30/04/2025
JONAH's JEALOUSY
1. The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. Judgment upon the city was averted, and the prophet was angry with Elohiym for saving His enemies.
2. His anger stemmed from his pride that was pricked, because he had put his reputation on the line. He had openly predicted the fall of Nineveh in forty daysโa message in which he, as an Israelite nationalist, took some delightโand then his prophecy seemed to fail. No doubt this embarrassed Jonah, for to those who did not understand the ways of Elohiym, it made him appear to be a false prophet.
3. Prophecies are usually conditional, even if Scripture does not use the word if. Prophecies of judgment can be averted if the people repent, unless the situation has gone too far for judgment to be averted. For example, when King Jeroboam set up the golden calves shortly after the death of Solomon (1 Kings 12:28-30),
we read in 1 Kings 13:34,
34 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐
๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ค๐๐ข, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฎ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐.
Again, we read in 1 Kings 14:15,
15 ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ก, ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง; ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ช๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ผ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข, ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ซ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง. 16 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐
๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ค๐๐ข, ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐๐ฃ.
4. Yet even after 200 years, the prophet Isaiah understood that Israel could still avert disaster if they would repent, for he says in Isaiah 1:18-20,
18 โ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐จ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง,โ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ผ๐, โ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ; ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐จ๐ค๐ฃ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ค๐ก. 19 ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฎ, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐; 20 ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ก, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐.โ ๐๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ.
Israel refused to obey the law of Elohiym, and so a short time later, the nation was destroyed by the Assyrians from the city of Nineveh.
5. A century later, when the time came for divine judgment to hit the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah, the prophet says in Jer. 7:3, 5, and 7,
3 ๐๐๐ช๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ค๐จ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข ๐ค๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ก, โ๐ผ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ก๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐โฆ 5 ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐จ, ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐งโฆ 7 ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ก๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง.โ
6. Nonetheless, soon afterward, Elohiym told the prophet to stop praying for Jerusalem and the people of Judah, because He would not answer such a prayer. The verdict had been rendered in the divine court. Jer. 7:14-16 says,
14 ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ง๐, ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐, ๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ, ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ก๐ค๐. 15 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฉ, ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ, ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข. 16 ๐ผ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐; ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช.
7. It appears that when the verdict is rendered in the divine court, they reach a point of no return. But even so, it is still possible to pray for lesser things within the context of the overall judgment. Jeremiah could not pray to spare the city and its temple, but he could pray that fewer people would die in the siege. Furthermore, we see from Jer. 27:12, 13 that if the people had submitted to the verdict, they could be given a wooden yoke, rather than an iron yoke.
12 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐
๐ช๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐, โ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐! 13 ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐, ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐, ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐, ๐๐จ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ?
8. In the next chapter, Jeremiah was called to walk around the city with a wooden yoke on his neck to send his message to the people. But the prophet Hananiah took it and broke it, prophesying that the power of Babylon would be broken within two years. So Jer. 28:13 gives a further verdict:
13 ๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐, โ๐๐๐ช๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ผ๐, โ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ค๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐ฎ๐ค๐ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃโ.โ
Throughout all of this, we see the mercy of Elohiym, for even after judgment is pronounced, it is possible to lessen its effects. We only have to know what verdicts Elohiym has already decreed, so that we do not try to reverse His just verdicts, as so many (in their ignorance) attempt to do.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
9. When the twelve spies gave their report about the land of Canaan, ten gave an evil report. The people believed the evil report, and so Elohiymโs verdict was rendered in Num. 14:33-35. Israel was sentenced to remain in the wilderness for a full forty years. Some of the people then appeared to repent. Num. 14:40, 41 says,
40 ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ง๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ, ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐, โ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐; ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ข๐๐จ๐๐.โ 41 ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐, โ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ผ๐, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐? The verdict has already been rendered. Their only option was to repent by submitting to His verdict. But in this case, they tried to use repentance as an excuse to overturn the verdict. It did not work, because the Amalekites โstruck them and beat them down as far as Hormahโ (Num. 14:45).
