Jonah

['67Scofield]

If we could, let's begin by giving some sort of general impression you have of the book and/or something particuliar that stands out in your mind from the book.

I find the story very personal. Very honest.
One thing that stands out is how many times Jonah was told to "Get up" (Arise)
I think Jonah was depressed. I think he slept a lot to escape his sadness.

[a.baker]

I know the story but sadly from only as a child second hand and from watching Veggie Tales cartoon. Could someone give me where in the bible so I can read the scripture?

[CoreIssue]

If we could, let's begin by giving some sort of general impression you have of the book and/or something particuliar that stands out in your mind from the book.

I find the story very personal. Very honest.
One thing that stands out is how many times Jonah was told to "Get up" (Arise)
I think Jonah was depressed. I think he slept a lot to escape his sadness.
Arise does not mean to simply get up on your feet. In the Hebrew it also means to be given a mission, errand, be bound to an effort and such.

There is actually nothing in the book to indicate he was depressed. What is said, basically, was that he felt it was a waste of time and even dangerous to go where God told him to go.

We have to be very careful in how we try to apply archaic words and phrases to today, else we loose the meanings.

That is why the NIV, which does not use the word arise, actually conveys the meaning more correctly. Today we just tell someone to go. We don't say arise and go.

To illustrate, back then someone called before an official could be told to arise and go. They were already on their feet but it meant to break from what you were doing and go.

[a.baker]

Yup thats what the Veggie Tales cartoon indicated is that Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh because He was scared and thought there was no hope there for those people. He talked about how cruel the people there were and he by selfishness was not going to place himself in that situation. So he thought he could ignore God but God eventually got his attention. So he ran away basically. (sorry I still need the scripture read and where to find it in the bible) Good lesson here though. Have faith in God even when it's beyond our own understanding and He will give us what we need to get through it if we just listen to Him. His plans are always perfect. It also in a way relates to how mans wisdom is foolishness and Gods wisdom is wise.

[Jessie]

Jonah 1


dont have a bible in front of me but for the life of me I dont remember a book in the OT called Jonah. when I looked online thats where its at....

I will have to go upstairs and check it out myself too!

[Willy]

http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?book=Jon&chapter=1&translation=nivp&x=16&y=13

['67Scofield]

If we could, let's begin by giving some sort of general impression you have of the book and/or something particuliar that stands out in your mind from the book.

I find the story very personal. Very honest.
One thing that stands out is how many times Jonah was told to "Get up" (Arise)
I think Jonah was depressed. I think he slept a lot to escape his sadness.
Arise does not mean to simply get up on your feet. In the Hebrew it also means to be given a mission, errand, be bound to an effort and such.

There is actually nothing in the book to indicate he was depressed. What is said, basically, was that he felt it was a waste of time and even dangerous to go where God told him to go.

We have to be very careful in how we try to apply archaic words and phrases to today, else we loose the meanings.

That is why the NIV, which does not use the word arise, actually conveys the meaning more correctly. Today we just tell someone to go. We don't say arise and go.

To illustrate, back then someone called before an official could be told to arise and go. They were already on their feet but it meant to break from what you were doing and go.

I could have bet a million dollars Core.http://www.therushforum.com/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

If you are in the middle of a storm, and the captain has to come
down and wake you up. Somethings wrong. Jonah didn't care if he lived
or died.(on several occassions) He was depressed. And yes I realize what
arise means. It means get going, get to steppin' baby!

Whew... I'm thiristy after that.
http://www.therushforum.com/html/emoticons/trink36.gif
Ummmm... that's better.

Jonah was a loner. Why was Jonah so disenfranchised?

[CoreIssue]

Hey, Scofield! :tiphat:

That is a lot of assumption and read in that the book just does not justify.

Let me give an example. When I was on Guam I was so tired from the work demands and hours I was having to work I slept through an earthquake. Woke up with my bed across the room and and the furniture stacked against it.

Now, look at the context of the text. He was scared and on the run. Got on the ship and fell into a deep sleep.

That is very clearly findable in the text. The depressed isn't there.

Didn't care if he lived or died? Then why did he run if he didn't care? Contradiction of assumption and stated facts.

When in the whale he most assuredly cared.

Sorry, just don't see support for your conclusions.

I see fear, frustration and doubt. But depression and such? No.

[a.baker]

Towards the end after God had mercy on the city of Nineveh Jonah was angry and wanted to just die. Is it because Jonah didn't feel the mercy was just? Did Jonah want them to still suffer Gods wrath? Did he disagree with Gods judgment?

Another moral of the story is that God will seek those that need mercy and He will give them a chance to change before He goes on with His wrath. His judgment is always just.

Something I have seen a lot of in the bible is the casting of lots. What is that? Is that whoever has the short end of the stick kinda thing; whoever has more is worth more? Also what is a sack cloth? Is it what it sounds like?

[CoreIssue]

Towards the end after God had mercy on the city of Nineveh Jonah was angry and wanted to just die. Is it because Jonah didn't feel the mercy was just? Did Jonah want them to still suffer Gods wrath? Did he disagree with Gods judgment?
Appears when he was discomfortable and feeling frustrated he got angry and lashed out "just kill me," kinda like we hear no now as "I just want to die."

Another moral of the story is that God will seek those that need mercy and He will give them a chance to change before He goes on with His wrath. His judgment is always just.
Agree. But remember the Jews didn't have a well developed sense of mercy. They were pretty legalistic and were not fans of Gentiles.
Something I have seen a lot of in the bible is the casting of lots. What is that? Is that whoever has the short end of the stick kinda thing; whoever has more is worth more? Also what is a sack cloth? Is it what it sounds like?
Dice. And yep. Low roll looses is alike short straw.

Sack cloth is course woven material for holding grain. Very strong, durable, ugly and scratchy.

[InTheWind]

Sack cloth is course woven material for holding grain. Very strong, durable, ugly and scratchy


Maybe Jonahs undies were made of sack cloth and that`s why he was so discouraged. :swoon:

[CoreIssue]

Sack cloth is course woven material for holding grain. Very strong, durable, ugly and scratchy


Maybe Jonahs undies were made of sack cloth and that`s why he was so discouraged. :swoon:
:hysterical:

['67Scofield]

When in the whale he most assuredly cared.
Yeah Jonah found out that Yes, it can get worse.:swoon:


I don't think it was fatigue (maybe mental fatigue) but rather a state of mind that allowed Jonah to sleep thru the storm. I think you could characterize the book as psycological. I think it fits, it's at least possible.
But I could be reading in too much.

Towards the end after God had mercy on the city of Nineveh Jonah was angry and wanted to just die. Is it because Jonah didn't feel the mercy was just? Did Jonah want them to still suffer Gods wrath? Did he disagree with Gods judgment
He didn't want to share heaven with them.

He wanted the people of Ninevah to go to hell. Do you know how angry you have to be to want that?

[CoreIssue]

I am just going by the text and the history of Israel and its people. They were elitists and did disdain other people, so yea, he got pretty mad about it all.

He ran a long way, jumped on a ship and finally got to rest. Really tired and just slept. That is what I see.

Been there and done that.

So indeed open to speculation so the safe route is to just use the facts stated and knowable, as in history. My 2 cents on that.

[Jessie]

Sack cloth is course woven material for holding grain. Very strong, durable, ugly and scratchy


Maybe Jonahs undies were made of sack cloth and that`s why he was so discouraged. :swoon:


:eek:









;)

['67Scofield]

I see fear, frustration and doubt. But depression and such? No.

I sense no fear in Jonah. Except the fear that Ninevah would repent.

The book of Jonah ends so abruptly. Did Jonah ever find peace with God's decision?

Also I found another example of sleeping, fatique, and exhaustion with ones circumstances (the end of their rope) in 1 Kings 19

3 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) Elijah was afraid [fn1] (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#_fnt_1) and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up (arise) and eat.” 6 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

[a.baker]

I always here people say that God won't give us more than what we can handle; why do people say that? It makes them rely on themselves to get through it and not God.

[CoreIssue]

I always here people say that God won't give us more than what we can handle; why do people say that? It makes them rely on themselves to get through it and not God.
Because we are personally responsible.

God aids us, he does not do it for us.

[CoreIssue]

I see fear, frustration and doubt. But depression and such? No.

I sense no fear in Jonah. Except the fear that Ninevah would repent.

The book of Jonah ends so abruptly. Did Jonah ever find peace with God's decision?

Also I found another example of sleeping, fatique, and exhaustion with ones circumstances (the end of their rope) in 1 Kings 19

3 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) Elijah was afraid [fn1] (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#_fnt_1) and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up (arise) and eat.” 6 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?translation=NIVP&book=1Ki&chapter=19#) So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Could be the fear of them repenting. Which goes back to the Jewish ego of the time. Won't argue that at all.

The Book of Jonah was not about Jonah, but God's mercy, expectations, our responsibility and similar. Jonah and Ninevah were just the vehicles for the message.

Ninevah in fact later returned to its old ways and God destroyed it.

What happened to Jonah after is anyone's guess. He could have very well just returned to his old life.

['67Scofield]

I always here people say that God won't give us more than what we can handle; why do people say that? It makes them rely on themselves to get through it and not God.

I think that comes from this verse 1 Cor. 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

Does God expect us to "handle" every situation as an expert?
Or how about when we seem to stumble thru it?
I think the only real way of failing God is being too proud to admit we can't "handle" our part:snooty: or worse to think that we actually can.