1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,680
Speaker 1: Let us pray arise, go to Nineveh, that great city,

2
00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:10,000
Speaker 1: and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up

3
00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:17,079
Speaker 1: before me. Jonah one two, My God. When I hear

4
00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:21,319
Speaker 1: the whisper of your voice like a cool breeze, I

5
00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,160
Speaker 1: will heed your commands and come into alignment with your

6
00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:29,600
Speaker 1: heart's desire. I will not take the position of Jonah

7
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,640
Speaker 1: in my life by looking out for myself and ignoring

8
00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,800
Speaker 1: the plans you have for me. Through my obedience, I

9
00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,280
Speaker 1: am securing myself from being thrown overboard in the storm

10
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,800
Speaker 1: of life and from causing others to suffer as a

11
00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:51,680
Speaker 1: result of my disobedience. No matter how reluctant I might feel,

12
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,880
Speaker 1: through my faithfulness to you, no fish will be needed

13
00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,360
Speaker 1: to get me to the place You've called me to go.

14
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,800
Speaker 1: Instead of being thrown up, I will grow up and

15
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,680
Speaker 1: acknowledge that you are in control of my life, and

16
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,480
Speaker 1: as I submit to your ways, deliverance and purpose will follow.

17
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,440
Speaker 1: Instead of being thrown up, I will grow up and

18
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,880
Speaker 1: acknowledge that you are in control of my life, and

19
00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:28,560
Speaker 1: as I submit to your ways, deliverance and purpose will follow.

20
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:36,040
Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, Amen, thanks for making prayer a priority

21
00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,080
Speaker 1: in your life to hear the Bible come to life.

22
00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,360
Speaker 1: Stay tuned for the Bible in a Year, brought to

23
00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:55,360
Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year. Dot Com Jonah and

24
00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:56,200
Speaker 1: the Fish.

25
00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:01,520
Speaker 2: In our last story, we said goodbye to the Elisha

26
00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,280
Speaker 2: along with the prophet. Was the end of the era

27
00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,400
Speaker 2: of kings. The nations of Judah and Israel continued to

28
00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,600
Speaker 2: wrestle with God. Their hearts were in a continual state

29
00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,799
Speaker 2: of drawing near and far from Him. Soon a great

30
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,800
Speaker 2: threat would arise to take Israel captive. This was a

31
00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,919
Speaker 2: threat they were not prepared for. Now we learn about

32
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:31,040
Speaker 2: the prophet Jonah. Unlike the prophets before him and after him,

33
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,600
Speaker 2: Jonah was a prophet that actively ran away from the

34
00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:39,000
Speaker 2: Lord's calling on his life. Soon Jonah would be consumed

35
00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,120
Speaker 2: by his own disobedience and learn the true meaning of

36
00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,959
Speaker 2: closeness to God in the belly of a giant fish.

37
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,400
Speaker 2: Inspired by the Book of Jonah.

38
00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,000
Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the

39
00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,520
Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In yesterday's scripture, we heard of

40
00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,360
Speaker 3: the downward spiral of Israel, who, under King Jehoahs and

41
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,880
Speaker 3: later his son Jehoash, continued to turn to foreign gods.

42
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,919
Speaker 3: Facing defeat after defeat from outside enemies, Israel would soon

43
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,600
Speaker 3: face a great fall like they had never seen before,

44
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,160
Speaker 3: as God judged them for their stubbornness and sinful behavior.

45
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,239
Speaker 3: Today we'll hear about an unwilling prophet by the name

46
00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,040
Speaker 3: of Jonah who was sent to a wicked people to

47
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,320
Speaker 3: call them to repentance. God's call for Jonah to preach

48
00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,800
Speaker 3: in Nineveh will highlight just how merciful our God is,

49
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,200
Speaker 3: not only to the Jewish people, but to everyone. Let's

50
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,480
Speaker 3: listen now to the reading of God's word.

51
00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,520
Speaker 2: Jonah watched as the gentle tide rolled in from the sea.

