“The LORD said to Jonah: “…GO TO NINEVEH. Announce my judgment against them…” But Jonah got up and went in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION to get away from the LORD.” (Jonah 1:1-3) Nineveh (modern-day Mosul, Iraq) was one of the oldest and greatest cities in ancient times. It became one of the largest and most prosperous cities. Nineveh was most fully developed by King Sennacherib one of the most famous Assyrian kings. It was mentioned in The Book of Jonah, where it is associated with great sin and corruption.
God told Jonah to Announce God’s judgment against Nineveh because, “God saw HOW WICKED its people are.” (Jonah 1:2) Jonah boarded a ship going away from Nineveh, and a great storm came upon the ship about to cause it to sink. The ship’s crew said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. They said, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble?” Jonah said, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; For I know that this great storm IS BECAUSE OF ME.“ (Jonah 1:7-8, 12)
They threw Jonah overboard; he was swallowed by a “Great Fish” which took him to Nineveh and was spit out. Jonah preached a great revival, and 120,000 persons were saved. Many say that this story was fiction, but Jesus said, “…as JONAH was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:40) How do we know what to do? “The LORD our GOD has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that God has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
IF WE JUST OBEY THE LORD GREAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham