The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1606 Jonah kc 5

There shall no sign be given you,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

What an ordeal Jonah the prophet has endured as a result of his trying to avoid God's first command to go to Nineveh and preach salvation unto a heathen nation, especially to the nation God would use as the "rod of His correction" to come against Jonah's own brethren and his beloved nation of Israel. And yet what an humble and heartrending prayer Jonah cried out to his heavenly Father when he was cast into the sea and the waters and seaweed compassed him about as he sank below the billows and "His waves passed over him".

However, God in His infinite mercy would raise up Jonah's life from corruption (vs. 2:6) after being in the "midst of the sea" for three days and three nights, and bring him forth upon the dry land as a type of the Savior. That is the point at which we begin today's study.

Jonah 2:10
And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
The LORD commanded the great fish that "He had prepared to swallow up Jonah" (vs. 1:17) to now "let go" of this prophet and bring him forth upon the dry land, even the spiritually dry land, that his return from "the midst of the sea", from "the heart of the earth", would become a witness and a sign that he was truly sent from God.

This is the "Sign of the prophet Jonah" and as a result the Ninevites, though they believe it was Dagon their "fish god" who brought forth Jonah, will listen to the prophet and the entire city will "repent at the preaching of Jonas". Yet we read that the scribes and Pharisees at the time of Jesus Christ, who would also be given the Sign of the prophet Jonah, would not repent at the preaching and teaching of Messiah, One who was greater than Jonah, even the Son of the living God.

Matthew 12:38
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

[39]But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

[40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

[41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.


To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.



The "American Wisdom Series"

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.



If you have eyes to see and ears to hear
you will want to visit Kings Chapel Bible Studies
@ www.kingschapel.org



3