52
00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,600
Speaker 2: The morning breeze was cool on his face and filled

53
00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,400
Speaker 2: his lungs with fresh air. He watched the water rise

54
00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,760
Speaker 2: and fall to the rhythm of the tide. Jonah was

55
00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,880
Speaker 2: a man who valued his peace. Although he was a

56
00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,920
Speaker 2: prophet of God, he was not like Elijah or Elisha.

57
00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,680
Speaker 2: Jonah valued harmony above all. During the crisis of King Jeroboam,

58
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,720
Speaker 2: Jonah prophesied that he would win all of his battles

59
00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,520
Speaker 2: and bring victory to his kingdom. He did this because

60
00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,760
Speaker 2: he did not want to tell the king something he

61
00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,520
Speaker 2: did not want to hear. Jonah saved his own reputation

62
00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,719
Speaker 2: and safety. The prophet Amos eventually rebuked him and told

63
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,120
Speaker 2: the king that he would certainly lose his battle and

64
00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:34,599
Speaker 2: his kingdom. Jonah was not ashamed of these things. He

65
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,360
Speaker 2: knew that he must look out for his own peace

66
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:43,360
Speaker 2: and his own comfort first. So Jonah sat staring out

67
00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:48,080
Speaker 2: at the sea, enjoying his blissful mourning without quarrel or stress.

68
00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,919
Speaker 2: Jonah closed his eyes and allowed the morning sun to

69
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,680
Speaker 2: shine on his face. He could hear the waves slowly

70
00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,040
Speaker 2: crashing on the shore and the sound of birds chirping

71
00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,960
Speaker 2: in the air. With his eyes still closed, Jonah could

72
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:08,120
Speaker 2: hear another peculiar sound. A whisper came in with the breeze.

73
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:13,240
Speaker 2: The voice was gentle, but clear and strong. Jonah could

74
00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:18,640
Speaker 2: sense the presence of God drawing closer. Arise, God said.

75
00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,360
Speaker 2: Jonah's forehead began to wrinkle as he listened to the words,

76
00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,320
Speaker 2: go inland to the great city of Nineveh. They have

77
00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,240
Speaker 2: fallen into a great deal of wickedness. Go and point

78
00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,600
Speaker 2: out their evil so they can repent. Then the voice

79
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,080
Speaker 2: of the Lord trailed off with the breeze. Jonah opened

80
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,160
Speaker 2: his eyes and stood to his feet. No Jonah thought

81
00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:50,000
Speaker 2: to himself, absolutely not. Jonah would not help the wicked

82
00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:54,080
Speaker 2: people of Nineveh. Jonah had a deep seated hatred for them.

83
00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,640
Speaker 2: Pain and contempt harbored in his heart like an old

84
00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,880
Speaker 2: ship without a sail. He would not preached the word

85
00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,960
Speaker 2: of God to them. He would not help them. He

86
00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,560
Speaker 2: would not allow them to be spared. Jonah knew they

87
00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,880
Speaker 2: deserved to die, and he wanted no part in whatever

88
00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,359
Speaker 2: redemptive plan he had in store. So Jonah boarded a

89
00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,120
Speaker 2: ship to Joppa that was setting sail for Tarshish. He

90
00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,479
Speaker 2: paid the fare and ventured off with a crew of

91
00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:27,920
Speaker 2: gentile sailors. Tarshis was the furthest city from Nineveh. There

92
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,400
Speaker 2: he would seek safety from the uncomfortable and dangerous call

93
00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:36,320
Speaker 2: of God. Jonah watched Israel become smaller and smaller as

94
00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,320
Speaker 2: they sailed away. Jonah sighed and decided to go down

95
00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,680
Speaker 2: and sleep. As Jonah slumbered, clouds were rolling in from

96
00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,200
Speaker 2: the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The waves began to

97
00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,800
Speaker 2: chop at the side of the boat. The clouds grew darker,

98
00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:57,320
Speaker 2: and thunder echoed across the waters. Lightning struck dangerously close

99
00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,839
Speaker 2: to the ship, and the wind began to howl with

100
00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:05,920
Speaker 2: great fools. Jonah could not outrun God. The sailors tugged

101
00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,560
Speaker 2: at the ropes, trying to keep the sails from tearing

102
00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,000
Speaker 2: to shreds. The boat was taking on water and the

103
00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,320
Speaker 2: waves were threatening to destroy the entire vessel. Each sailor

104
00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,640
Speaker 2: grew more and more fearful. They had never experienced such

105
00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,080
Speaker 2: a storm. Each man prayed to his own God, desperately

106
00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,760
Speaker 2: asking for mercy. As the frightened mariners prayed for their lives.

107
00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,680
Speaker 2: Jonah was fast asleep in the brig, content in his

108
00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:38,000
Speaker 2: disobedience to God. The captain burst open the doors and

109
00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,000
Speaker 2: awoke Jonah. How could you be sleeping, the captain wailed,

110
00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,040
Speaker 2: Get up. You better be praying to your God as

111
00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,000
Speaker 2: we are praying to ours. Perhaps yours were actually answered.

112
00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,360
Speaker 2: Jonah rose from his cart and walked up to the deck.

113
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,520
Speaker 2: He fell forward as the waves shook the boat. Jonah

114
00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,200
Speaker 2: looked up and saw a mighty tempest surrounding him. The

115
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,160
Speaker 2: cold wind felt like a razor blade on his face,

116
00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,160
Speaker 2: and the rain drummed against the wood of the ship.

117
00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,280
Speaker 2: Jonah knew what was happening. God had found him.

118
00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,480
Speaker 1: There would be no escape.

119
00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,240
Speaker 2: The crew gathered lots to see who was responsible for

120
00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,920
Speaker 2: the unprecedented story. They cast them on to the deck,

121
00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,400
Speaker 2: and the lot fell on Jonah. They looked at him

122
00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,560
Speaker 2: in disgust. Who are you, they shouted, tell us why

123
00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,640
Speaker 2: this evil has come upon us? Where do you come from?

124
00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:35,160
Speaker 2: And why are you here. Jonah's lips quivered slightly. He

125
00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,800
Speaker 2: looked at the men and said, I am a Hebrew.

126
00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,960
Speaker 2: You worship gods of water, wind or land, But I

127
00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,280
Speaker 2: worship the God who has made the water, wind and land,

128
00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,439
Speaker 2: and I am running from him. The men were exceedingly

129
00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,720
Speaker 2: afraid they were harboring a man who was fleeing the

130
00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:57,040
Speaker 2: almighty creator of the sea. Even they, in their limited

131
00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,480
Speaker 2: knowledge of God, knew that Jonah made a big state.

132
00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,679
Speaker 1: Joining then, what.

133
00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:04,000
Speaker 2: Are we supposed to do with you?

134
00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:04,880
Speaker 3: They asked.

135
00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,800
Speaker 2: Jonah looked out at the vast sea raging. It was

136
00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,559
Speaker 2: growing more violent by the minute. These sailors would be

137
00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,400
Speaker 2: under water in less than an hour unless Jonah did something.

138
00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,319
Speaker 2: He took a deep breath and said, throw me in.

139
00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,880
Speaker 2: The men gasped for a moment. Pick me up and

140
00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,800
Speaker 2: hurl me into the sea. The storm should quiet after that,

141
00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,240
Speaker 2: Lord forgive us and do not hold this man's life

142
00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,400
Speaker 2: against us, The men cried out as they threw Jonah

143
00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,760
Speaker 2: into the water. Jonah was hurled into the air and

144
00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,840
Speaker 2: then surrounded by the raging sea. The men repented and

145
00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,600
Speaker 2: bowed before God. They worshiped him and made vows of

146
00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:52,400
Speaker 2: devotion to him. The gentile men had more repentant hearts

147
00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:57,000
Speaker 2: than Jonah himself. The waters continued to thrash in every direction.

148
00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,360
Speaker 2: Jonah swam to the best of his ability, but was

149
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,559
Speaker 2: eventually consumed by the dark and vast ocean. He fell

150
00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,760
Speaker 2: deeper and deeper into the depths. Jonah closed his eyes,

151
00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,960
Speaker 2: embracing his inevitable demise. Even now surrounded by a storm,

152
00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,480
Speaker 2: Jonah was happy he wasn't in Nineveh. As Jonah was

153
00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,920
Speaker 2: ready to welcome death, a large shadow loomed over him.

154
00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,400
Speaker 2: He opened his eyes in terror. A gargantuan fish was

155
00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,679
Speaker 2: swimming towards him. Jonah screamed, but the sound was trapped

156
00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,040
Speaker 2: by the water surrounding him, and in an instant he

157
00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:39,079
Speaker 2: was consumed by the scaly gray. Jonah awoke in darkness.

158
00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,800
Speaker 2: He could barely move and could see nothing around him.

159
00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,080
Speaker 2: The stench of rotting fish and stomach acid filled his nostrils.

160
00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,520
Speaker 2: He could hear nothing but his own panicked breathing. For hours,

161
00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,000
Speaker 2: he lamented his own undoing. He tried to escape, with

162
00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:01,000
Speaker 2: no success. He was trapped in an underwater tomb. Hours passed,

163
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,160
Speaker 2: then a day. Hunger and thirst consumed him, and he

164
00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,760
Speaker 2: could feel his joints beginning to cramp in place. Yet

165
00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,200
Speaker 2: there was this peace that Jonah felt. During the second day,

166
00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:17,160
Speaker 2: surrounded by darkness, Jonah began to feel the presence of God.

167
00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,360
Speaker 2: Joy welled up inside Jonah and he began to sing

168
00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,920
Speaker 2: to the Lord. I called to God in my time

169
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,120
Speaker 2: of need, and he answered me. From the belly of

170
00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,920
Speaker 2: the grave, I cried, and he heard. You cast me

171
00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,120
Speaker 2: into the depths. O Lord, you threw me into the

172
00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,960
Speaker 2: heart of the seas, and your waves crashed over me.

173
00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,480
Speaker 2: I am driven away from you, but I will set

174
00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:45,200
Speaker 2: my eyes upon your temple. The waters have closed in

175
00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,000
Speaker 2: to kill me. The deep has surrounded me, the weeds

176
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,560
Speaker 2: are wrapping around my neck. Yet I will praise and

177
00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:57,000
Speaker 2: give thanks to you, my God. On the third day,

178
00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,319
Speaker 2: as Jonah accepted his place with God and the sea,

179
00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,440
Speaker 2: he felt a surge come through the belly of the fish.

180
00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,000
Speaker 2: Rumbling surrounded Jonah, and he looked up to see a

181
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,920
Speaker 2: faint light. The fish threw Jonah up, and once again

182
00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,240
Speaker 2: he found himself surrounded by water. It consumed him, but

183
00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,280
Speaker 2: he could still see a light above him. He swam

184
00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,679
Speaker 2: towards it. His bones were sore and his body was weak,

185
00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,920
Speaker 2: but he swam with all his might. Then Jonah emerged

186
00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:29,080
Speaker 2: out of the water. He gasped for air. The sun

187
00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,520
Speaker 2: was shining brightly, and Jonah could see the soft sand

188
00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,120
Speaker 2: only a few yards away. He clawed his way to

189
00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:40,679
Speaker 2: shore and basted in freedom. A tired laughter came across

190
00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,160
Speaker 2: Jonah as he allowed the gentle breeze to tickle his face.

191
00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:44,480
Speaker 3: Again.

192
00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,040
Speaker 2: He was spared for a purpose, a purpose he was

193
00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,160
Speaker 2: still reluctant to accept.

194
00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,680
Speaker 3: Today's scripture is a very familiar story to so many people.

