Bible Pathways - September 24, 2005
September 24
Read Jonah 1
In Today's
Jonah's effort to avoid God's will; His second commission;
The Lord commanded Jonah: Arise, go to
For a while, events seemed to favor Jonah's vacation plan and gave him such peace of mind that he was soon fast asleep on the ship (1:5). However, favorable circumstances when avoiding the will of God are only temporary and they never lead to a pleasant end. The sailors became fearful when a great storm arose. Then, hearing that Jonah was fleeing from God, in an effort to appease Him, Jonah was thrown overboard, only to be miraculously swallowed by a big fish. After three days of soul searching, a repentant Jonah was vomited onto dry land by the great fish.
Jonah then became the greatest evangelist of his day and saw the entire city of
Jesus confirmed the historic truth concerning Jonah when He proclaimed: As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's (great fish's) belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of
Christ Revealed:
By Jonah's experience in the great fish (Jonah 1:7 — 2:10). Jesus used this historical event as an illustration to foretell of His death, burial, and resurrection when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Him to prove who He was (Matthew 12:39-40; also I Corinthians 15:4).
Word Study:
2:8 observe lying vanities = pay heed to false worship.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in honor of the Morneau Family · Country:
Memory Verse for the Week: Titus 2:13