Jonah & The FishBy Steven F. Deaton |
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Do you believe the story in the Old Testament about Jonah and the fish? Remember, Jonah was told to preach to the city of Nineveh, but he refused and ran the opposite direction (Jon. 1:1-3). While on the sea a great storm arose and the only way to calm it was to throw Jonah overboard. So it was, when Jonah was tossed over the sea settled down and he was swallowed by a fish (Jon. 1:4-17). After spending three days in the fish, Jonah was spit out on dry land (Jon. 2:10). He was told again to go to Nineveh; he did and the people repented (Jon. 3:1-10). Some people find it hard to believe that a man was actually swallowed by a fish, spent three days in its belly, and then was vomited out. However, that is exactly what the Bible teaches. Jesus believed the story about Jonah. In fact, He said Jonah’s experience pointed to His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 12:39-41). As Jonah was a sign to Nineveh, Jesus would be a sign to His generation—and the whole world. If you believe one, you must believe the other. If you refuse to believe in one, you cannot believe the other. Just as Jonah’s preaching spared the people of Nineveh from certain destruction, so may Jesus’ preaching save your soul from eternal punishment. Believe on Him who was raised from the dead and be baptized in His name (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). |
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