195
00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,960
Speaker 3: In is God's works about a prophet by the name

196
00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,800
Speaker 3: of Jonah. We discovered very quickly that not all prophet

197
00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,199
Speaker 3: were as obedience or quick to obey as great men

198
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,920
Speaker 3: like Nathan or Elijah or Elisha, who spoke God's truth

199
00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,800
Speaker 3: to people powerfully, knowing very well that it could even

200
00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,400
Speaker 3: cost them their lives. These were faithful men from the start.

201
00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,079
Speaker 3: But Jonah was nothing like these men. So when God

202
00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,880
Speaker 3: called him to go to a gentile land, a very

203
00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,120
Speaker 3: violent and wicked city called Nineveh, and to call the

204
00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,400
Speaker 3: people there to repent and to revival, what did he do?

205
00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,480
Speaker 3: Did he object or ask God why, or share his

206
00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:43,040
Speaker 3: fears or frustrations with God? No? He ran. He was

207
00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,720
Speaker 3: a runaway, would be prophet? Now, before we judge him

208
00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,120
Speaker 3: too quickly. How many times have some of us run

209
00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,880
Speaker 3: from the will of God in our lives? How many

210
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:57,000
Speaker 3: times have we refused to obey God? But Jonah wasn't

211
00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,120
Speaker 3: acting just out of self preservation calling this man to

212
00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:06,600
Speaker 3: go to the gentiles. They were enemies, very violent enemies

213
00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,880
Speaker 3: of Israel. Surely they deserve whatever judgment and devastation was

214
00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,160
Speaker 3: coming their way. Why would God want to save the

215
00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:19,440
Speaker 3: wicked Ninavites anyway? So instead of obeying God, Jonah headed

216
00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,440
Speaker 3: to the nearest port and caught a ship in the

217
00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,920
Speaker 3: opposite direction of Nineveh, a boat headed to Tarshis. It,

218
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,000
Speaker 3: of course, was a very futile attempt to run from God,

219
00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,040
Speaker 3: because it is impossible to run from God, and it

220
00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,200
Speaker 3: wasn't long before the Lord came after him. His boat

221
00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:40,360
Speaker 3: ride away from God's will soon hit rough seas. The

222
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,200
Speaker 3: vessel was tossed about in a storm in the waves,

223
00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,800
Speaker 3: terrifying the sailors, who began praying to their false gods.

224
00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,320
Speaker 3: They woke up Jonah, who somehow managed to sleep through

225
00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,640
Speaker 3: the terra, and urged him to pray to his own

226
00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,960
Speaker 3: God lest they all die. But pray as they might,

227
00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,920
Speaker 3: the seas just got rougher and rougher. Desperate, the sailors

228
00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,840
Speaker 3: di to cast lots to decide who was responsible for

229
00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,400
Speaker 3: their situations, someone to blame, and of course, by that

230
00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,000
Speaker 3: time Jonah most certainly knew it was all his fault.

231
00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,000
Speaker 3: He was the runaway and he was the problem. And

232
00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,440
Speaker 3: when they cast lots, this was confirmed. So Jonah confessed.

233
00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,480
Speaker 3: He came clean and said that he served the Hebrew God,

234
00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,320
Speaker 3: the creator of the sea and the dry land, and

235
00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,040
Speaker 3: he was fleeing from him. Jonah knew that there was

236
00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,880
Speaker 3: only one solution. He was to be thrown overboard to

237
00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,960
Speaker 3: save the men and satisfy God's judgment. The sailors at

238
00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,000
Speaker 3: first resisted this suggestion, doing all they could do to

239
00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,760
Speaker 3: row the boat to safety and calm, but all of

240
00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,320
Speaker 3: their efforts were in vain. Finally they gave in and

241
00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:50,520
Speaker 3: they threw Jonah into the sea. Immediately the waters were still,

242
00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,120
Speaker 3: all was calm. Even in this moment, God had shown

243
00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,880
Speaker 3: these pagan sailors that he was indeed God of heaven

244
00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,000
Speaker 3: and earth, of the land, and the seas of the soul,

245
00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,440
Speaker 3: and the storms. They fell before God, offering sacrifices and

246
00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,840
Speaker 3: vows to this one God who could calm the raging seas.

