Prophet Jonah and Salvation

Introduction Who was Jonah? Who was Jonah? What did God ask him to do? What did God ask him to do? Why did God care about saving those people? Why did God care about saving those people? What was Jonah’s reaction? What was Jonah’s reaction? Why do you think Jonah escaped from doing his mission? Why do you think Jonah escaped from doing his mission? Who else escaped from God’s call before Jonah? Who else escaped from God’s call before Jonah? How can we describe Jonah? How can we describe Jonah? Scared maybe; Scared maybe; fanatic; fanatic; Stubborn Stubborn Can we escape from God? Can we escape from God?

How did the Lord Save Jonah? How does God bring us back to him? Discomfort Tenderness 3. Nature God is able to do everything and all things obey Him but man is free to obey or disobey.

How did God Save the Sailors? The Gentile sailors were better than the prophet who escaped: 1. They prayed to their gods. 2. They prayed with the spirit of fellowship. 3. They believed that the calamity was because of the sin of one of them. 4. They asked Jonah to pray to his God so they were not fanatic. 5. They had a sensitive conscience. They only made sure that Jonah deserved death but they refused to carry out the sentence even after drawing lots. 6. They prayed for forgiveness before they threw him into the sea: “Lay not on us innocent blood”. 7. In this way justice and mercy filled their hearts. 8. They believed in the miraculous power of God.

God saves Nineveh How did Jonah do his Job? How did Jonah do his Job? God does not want the death of sinners rather than they return and live God does not want the death of sinners rather than they return and live They offered true repentance They offered true repentance All the people fasted even animals God also saved Jonah from his anger God also saved Jonah from his anger

Jonah and Salvation Whom did God Save in Jonah’s Story? Whom did God Save in Jonah’s Story? Jonah himself, Jonah himself, The Sailors, The Sailors, and the Ninevites and the Ninevites

Jonah is a symbol of Christ Christ was buried three days and three nights in the tomb then He rose up from the dead. He was alive and granted us the eternal life Jonah remained inside the belly of the whale three days and three nights then he went out and was alive The death of Christ on the cross caused the Salvation of those who believed in Him and saved them from eternal death Throwing Jonah into the sea saved all the sailors of the ship from certain death Jesus chose to be incarnated and become man to die for the world then rise from the dead to grant salvation to those who believe in Him God sent Jonah to the people of Nineveh so that they might repent and be saved JesusJonah

Conclusions We cannot escape from God’s call: We cannot escape from God’s call: “Where can I go from Your Spirit?” (Psalm 139:7). God might allow temptations to make us return back to him: God might allow temptations to make us return back to him: “The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18). God does not want the death of sinners rather than they return and live. God does not want the death of sinners rather than they return and live. Resist despair so that you may proceed and correct your way of life. Quick obedience that results from the heart to the Lord. God is able to do everything and all things obey Him but man is free to obey or disobey. We don’t need to cast lots in our life. The Spirit abides in us and we do not seek any sign from outside. Pray the Lord to receive our life and correct it as He likes.