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐
10. When Israel demanded a king, Elohiym gave them Saul. Often Elohiym gives us our desires in order to show us that our desires are not good for us. Elohiym judged Israel by giving them Saul as their king. Once the verdict was rendered, the people were stuck with him for the next forty years. It was the same length of time that had been given to the Israelites in the wilderness.
11. Jonah 4:1, 2 says, 1. ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐
๐ค๐ฃ๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ. 2 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐, โ๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐, ๐๐ผ๐, ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ? ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ง๐, ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ, ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐จ๐, ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข, ๐จ๐ก๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฎ.โ
This is the first time we are told about Jonahโs motive in trying to run from Elohiym . We learn that he took a ship toward Tarshish, not because he was afraid of the king of Nineveh, but because he was afraid that Elohiym might cancel judgment if the Ninevites repented. He knew Elohiym better than most of the people. In a time when the people thought Elohiym was a rather harsh tyrant, the prophet knew Him to be โgracious and compassionate.โ
12. Would that people today would have the same revelation of Elohiym's grace! But herein lies the problem. The people want to serve a harsh Elohiym, because they want Him to judge their enemies harshly. But they have no understanding, because if this were truly the nature of Elohiym, then He would also be harsh with Israel.
13. Generally, people want Elohiym to be loving with them, but harsh toward their enemies. The double standard seems good to them. But Elohiym is impartial in His judgments and in His grace. Because โElohiym is loveโ (1 John 4:8), He is impartial in His love toward all. For this reason, He insists that we love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18), and that we love foreigners as ourselves as well (Lev. 19:34).
14. Jonahโs problem was not that he misunderstood the love of Elohiym, but that he did not share the same love for Nineveh that Elohiym had. Jonahโs love was partial; Elohiymโs was impartial. In fact, Jonah was so upset about this that he wanted to die. Jonah 4:3 says,
3 ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐, ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ข๐, ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐๐.โ
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐
15. Abraham was called to be a blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3). People today are fond of quoting the first part of the verse, while forgetting the last half.
3 "๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ช๐ง๐จ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐๐".
16. Peter, the Jewish nationalist, ignored the first part of this verse in Acts 3:25, 26, saying on the day of Pentecost (Feast Of Weeks),
25 "๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ, ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ผ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ข, โ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐๐.โ 26 "๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ, ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ".
17. The calling of Abraham, which YAHUSHA came to fulfill, was to bless all families of the earth. He blessed Judah FIRST, but not exclusively. Peter then defined what it means to be a blessing. To bless means to turn people from their wicked ways.
18. If Jonah had understood the calling of Abraham, he would have rejoiced at the opportunity to be a blessing to the people of Nineveh. One wonders what would have happened if Jonah had desired to fulfill the calling of Abraham. If he had stayed in Nineveh, he might have done more than cause the people to repent. He might have taught them the ways of Elohiym. He might have discipled them. He might have turned Assyria into Israelโs friend!
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐กโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐๐
19. But this is more than a story of narrow nationalism vs. Elohiym's interest in all nations. It is a prophecy of universal reconciliation, the conversion of Elohiymโs enemies. It is also the story of believers who disagree with Elohiym's plan to save all mankind. So Jonah 4:4 says,
4. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐, โ๐ฟ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ?โ
To put it another way, Elohiym asks Jonah, โIs your anger justifiable?โ Elohiym was really questioning Jonahโs wisdom and love. It appears that Jonah did not answer. Jonah 4:5 says,
5 "๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐
๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ. ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง [๐จ๐ช๐ ๐ ๐๐, โ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐โ] ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ".
20. Prophetically speaking, the prophet kept Sukkoth, the feast of booths, or Tabernacles. Elohiym then assisted him in this by appointing a plant to shade him from the sun. Jonah 4:6 says,
6 ๐๐ค ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ [๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ, โ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐โ], ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง ๐
๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐
๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ.
21. This was no ordinary plant. The kekayon is the castor-oil plant. It is named from the root word kaya, โto vomit.โ when we were young and our mom wanted to get rid of worms in our belly, we were given castor oil to combat worms and parasites. I do not think I ever took it without vomiting.
22. But why would Elohiym give such a plant to shade Jonah in his Sukkah? I believe that it was Elohiymโs medicine to combat the spiritual worms in his belly (innermost being, or heart). All was not well in Jonahโs heart, though he was a prophet and heard from Elohiym. To be angry at Elohiym for His mercy and grace is not a healthy condition.
