1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,100
A prophet ran from God.

2
00:00:03,050 --> 00:00:05,640
God sent a storm after him,

3
00:00:05,590 --> 00:00:09,010
and then something far
stranger than a storm:

4
00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,550
mercy.

5
00:00:11,350 --> 00:00:18,800
Jonah

6
00:00:18,710 --> 00:00:20,970
Now the LORD’s
word came to Jonah

7
00:00:21,010 --> 00:00:23,220
the son
of Amittai, saying,

8
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,390
Arise, go to Nineveh,
that great city,

9
00:00:26,430 --> 00:00:29,070
and preach against it,
for their wickedness

10
00:00:29,110 --> 00:00:30,720
has come up
before me.

11
00:00:33,310 --> 00:00:36,300
But Jonah rose up
to flee to Tarshish

12
00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:38,450
from the presence
of the LORD.

13
00:00:38,490 --> 00:00:39,940
He went down
to Joppa,

14
00:00:39,980 --> 00:00:42,420
and found a ship
going to Tarshish;

15
00:00:42,460 --> 00:00:44,040
so he
paid its fare,

16
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,670
and went down
into it,

17
00:00:45,710 --> 00:00:47,240
to go
with them to Tarshish

18
00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,180
from the presence
of the LORD.

19
00:00:49,900 --> 00:00:52,420
But the LORD sent
out a great wind

20
00:00:52,460 --> 00:00:54,110
on the sea,
and there was

21
00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:56,490
a mighty storm
on the sea,

22
00:00:56,530 --> 00:00:58,120
so that the ship
was likely

23
00:00:58,160 --> 00:00:59,380
to break up.

24
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,470
Then the mariners
were afraid,

25
00:01:04,510 --> 00:01:07,530
and every man cried
to his god.

26
00:01:07,570 --> 00:01:09,060
They threw
the cargo that was

27
00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:10,660
in the ship
into the sea

28
00:01:10,700 --> 00:01:12,240
to lighten the ship.

29
00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:14,750
But Jonah
had gone down

30
00:01:14,790 --> 00:01:17,270
into the innermost parts
of the ship

31
00:01:17,310 --> 00:01:19,000
and he
was laying down,

32
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:20,980
and was fast asleep.

33
00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:23,120
So the ship
master came to him,

34
00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:24,400
and said to him,

35
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,000
What do you mean,
sleeper?

36
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,050
Arise, call
on your God!

37
00:01:28,090 --> 00:01:29,510
Maybe your God
will notice us,

38
00:01:29,550 --> 00:01:31,290
so that we
won’t perish.

39
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:33,820
They all said
to each other,

40
00:01:34,020 --> 00:01:34,700
Come!

41
00:01:34,740 --> 00:01:36,200
Let’s cast lots,
that we may know

42
00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:37,710
who is responsible
for this evil

43
00:01:37,750 --> 00:01:38,990
that is on us.

44
00:01:39,180 --> 00:01:40,820
So they cast lots,

45
00:01:40,860 --> 00:01:42,990
and the lot fell
on Jonah.

46
00:01:44,490 --> 00:01:46,170
Then they asked him,

47
00:01:46,350 --> 00:01:47,390
Tell us, please,

48
00:01:47,430 --> 00:01:50,010
for whose cause this
evil is on us.

49
00:01:50,170 --> 00:01:51,540
What is your occupation?

50
00:01:51,580 --> 00:01:52,990
Where do
you come from?

51
00:01:53,170 --> 00:01:54,130
What is your country?

52
00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:55,650
Of what
people are you?

53
00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,470
He said to them,

54
00:01:57,730 --> 00:01:58,670
I am a Hebrew,

55
00:01:58,710 --> 00:01:59,950
and I fear
the LORD,

56
00:01:59,990 --> 00:02:01,730
the God of heaven,
who has made

57
00:02:01,770 --> 00:02:03,940
the sea
and the dry land.

58
00:02:04,140 --> 00:02:07,460
Then the men
were exceedingly afraid,

59
00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:08,810
and said to him,

60
00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:10,410
What have you done?

61
00:02:10,740 --> 00:02:13,050
For the men knew
that he was fleeing

62
00:02:13,090 --> 00:02:15,370
from the presence
of the LORD,

63
00:02:15,410 --> 00:02:17,100
because he
had told them.

64
00:02:17,830 --> 00:02:19,720
Then they said
to him,

65
00:02:19,980 --> 00:02:21,020
What shall we do
to you,

66
00:02:21,060 --> 00:02:23,380
that the sea may
be calm to us?

67
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,220
For the sea grew
more and more stormy.

68
00:02:27,260 --> 00:02:28,470
He said to them,

69
00:02:28,710 --> 00:02:30,050
Take me up,
and throw me

70
00:02:30,090 --> 00:02:31,330
into the sea.

71
00:02:31,370 --> 00:02:33,270
Then the sea will
be calm for you;

72
00:02:33,310 --> 00:02:34,910
for I know
that because of me

73
00:02:34,950 --> 00:02:36,890
this great storm is
on you.

74
00:02:37,470 --> 00:02:39,900
Nevertheless the men
rowed hard

75
00:02:39,940 --> 00:02:42,220
to get them back
to the land;

76
00:02:42,260 --> 00:02:43,750
but they could not,

77
00:02:43,790 --> 00:02:45,250
for the sea
grew more

78
00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:47,760
and more
stormy against them.

79
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,650
Therefore they cried
to the LORD,

80
00:02:49,690 --> 00:02:50,690
and said,

81
00:02:50,890 --> 00:02:52,870
We beg you,
LORD, we beg you,

82
00:02:52,910 --> 00:02:54,770
don’t let us die
for this man’s life,

83
00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:56,640
and don’t lay
on us innocent blood;

84
00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:57,620
for you, LORD,

85
00:02:57,660 --> 00:02:59,620
have done
as it pleased you.

86
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,440
So they
took up Jonah

87
00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,920
and threw him
into the sea;

88
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,450
and the sea
ceased its raging.

89
00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,250
Then the men feared
the LORD exceedingly;

90
00:03:14,290 --> 00:03:15,800
and they offered
a sacrifice

91
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,020
to the LORD
and made vows.

92
00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,510
The LORD prepared
a huge fish

93
00:03:21,550 --> 00:03:23,410
to swallow up Jonah,

94
00:03:23,450 --> 00:03:24,750
and Jonah was
in the belly

95
00:03:24,790 --> 00:03:27,820
of the fish three
days and three nights.

96
00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:32,770
Then Jonah prayed
to the LORD,

97
00:03:32,810 --> 00:03:35,750
his God, out
of the fish’s belly.

98
00:03:35,790 --> 00:03:36,810
He said,

99
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:38,680
I called because
of my affliction

100
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:39,740
to the LORD.

101
00:03:39,780 --> 00:03:41,120
He answered me.

102
00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,400
Out of the belly
of Sheol I cried.

103
00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:44,780
You heard my voice.

104
00:03:44,820 --> 00:03:46,380
For you threw me
into the depths,

105
00:03:46,420 --> 00:03:47,910
in the heart
of the seas.

106
00:03:47,950 --> 00:03:49,670
The flood was
all around me.

107
00:03:49,710 --> 00:03:50,450
All your waves

108
00:03:50,490 --> 00:03:52,470
and your billows
passed over me.

109
00:03:52,510 --> 00:03:54,050
I said,
I have been banished

110
00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:55,330
from your sight;
yet I

111
00:03:55,370 --> 00:03:57,710
will look again
toward your holy temple.

112
00:03:58,010 --> 00:04:01,350
The waters surrounded me,
even to the soul.

113
00:04:01,390 --> 00:04:03,110
The deep
was around me.

114
00:04:03,150 --> 00:04:05,480
The weeds were
wrapped around my head.

115
00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:06,700
I went down
to the bottoms

116
00:04:06,740 --> 00:04:07,880
of the mountains.

117
00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,440
The earth barred me
in forever; yet you

118
00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,600
have brought my life
up from the pit,

119
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,040
LORD my God.

120
00:04:15,770 --> 00:04:17,850
When my soul
fainted within me,

121
00:04:17,890 --> 00:04:19,510
I remembered the LORD.

122
00:04:19,550 --> 00:04:21,050
My prayer came
in to you,

123
00:04:21,090 --> 00:04:22,920
into your holy temple.

124
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,960
Those who regard
vain idols forsake

125
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,340
their own mercy.

126
00:04:26,380 --> 00:04:27,760
But I
will sacrifice to you

127
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,680
with the voice
of thanksgiving.

128
00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,620
I will pay that
which I have vowed.

129
00:04:31,660 --> 00:04:33,820
Salvation belongs
to the LORD.

130
00:04:35,950 --> 00:04:38,270
Then the LORD spoke
to the fish,

131
00:04:38,310 --> 00:04:39,900
and it
vomited out Jonah

132
00:04:39,940 --> 00:04:41,440
on the dry land.

133
00:04:43,660 --> 00:04:45,840
The LORD’s word came
to Jonah

134
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,180
the second time, saying,

135
00:04:48,430 --> 00:04:50,030
Arise, go to Nineveh,

136
00:04:50,070 --> 00:04:52,180
that great city,
and preach

137
00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:54,320
to it the message
that I give you.

138
00:04:56,390 --> 00:04:59,350
So Jonah arose,
and went to Nineveh,

139
00:04:59,390 --> 00:05:01,570
according
to the LORD’s word.

140
00:05:02,590 --> 00:05:06,270
Now Nineveh was
an exceedingly great city,

141
00:05:06,310 --> 00:05:08,850
three days’ journey across.

142
00:05:08,890 --> 00:05:10,930
Jonah began to enter
into the city

143
00:05:10,970 --> 00:05:13,640
a day’s journey,
and he cried out,

144
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:14,680
and said,

145
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,060
In forty days,
Nineveh will be overthrown!

146
00:05:19,140 --> 00:05:22,130
The people
of Nineveh believed God;

147
00:05:22,170 --> 00:05:24,100
and they proclaimed
a fast and put

148
00:05:24,140 --> 00:05:25,420
on sackcloth,

149
00:05:25,460 --> 00:05:28,260
from their greatest even
to their least.

150
00:05:28,950 --> 00:05:31,590
The news reached
the king of Nineveh,

151
00:05:31,630 --> 00:05:33,770
and he arose
from his throne,

152
00:05:33,810 --> 00:05:35,680
took off
his royal robe,

153
00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,440
covered himself with sackcloth,
and sat in ashes.

154
00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:42,620
He made a proclamation

155
00:05:42,660 --> 00:05:45,690
and published through
Nineveh by the decree

156
00:05:45,730 --> 00:05:48,750
of the king
and his nobles, saying,

157
00:05:48,910 --> 00:05:51,010
Let neither man
nor animal,

158
00:05:51,050 --> 00:05:53,930
herd nor flock,
taste anything;

159
00:05:53,970 --> 00:05:56,600
let them not feed,
nor drink water;

160
00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,040
but let them
be covered with sackcloth,

161
00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:00,780
both man and animal,

162
00:06:00,820 --> 00:06:03,280
and let them
cry mightily to God.

163
00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,280
Yes,
let them turn everyone

164
00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,700
from his evil way
and from the violence

165
00:06:07,740 --> 00:06:09,390
that is
in his hands.

166
00:06:09,430 --> 00:06:11,230
Who knows whether God
will not turn

167
00:06:11,270 --> 00:06:12,230
and relent,

168
00:06:12,270 --> 00:06:14,470
and turn away
from his fierce anger,

169
00:06:14,510 --> 00:06:16,470
so that we
might not perish?

170
00:06:17,060 --> 00:06:18,580
God saw their works,

171
00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:21,460
that they turned
from their evil way.

172
00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:23,310
God relented
of the disaster

173
00:06:23,350 --> 00:06:25,510
which he said he
would do to them,

174
00:06:25,550 --> 00:06:27,070
and he
didn’t do it.

175
00:06:29,430 --> 00:06:32,410
But it
displeased Jonah exceedingly,

176
00:06:32,450 --> 00:06:34,220
and he was angry.

177
00:06:34,260 --> 00:06:35,390
He prayed
to the LORD,

178
00:06:35,430 --> 00:06:36,430
and said,

179
00:06:36,550 --> 00:06:39,010
Please, LORD, wasn’t
this what I said

180
00:06:39,050 --> 00:06:41,090
when I was still
in my own country?

181
00:06:41,130 --> 00:06:43,480
Therefore I hurried
to flee to Tarshish,

182
00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:44,440
for I knew
that you are

183
00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,480
a gracious God
and merciful,

184
00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:47,620
slow to anger,

185
00:06:47,660 --> 00:06:49,620
and abundant
in loving kindness,

186
00:06:49,660 --> 00:06:51,600
and you relent
of doing harm.

187
00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,250
Therefore now, LORD,
take, I beg you,

188
00:06:54,290 --> 00:06:56,110
my life from me,
for it is better

189
00:06:56,150 --> 00:06:58,150
for me to die
than to live.

190
00:06:58,340 --> 00:06:59,940
The LORD said,

191
00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:01,070
Is it right
for you

192
00:07:01,110 --> 00:07:02,270
to be angry?

193
00:07:04,740 --> 00:07:07,130
Then Jonah went out
of the city

194
00:07:07,170 --> 00:07:08,670
and sat
on the east side

195
00:07:08,710 --> 00:07:09,910
of the city,

196
00:07:09,950 --> 00:07:11,740
and there made himself
a booth

197
00:07:11,780 --> 00:07:14,010
and sat under it
in the shade,

198
00:07:14,050 --> 00:07:15,830
until he might
see what would become

199
00:07:15,870 --> 00:07:16,920
of the city.

200
00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,120
The LORD God prepared
a vine

201
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,810
and made it to
come up over Jonah,

202
00:07:22,850 --> 00:07:23,510
that it might be

203
00:07:23,550 --> 00:07:25,340
a shade
over his head

204
00:07:25,380 --> 00:07:28,040
to deliver him
from his discomfort.

205
00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,440
So Jonah was
exceedingly glad because

206
00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:31,630
of the vine.

207
00:07:32,330 --> 00:07:35,010
But God prepared
a worm at dawn

208
00:07:35,050 --> 00:07:37,110
the next day,
and it chewed

209
00:07:37,150 --> 00:07:39,590
on the vine
so that it withered.

210
00:07:39,630 --> 00:07:41,150
When the sun arose,

211
00:07:41,190 --> 00:07:44,090
God prepared
a sultry east wind;

212
00:07:44,130 --> 00:07:46,380
and the sun beat
on Jonah’s head,

213
00:07:46,420 --> 00:07:47,540
so that he
was faint

214
00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:50,750
and requested for himself
that he might die.

215
00:07:50,790 --> 00:07:51,780
He said,

216
00:07:51,820 --> 00:07:53,050
It is better
for me to die

217
00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:54,300
than to live.

218
00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,780
God said to Jonah,

219
00:07:57,010 --> 00:07:57,920
Is it right
for you

220
00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,000
to be angry about
the vine?

221
00:08:01,450 --> 00:08:03,070
He said,

222
00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:04,790
I am right
to be angry,

223
00:08:04,830 --> 00:08:06,250
even to death.

224
00:08:06,830 --> 00:08:08,780
The LORD said,

225
00:08:08,970 --> 00:08:11,150
You have been concerned
for the vine,

226
00:08:11,190 --> 00:08:13,310
for which you
have not labored,

227
00:08:13,350 --> 00:08:15,120
neither made it grow;

228
00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:16,640
which came up
in a night

229
00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,520
and perished
in a night.

230
00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,500
Shouldn’t I be concerned
for Nineveh,

231
00:08:20,540 --> 00:08:22,790
that great city,
in which are more

232
00:08:22,830 --> 00:08:25,410
than one hundred
twenty thousand persons

233
00:08:25,450 --> 00:08:27,490
who can’t discern
between their right hand

234
00:08:27,530 --> 00:08:30,820
and their left hand,
and also many animals?

235
00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,740
The book of Jonah
ends with a question,

236
00:08:40,780 --> 00:08:43,060
and the answer
is left with us.

237
00:08:43,750 --> 00:08:45,890
Jonah ran from God,

238
00:08:45,930 --> 00:08:48,220
and God’s
mercy followed him:

239
00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:50,960
into the storm,
into the deep,

240
00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,770
and into a city
he did not want

241
00:08:52,810 --> 00:08:54,070
to love.

242
00:08:54,110 --> 00:08:57,880
Centuries later, Jesus spoke
of this story.

243
00:08:58,290 --> 00:09:00,500
For as Jonah
was three days

244
00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:02,150
and three nights
in the belly

245
00:09:02,190 --> 00:09:04,800
of the huge fish,
so will the Son

246
00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,500
of Man be three
days and three nights

247
00:09:07,540 --> 00:09:09,280
in the heart
of the earth.

248
00:09:09,990 --> 00:09:13,800
…behold, someone greater
than Jonah is here.

249
00:09:14,450 --> 00:09:15,680
Let’s pray.

250
00:09:16,570 --> 00:09:20,680
Lord, when we run,
find us.

251
00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,290
When we sink,
lift us up.

252
00:09:23,330 --> 00:09:24,400
And teach our hearts

253
00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,320
to love
what you love.

254
00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:27,360
Amen.

255
00:09:27,610 --> 00:09:29,100
Tell us
in the comments

256
00:09:29,140 --> 00:09:32,190
where you need
God's mercy this week.

257
00:09:32,230 --> 00:09:35,150
Join us Wednesday
at 8 PM Eastern

258
00:09:35,190 --> 00:09:37,580
as we
study Jonah together.

259
00:09:37,620 --> 00:09:39,600
A new First
Light Bible Story

260
00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,150
premieres every Sunday
at 8 PM Eastern.

261
00:09:43,190 --> 00:09:45,600
Subscribe and tap
the bell.

262
00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,170
Next Sunday,
the story of Ruth.