Theory question 103
God's Divine Love(a) Describe the experience of Jonah as he fled from the presence of God to Tarshish (b) State two lessons that could be learnt from his flight.
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(a) God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and cry against it, for its wickedness had come up before Him (Jonah 1:1-2).
Jonah went down to Joppa, paid the fare and boarded a ship for Tarshish to flee from the Lord (Jonah 1:3).
The Lord sent a great wind; the ship was about to break up; the sailors were afraid, cried to their gods and threw the cargo overboard (Jonah 1:4-5).
Jonah was fast asleep in the inner part of the ship; the captain woke him and told him to call on his God (Jonah 1:5-6).
They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah; he confessed he was a Hebrew who feared the Lord and was fleeing from Him (Jonah 1:7-10).
He told them to throw him into the sea; after trying to row to land, they prayed and threw him in, and the sea became calm (Jonah 1:11-15).
The sailors feared the Lord and offered sacrifice (Jonah 1:16).
A great fish swallowed Jonah; he was in it three days and nights, prayed, and was vomited on dry land (Jonah 1:17–2:10).
(b) Any two: no one can run away from God; disobedience brings trouble on oneself and others; God disciplines His servants to bring them back; God hears prayer even in distress; God's purpose will be fulfilled.
Narrate Jonah 1–2, then two lessons.