247
00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:12,480
Speaker 3: One day the disciples of Jesus would witness this same

248
00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,800
Speaker 3: God in the person of Jesus Christ, calming the seas

249
00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:21,960
Speaker 3: and stilling the storm when he said peace be still. Jonah,

250
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,000
Speaker 3: of course, would have been lost, drowned in the deep waters,

251
00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,680
Speaker 3: had God not mercifully provided a rescue. Jonah one point

252
00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,880
Speaker 3: seventeen says this, And the Lord appointed a great fish

253
00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,880
Speaker 3: to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly

254
00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:41,240
Speaker 3: of the fish three days and three nights. You might

255
00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,800
Speaker 3: think that being swallowed by a giant fish was God's punishment,

256
00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:49,600
Speaker 3: when in reality it was God's rescue plan. Was it terrifying,

257
00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,000
Speaker 3: of course, was it very unpleasant, yes, without a doubt.

258
00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,320
Speaker 3: But what was the alternative for Jonah being swallowed by

259
00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,600
Speaker 3: the deep, dying alone and never having fulfilled his purpose

260
00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,480
Speaker 3: in life or to find in God a rescue plan.

261
00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,840
Speaker 3: The fish was a second chance for Jonah, and as

262
00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,840
Speaker 3: he awoke in the belly of the fish, he sang

263
00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,080
Speaker 3: a song of praise and adoration to God. Just like

264
00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,040
Speaker 3: the Ninevites, Jonah did not deserve to be spared his

265
00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,720
Speaker 3: gruesome fate, and yet as he worshiped God, he sang

266
00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,879
Speaker 3: to the Lord, Salvation belongs to the Lord. And that

267
00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,760
Speaker 3: is a great truth that we always must remember, that

268
00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:34,000
Speaker 3: salvation always comes from God. At God's command the fish

269
00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,240
Speaker 3: through Jonah up on the shore. Perhaps now this reluctant

270
00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,719
Speaker 3: prophet was ready to announce to the people of Nineveh

271
00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,159
Speaker 3: that they also could repent and find salvation in God.

272
00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,400
Speaker 3: That's what we'll find out in tomorrow's reading. Dear God,

273
00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,600
Speaker 3: we thank you that you are always the God of

274
00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,760
Speaker 3: the second chance and as many chances as we need

275
00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,240
Speaker 3: when we truly confess our sins and come to you.

276
00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,880
Speaker 3: We thank you for the Cross and the promise of salvation.

277
00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,280
Speaker 3: We know that salvation comes from you, and you only

278
00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,200
Speaker 3: thank you for your son Jesus Christ, who died, who

279
00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,400
Speaker 3: was buried and on the third day rose again, so

280
00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,159
Speaker 3: that this good news message could be delivered to the

281
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,639
Speaker 3: whole world. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible

282
00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,480
Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.

283
00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,840
Speaker 3: Download Theprey dot com app and make Bible study in

284
00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,000
Speaker 3: prayer the priority of your life. And if you enjoyed

285
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,480
Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love because by

286
00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,840
Speaker 3: sharing the Word of God, you can make a huge

287
00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,119
Speaker 3: difference in someone's life. And let me encourage you to

288
00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,240
Speaker 3: go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham dot

289
00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,880
Speaker 3: org to find multiple resources, many resources for your Christian

290
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,359
Speaker 3: walk and life. God bless you and have a great day.

291
00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,240
Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare

292
00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:02,440
Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money with us out sacrificing quality.

293
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,159
Speaker 4: Welcome to the Pray News podcast, where hope is our

294
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,560
Speaker 4: only bias. Each day we'll unpack the most prominent stories

295
00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,159
Speaker 4: happening in the news and offer a Christian perspective. We

296
00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,760
Speaker 4: won't shy away from the hard topics and we won't

297
00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,359
Speaker 4: dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more than

298
00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,520
Speaker 4: a daily brief on the news. It's a way to

299
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:26,000
Speaker 4: be informed and transformed. Listen to Prey News on the

300
00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:30,200
Speaker 4: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.