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 18:22None of his transgressions that he has committed shall
be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.
18:23"Have
I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Says the Sovereign Yahweh; and not
rather that he should return from his way, and live? 18:24But when the righteous turns away from his
righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations
that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he
has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in
his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. 18:25Yet
you say, 'The way of the Sovereign is not equal.' Hear now, house of Yisra'el:
Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal? 18:26When
the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and
dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die. 18:27Again, when the wicked man turns away from
his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right,
he shall save his soul alive. 18:28Because
he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. 18:29Yet
says the house of Yisra'el, 'The way of the Sovereign is not equal.' House of
Yisra'el, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? 18:30Therefore I will judge you, house of
Yisra'el, everyone according to his ways, says the Sovereign Yahweh. Return
you, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be
your ruin. 18:31Cast away from you
all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make you a new
heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Yisra'el? 18:32For I have no pleasure in the death of
him who dies, says the Sovereign Yahweh: why turn yourselves, and live."
Yahweh Refused To Listen To Yonah's Prayer
Yonah 4:4 shows that Yahweh did not respond positively to Yonah's prayer to him, that Yahweh takes away Yonah's life. In other words, Yahweh refused to listen to Yonah's prayer.
Why Yahweh Did Not Take Away Yonah's Life
It is therefore evident that Yonah had not prayed this prayer according to Yahweh's will. For it was not Yahweh's will to take away Yonah's life.
Had it been Yahweh's will to take away Yonah's life, Yonah would have died when he was thrown overboard from the ship. But Yahweh rescued him from death in that instance, clearly showing Yonah that he wanted Yonah to continue living. In other words, the days for living that he had appointed for Yonah had not yet been exhausted.
Yahweh's answer in 4:4 also shows that not only did Yahweh desire that Yonah continue living, he also wanted him to consider the status of his heart, with respect to its righteousness. For Yahweh asked Yonah, "Is it RIGHT for you to be angry?"
In other words, Yahweh wanted Yonah to consider the righteousness of his heart, whether the attitude and anger he had adopted was one of righteousness or not.
We Should Consider Our Ways, Whether They Are
Righteous Or Not
It should also be noted that Yahweh did not simply tell Yonah that the attitude and anger that Yonah had adopted was not right. He wanted Yonah to consider his ways, and correctly assess whether his ways were right or not.
In this we can learn that Yahweh indeed desires that we consider our ways, whether they are founded in righteousness or not. For we all are to be righteous, even as Yahweh is righteous. In other words, we all should be like Yahweh. Gracious as he is gracious. Merciful and he is merciful. Loving as he is loving. Righteous as he is righteous.
Yonah Did Not Desire To Face The Shame Of Seeing His
Words Not Fulfilled
4:5 shows that Yonah was still hoping that Yahweh would overthrow the city of Nineveh, even after the people of Nineveh had repented of their evil. Yonah was hoping that Yahweh would give Yonah's word superiority over Yahweh's merciful and gracious nature. He was also hoping that by Yahweh so overthrowing Nineveh, he would not have to face the shame of seeing the failure of fulfilment of his words spoken against Nineveh, and spoken at Yahweh's command.
We Need To Surrender Our Wills To Yahweh's Will
It is therefore evident that Yonah clearly needed to suppress and rule over his own spirit. He needed to subjugate his own spirit to Yahweh's Spirit. For by subjugating his own spirit to Yahweh's Spirit he would allow Yahweh's will to reign in his life, rather than continuing to be self-willed, self-willed when contrary to Yahweh's will!
Servants of Yahweh should therefore note that they are to subjugate their own wills to Yahweh's will. It is Yahweh's will that is supreme, not ours. Also, if we are indeed Yahweh's servants, and not servants of our own desires contrary to Yahweh's, we will indeed subjugate our spirits to Yahweh's Spirit, and do those things that Yahweh desires. We will also assume Yahweh's heart, and see things in the manner that Yahweh sees them, and respond to situations in the manner that Yahweh responds.
Yahweh Dealt With Yonah Patiently
4:6-10 shows Yahweh's patience in dealing with Yonah.
Yahweh Personally Taught Yonah What The Latter Needed
To Learn
It should be noted that Yahweh desired that Yonah consider the righteousness of Yonah being angry that Yahweh had repented of overthrowing Nineveh, because the people of Nineveh had repented of their evil. And in the period of time that he gave Yonah for this consideration, Yonah continued in his self-will, without giving due consideration to Yahweh's challenge to him that he considers the righteousness of his heart. Yahweh therefore took it upon himself to teach Yonah the lesson that Yonah needed to learn in this matter. And he used the vine tree to get across his message to Yonah.
4:6-8 shows that when the vine had acted in Yonah's interests, acting as much needed shade for Yonah in the hot sun, Yonah was exceedingly glad, because of the positive role that the vine had played in his life. And when the vine was consumed by a worm, such that it withered and no longer could act in Yonah's interests, Yonah was exceedingly angry, angry that the vine had withered and could no longer play a positive role in Yonah's life.
4:9-10 shows Yahweh's lesson to Yonah. Yonah had been concerned about the welfare of a plant of vine, which had acted positively in his life. When it withered, such that it could no longer play the same role that it had played, he was very angry, and felt that his anger was justified, for it was out of concern for the vine. Likewise, Yahweh was concerned about the welfare of the people of Nineveh, who were of much greater value than the vine that Yonah had been concerned about. Therefore, if it was right for Yonah to be concerned for a thing of the value of vine, surely it was right for Yahweh to be concerned for things of substantially more value than vine - human beings and animals.
Yahweh Is Patient With Us - His Errant Servants
From Yonah's example we should learn that Yahweh is indeed patient with us - his errant servants. He is in the process of changing our spirits and hearts to become like his Spirit and heart. As this process requires time and experiences, he allows us the requisite time and experiences that facilitate our becoming like he is.
Be Patient With Other Human Beings
Seeing that Yahweh is patient with us, we should likewise be patient with other people, including not just those who are servants of Yahweh, but also those who are still committing evil.
Be Concerned About Yahweh's Creation
We should also be concerned about all of Yahweh's creation, especially other human beings. It is good to be concerned about plants. It is even better to be concerned about animals. But it is substantially greater to be concerned about fellow human beings, created in the image and likeness of Yahweh.
It should also be noted that when we pray to Yahweh in a manner inconsistent with his will he does not hear us. For when Yonah prayed that he die, prior to learning the lessons that Yahweh desired that he learn, Yahweh did not listen to Yonah's prayer.
On the other hand, when Yonah prayed for salvation from death, while in the belly of the fish, Yahweh indeed heard his prayer for salvation and of thanksgiving. Yonah still needed to learn some lessons in life, including acquiring more of Yahweh's nature than he had acquired at the time that he was in the belly of the fish. His prayer was therefore in harmony with Yahweh's will, and Yahweh heard it.
Seek, Act And Pray According To Yahweh's Will
We should seek out Yahweh's will in whatever situation we happen to be in. We should then be careful to act within Yahweh's will and to likewise pray according to his will.
Learn About Yahweh's Nature And Acquire It
We should also learn about Yahweh's nature, and align our nature to be in harmony with Yahweh's nature. In other words, we should acquire Yahweh's nature, and act in situations manifesting his nature. Of great importance includes acquiring Yahweh's nature of graciousness, mercy, love and slowness to anger.
Yahweh's Human Servants Are Not Yet Perfect
We should also note that just because someone is a servant of Yahweh, even a prophet of Yahweh, does not necessarily mean that he or she is already perfect in his ways. Yonah was indeed Yahweh's servant and prophet. Yet he was evidently not perfect in his ways, even in the manner that he carried out the mission Yahweh gave him. Nevertheless, Yahweh continued to use Yonah to deliver his message to the people that he had sent him to. Also, at the same time, he continued to change Yonah to become more and more like he Yahweh is, enabling Yonah to put on more of Yahweh's nature.
We should therefore be patient with imperfect servants of Yahweh, for they have not yet attained to perfection. Just as Yahweh is patient with us, so should we be patient with other servants of Yahweh.
Knowing Yahweh's Nature Is Not Equivalent To Having
Put On Yahweh's Nature
It should also be noted that knowledge of Yahweh's nature and ways is not equivalent to having put on the same nature and ways in our lives. For Yonah clearly knew and understood Yahweh's ways and nature. Nevertheless he did not, at the time he was given his commission to the people of Nineveh, accept Yahweh's righteousness for himself, to so have the same nature and ways.
It should therefore be evident that just because one knows of Yahweh's nature and ways does not necessarily mean that that one has also accepted for himself Yahweh's nature and ways.
Clothe Yourself With Yahweh's Nature And Ways
It should also be noted that it is not enough for Yahweh's servants to just know of his nature and ways. They must also clothe themselves with the same nature and ways. We should therefore strive to put on Yahweh's nature and ways, becoming more and more like Yahweh with each passing period of time.
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