Jonah
Miracles of the Lord
The Lord has done a series of supernatural things in this book:
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He sent a great wind to the sea and caused a mighty tempest against the ship. (1:4)
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The lot fell on Jonah. (1:7)
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By throwing Jonah to the sea, the tempest was gone and the sea was calmed. (1:15)
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The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. (1:17)
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The Lord told the fish to vomit Jonah. (2:10)
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The Lord prepared a gourd (蓖麻) to provide shadow for Jonah (4:6)
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The Lord prepared a worm to smote the gourd. (4:7)
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The Lord prepared a hot east wind to blow Jonah (4:8)
Purposes of performing the miracles
1. He proved to the aliens that he is the God of heaven and creator of the nature. He has the sovereignty over his
creation. (1:9)
- The sailors cried to their own gods but in vain. After Jonah told his story, they began to fear the Lord. When the sea was calmed, they offered sacrifice to the Lord. (1:10,16)
2. He is in control of everything.
- The word “prepared” appeared 4 times (1:17, 4:6-8), illustrating that God arranged those things to take place.
- No one can escape his hands. Jonah tried to escape but in the end, he was caught by the sailors and the fish subsequently.
- Human cannot depend on their own efforts to survive the danger. Even after Jonah told them the way to calm the sea by throwing him into the sea, the sailors refused to do it at the start. They “rowed hard to bring it (the ship) to the land but they could not”. (1:13)
3. He is the Lord of salvation. (2:9)
- He saved the sailors from the tempest and the sea.
- He saved Jonah from the fish belly.
- He saved the people of Nineveh.
4. Human got salvation by prayer and obedience.
- The sailors finally obeyed to the word of Jonah and threw him to the sea and the sea was calmed. The sailors also cried to the Lord for not laying innocent blood on them. (1:14)
- Jonah cried to the Lord in the fish belly. (2:1-9) He obeyed to the Lord’s calling and went to Nineveh.
- The king and people of Nineveh prayed and fasted and “cry mightily unto God” (3:8). (3:5-9) The king urged the people to turn from their evil ways, and they did obey. They expressed their pure faith. (3:8-10)
5. God is “a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness”. (4:2)
- He “repented” and refrained from pouring wrath upon the obedient. (3:9-10, 4:2)
- He has shown mercy even on cattle, probably because the cattle also fasted and put on sackcloth. (3:7-8, 4:11)
6. Prophesy the death and resurrection of Christ.
- Jonah was in the fish belly for 3 days and 3 nights (1:17), prophesying Jesus’ burial for 3 days and 3 nights. (Matt 12:40) The whole story of Jonah prophesied Jesus’ obedience to God’s calling and his preaching the gospel of repentance to mankind. Those who “believe” (3:5) his message and “turn from his evil way” (3:8) are saved.
7. When God's calling comes upon His servant, he is required to accept and obey His calling to finish his duty.
Since God has saved him, he should also show God's mercy and kindness to others. (2:9; 4:10-11)