23. This problem is emphasized further in Jonah 4:7, "๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ข [๐ฉ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐] ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ญ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐๐".
Why would Elohiym bless Jonah with a shade plant and then appoint a worm to destroy it? Was it not to reveal Jonahโs unhealthy spiritual condition, as well as the solution to the problem?
24. A towla is a worm, โspecially one which springs from putrefaction,โ according to Geseniusโ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon. The root word is yala, โto utter anything rashly.โ Obviously, Jonah was being warned not to be rash in his answer to Elohiymโs question. At this point, Jonah had said nothing, but Elohiym already heard the words of his heart. A worm was also metaphorical for a despised or weak man. The same Lexicon also tells us that tola means โscarlet.โ It is translated โcrimsonโ in Isaiah 1:18, โ.๐๐๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐จ๐ค๐ฃ [๐ฉ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐], ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ค๐กโ
25. So this was no ordinary worm. The Hebrew text calls it a towla, which is a worm from which crimson dye was extracted in ancient times. According to Henry Morris' book, Biblical Basis For Modern Science, page 73,
โ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐
, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
. ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐
๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
.โ
This tells us that the worm in the story of Jonah stained the booth with crimson as it gave its life to bring forth offspring. Is this not a perfect picture of Messiah, who gave His life to bring many sons into glory? Psalm 22:6 prophesies of YAHUSHA Messiah in His death on the stake, saying, "๐ ๐๐ข ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ข [๐๐๐.๐ฉ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐], ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ, ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐". When YAHUSHA died, His blood stained the stake, even as the crimson from the worm stained the trunk of the gourd in Jonah's day.
26. Hence, Elohiym sent the vomit plant to show how Jonah was comfortable with his own vomit. Then He sent the crimson worm to show how the death of the Messiah was sent to heal his unhealthy condition. Unfortunately, the prophet had to revert back to Passover, so his Sukkoth was cancelled.
This suggests that those who disagree with Elohiym's plan to save His enemies are not yet eligible to keep the feast of Tabernacles.
27. Jonah 4:8 says, "๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐ฃ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ฎ๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐
๐ค๐ฃ๐๐โ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ค๐ช๐ก ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐, '๐ฟ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐๐'.โ
An east wind signifies judgment from the eastโperhaps from Nineveh itself, which was โeast.โ It appears that Jonah was a type of Israel being judged for its bad attitude and for disagreeing with the divine plan to reconcile His enemies.
28. Even so, this scorching east wind, with the sun beating down on his head, did not make Jonah repent. Elohiym then asked about his anger over the plant in Jonah 4:9, Then Elohiym said to Jonah, โ๐ฟ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃt?โ And he said, โ๐ฟ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃt"
29. These are the last words of Jonah in the biblical account. It ends with no solution, suggesting that Israel, whom Jonah represented, would remain angry with Elohiym. It implies that Israel would have to be judged by the โeast wind,โ that is, by Nineveh. He even prophesied that he would be โangry even to death.โ So Israel as a nation was to die, and the people were to be scattered throughout the nations.
๐๐ก๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ก๐ข๐ฒ๐ฆ
30. Jonah 4:10, 11 concludes, 10 ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐, โ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ , ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ. 11 ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐, ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ 120,000 ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐จ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐จ?โ
Verse 6 says that โJonah was extremely happy about the plant,โ but not about the grace and mercy of Elohiym. We can view this in at least two ways. First, he was happy about the plant which formed his sukkah (i.e., the feast of Sukkoth). He had a desire to receive the glorified body through the feast of Tabernacles, but unfortunately, he was also happy wallowing in his own vomit.
31. He was selfish, in that he was more interested in his own comfort than in the welfare of Nineveh. He loved Israel, but not Assyria. This disqualified him and destroyed his dreams of fulfilling Tabernacles. He still needed to go back to Passover and learn the real scope of the work that YAHUSHA was yet to do on the Stake for the sin of the world (1 John 2:2).
We cannot be angry with Elohiym and still be in agreement with Him. Tabernacles is about agreement, and it is for true believers, not for those whose hearts are bitter.