UNIVERSITY OF GOD'S MERCIES: THE BOOK OF JONAH. EPISODE 38!

I welcome you to Episode 38. To start with, the book of Jonah was not a parable because parables are meant to serve as illustration, and no sane person would provide four chapters for illustrative purposes. Furthermore, the book of Jonah is neither a mythology nor allegory. The following Bible passages confirm that Jonah’s story can be traced to real people. The biblical Jonah belongs to the genealogy of Zebulun. Firstly, let’s read Joshua 19:10-13: “And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: 11 and their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; 12 and turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, 13 and from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah.” And secondly, let’s read, 2 Kings 14:25: “He (Jeroboam II) restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.” From the above two cited scriptures, we establish that Jonah comes from the family tree of Zebulun and he also prophesied during the reign of King Jeroboam II. I hope this offers some reasonable response to the critics. Let’s return to Jonah. The sheer power of nature (the sea) and its consequential physical phenomenon when it rages, can be indescribable, yet it seems God decided to use the storm to get across to Jonah. How? As you have read already, God made the violent storm to rise fiercely and through casting of lots, it was discovered that Jonah was the reason for the chaos. As a result, he was thrown into the sea by the sailors and the storm ceased, see Jonah 1:13-16. As we read, is God trying to get across to you too? Why not seek His face prayerfully for you to know His will for your life? Let’s read: “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.” You will not learn in a hard way in the name of Jesus Christ. And I pray that you will not be a scapegoat in the hands of your enemies in the name of Jesus Christ. Your life will not end suddenly in the name of Jesus Christ. To be continued. This message is brought to you by Reverend Dr. Isaac Ajibolorunrin, Senior Pastor, Christ the Lord Tabernacle Global.