For 40 Days – Day 27: Doomsday: Content

Key Episode Scripture: Jonah 1-4

So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. (Jonah 1:15-16 ESVUK)

Nineveh was 40 Days from Doomsday. This was the message that Jonah was tasked with communicating to them. This mission was not straightforward, and its aftermath spoke volumes about him and the one who sent him. Having considered aspects of the context previously, this provides an outline of the content. It does not in any way replace the joy of reading and hearing the scripture for yourself. It does provide the basis on which the concepts and conclusions will flow.

Jonah 1 – Jonah Runs From God

1-3 – God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh because he’s seen their evil. Jonah does a runner from God to Joppa to pay for a ride on a ship heading to Tarshish.

4-6 – God sends a storm to beat up the ship, scaring the ship workers to pray to their gods. Jonah be sleeping in the ship’s depths and is woken up by the captain to join panic stations.

7-12 – The crew draw lots to see who’s to blame. Jonah gets the short straw and admits that his God is the one who made the sea and land, and he’s running from him. The crew, even more frightened, asks what’s to be done. Jonah says the best thing for it is to throw him overboard so the storm will stop.

13-16 – The men prefer to pursue other options than throwing a man of God overboard, but eventually, they see they have no choice. They ask God not to hold it against them for harbouring Jonah and chucking him overboard, and as the storm ceases, they have a profound new reverence for God seen in offerings.

17 – God sets up a big fish to swallow Jonah, who spends three days and nights in the fish’s belly.

Jonah 2 – Jonah Prays To God

1-3—Jonah’s prayer to God in the fish’s belly—he calls out to God, and God hears him even as He throws him to be overwhelmed by the sea.

4-7 – Jonah looks to God even though he’s in this condition, one that sees him to the lowest depths. Even there, though, God rescues him as he remembers Him in prayer.

8-9 – Idol lovers miss God’s love, Jonah will thank God with the sacrifice knowing salvation comes from Him.

10 – God talks to the fish who vomits out Jonah on dry land.

Jonah 3 – Jonah Preaches For God

1-4 – God tells Jonah again to take His message to Nineveh. Jonah obeys and arrives in the big city, where he says that in 40 days, Nineveh will be doomed.

5-9 – People believe God, and the entire city fasts. Even the king gets in on it and proclaims a citywide season of fasting and repentance, covering even beasts, hoping God relents.

10 – God sees it and relents.

Jonah 4 – Jonah Rages At God

1-4 – Jonah ain’t happy and complains to God that it’s typical of him to show mercy, so He might as well take his life. God asks if Jonah is right to be angry.

5-8 – Jonah sets up outside Nineveh to check what will happen to them with some kind of shade. God sets up a plant to give Jonah better shade. Jonah likes the plant. God then speaks to a worm who gets into the plant overnight, so it’s destroyed. God sends a great heat making Jonah faint to the point of wishing he was dead again.

9-11 – God asks again if Jonah’s right to be angry. Jonah maintains his anger position to death. God highlights how Jonah has pity for a plant that was here today, gone tomorrow and over which Jonah had no responsibility. Then, he contrasts that with His compassion for Nineveh’s population, who essentially are ignorant of Him and wisdom … and the plentiful cattle.

Next, we will explore some of the concepts in this episode to understand what’s going on with Jonah’s reluctance and angry response to the Doomsday mission to Nineveh.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom