PROPHET JONAHTangaza university college.

Class presentation compiled by. Big Ben

INTRODUCTION.

This paper shall be discussing about the life of Prophet Jonah, his prophetic calling, his teachings, his characteristics and the relevance of his teachings to the contemporary society.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:Know who Prophet Jonah is and what he stood for.Appreciate Prophet Jonah’s teachings and should be able to relate his prophetic teachings in the African context.

THE BACKGROUND ABOUT PROPHET JONAH.

He was the son of Ammitai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. Jonah ministered during the reign of jeroboam11, (793-753 BC), of the northern kingdom of Israel.

WHO THEN IS PROPHET JONAH?

The prophetic author of the book of Jonah used the name, experience and reputation of the prophet from 2kings 14:25-28, inspired by the spirit of God to handle theological and spiritual issues which transcends specific historical periods.

BEHIND HIS NAME AS JONAH.

Jonah son of Amittai, means “dove son of faithfulness.” It conjures up the image of a gentle creature with the strong homing instincts.

HIS HOME TOWN GATH-HEPHER.

In 2kings14:23-29, we are told that Jonah came from Gath-hepher. This is a Hebrew name meaning “winepress of digging”, referred to in Joshua 19:13, it was situated on the border of Zebulun and Nephtali, a few miles north East of Nazareth.

HIS HOME TOWN GATH-HEPHER.

In 2kings14:23-29, we are told that Jonah came from Gath-hepher. This is a Hebrew name meaning “winepress of digging”, referred to in Joshua 19:13, it was situated on the border of Zebulun and Nephtali, a few miles north East of Nazareth.

YOM KIPPUR/DAY OF ATONEMENT.

For centuries the book of Jonah has been read on the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn feast day in the Jewish liturgical year.

CHARACTERISTICS OF JONAH AS A PROPHET.

Unlike any other human being Jonah had his characteristics and having received the call to be a prophet never made him ceased to be him but rather was influenced by his personality in his prophetic ministry.

JONAH THE RELUCTANT PROPHET.

Nixon (2003) purports that to a certain extent Jonah follows in all authentic traditions when he follows his reluctance to accept the call of Yahweh.

JONAH THE THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE PROPHET.

The prophet believes it to be impossible that the lord god should send him to Nineveh. His response to this impossible request is to free from God.

JONAH WAS A MAN OF AN IRASCIBLE TEMPER.

Uncorrected, it may be, in early life. Correction always comes sooner or later; better sooner than later.

He was one soon angry, and who could be very angry. Not a pleasant man to live with. A complaining man, and fond of something to complain of.

A RABBINIC VIEW.

According to McGowan (1968), we consider some rabbinic thought which has suggested that Jonah was right to protest against God’s call.

PROPHETIC DILEMMA.

When the prophets urged God’s people to repent they were ignored or abused. The failure of God’s people to respond to God’s word was a major problem for the prophets of Israel.

OPPOSED TO

FREEDOM.

God’s call to Jonah is to go beyond the boundaries of his world view and to transcend himself. He is called to freedom.

AN ESCAPIST.

It is not unusual for people in profound denial of the situation in which they find themselves to seek out ways of avoiding its implications.

The Book of Jonah as a metaphor.

1. The book exemplifies the miraculous power and supremacy of God over His entire creation.The amazing power of God was illustrated by these miracles:The severe winds and boisterous sea that God sent, then miraculously calmed (Jonah 1:4,

The sailors cast lots and by a miracle, the lot identified Jonah (1:7).

The “great fish” was “prepared” to swallow Jonah (1:17). Jonah was alive after three days and nights in the fish

(1:17). The fish was guided (“so the LORD spoke to the fish”) to

a place where Jonah was spewed out on dry land (2:10). Among others…..

These events are manifestations of the mighty power of the Creator of the entire universe.

2 God’s servants must obey Him even when

the circumstances are contrary to their expectations and hopes.

3 Despite human weaknesses in those God

selects, He is still able to use them in His service. The narrative presents a noticeable contrast between God’s mercy and forgiveness and the shortcomings of His servant. The Bible mentions imperfections in other renowned individuals, such as Noah, Abraham, Jacob, David,

4 God’s willingness to forgive upon heartfelt

repentance is striking and an encouragement to those who seek to please their Creator but at times succumb to human weaknesses. Upon genuine repentance God is willing to forgive, and will continue to work with us.

TEACHINGS OF PROPHET JONAH.

This section shall be looking at some of the

main teachings of Prophet Jonah.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF JEHOVAH.

GODS INTEREST IN ALL PEOPLE.

PEOPLE C

AN

CH

AN

GE.

REPENTANCE REQUIRES W

ORK.

JONAH’S C

ONDITIO

NAL PROPHECY.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROPHET JONAH TO THE

CONTEMPORARY WORLD.

The book of Jonah is not just about a man who ran away from God…

… it is about how a great God was up to something great

even through a runaway like Jonah!

The purpose of a call

is to serve other

people. Jonah’s call

is for the benefit of

Nineveh.

JONAH’S CALL AND RESPONSE.

After how they had treated his people, they deserved to be wiped out. The last thing Jonah wanted was for his enemies to receive Gods blessing.

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it,

because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah

ran away from God.

GOD’S BLESSING FOR A

LL NATIO

NS

God’s blessings is

not a bucket with

limited capacity,

but an overflowing

fountain.

After how they had treated his people, they deserved to be wiped out. The last thing Jonah wanted was for his enemies to receive Gods blessing.

Jonah’s proclamation moved the Ninevites to humble themselves and seek divine mercy.

TEACHING ABOUT REPENTANCE.

The Book of Jonah is about a great God… a God of salvation and mercy and

grace and power.

Li

ke m

any o

f the

cont

empo

rary

socie

ty

prop

hets,

Jona

h was

not

able

to ob

ey th

e lor

d,

altho

ugh h

e was

a pr

ophe

t

whose

wor

k was

but t

o

call

peop

le to

the l

ord’

s

obed

ience

.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROPHET JONAH’S

TEACHINGS.

The B

ook o

f Jon

ah is

more

than

a

fascin

ating

acco

unt o

f one

man

's

futile

attem

pt to

run aw

ay fr

om

God. It

is a

story

of God

's lov

e for

even

the m

ost u

nlova

ble,

desp

icable

peop

le we c

an im

agine

—an

d of o

ur res

pons

ibility

to te

ll

them th

e Goo

d New

s.

Why Jonah had to had to run.

God told Jonah to preach to the Assyrians in Nineveh. Jonah knew that if he preached to them, they would have an opportunity to avoid God's wrath. Jonah hoped to see these enemies punished by God, so he ran away.

Thanks……………….