Letters From Grandpa #510

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 510

Dearest grandchild,

Today’ letter will be about the prophet Jonah. As you know, God commanded Jonah to preach to the city of Nineveh. Jonah was so prejudiced against them, however, that he didn’t want them to be saved. So he boarded a ship to “flee from the Lord”. Then God sent a violent storm and the ship was about to break up. When the sailors realized that Jonah was the problem Jonah bravely said: “Pick me up and throw me into the sea . . .and it will become calm. I know this is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” (Jonah 1:12) That’s when “The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17) As we will discover, Jonah was much braver on the ship than he was inside of the great fish!

Being inside of a great fish is a horrible experience. Fortunately, history has provided first hand testimony about a modern man who was swallowed by a great fish and survived. This incident happened August 25, 1891 near the Falkland Islands. That’s when James Bartley fell overboard the whaling ship, Star of the East, and was swallowed by a sperm whale. About thirty-six hours later his fellow sailors cut open the whale and found him, unconscious but alive, inside the belly of the whale.

During his brief sojourn in the whale's belly, Bartley's skin, exposed to the action of the gastric juices, underwent a striking change. His face and hands were bleached to a deadly whiteness, and his skin was wrinkled giving him the appearance of having been parboiled. Bartley said he remembers the sensation of being lifted into the air by the nose of the whale and of dropping into the water. Then there was a frightful rushing sound, which he believed to be the beating of the water by the whale's tail. Then he was encompassed by a fearful darkness, and he felt himself slipping along a smooth passage of some sort that seemed to move and carry him forward. This sensation lasted but an instant, then he felt that he had more room. He felt about him, and his hands came in contact with a yielding slimy substance that seemed to shrink from his touch. It finally dawned upon him that he had been swallowed by a whale and he was overcome by horror. He could breath, but the heat was terrible. It was not of a scorching, stifling nature, but it seemed to draw out all of his vitality. He became very weak, and grew sick at his stomach. He felt that there was no hope of escape. Death stared him in the face. Apparently he passed out and the next thing he remembered was waking up in the captain's cabin. His comrades had killed the whale, cut it open, and saved his life. Bartley was not a timid man, but he said that it was many weeks before he could pass a night without having his sleep disturbed with harrowing nightmares of angry whales and the horrors of being swallowed. The skin on his face and hands never recovered their natural appearance but was yellow and wrinkled, and looked like old parchment.

Now that we have some of Bartley’s testimony, here is a part of Jonah’s testimony: “The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.” (Jonah 2:5-7)

As you know, “The Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry ground. Then the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.’ Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.” (Jonah 2:10-3:3)

In spite of his poor attitude, Jonah was perhaps the most successful preacher who ever lived. His preaching saved the whole city with 120,000 people that could not tell their right hand from their

left (Jonah 4:11). When news of Jonah’s preaching reached the king of Nineveh: “he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” (Jonah 3:6-10)

• As we reflect on this story let us remember that God chastens those whom he loves (Hebrews 12:5-11). Illegitimate children do not have someone to discipline them but the sons of God do.
• God loved Jonah and He also loved the people of Nineveh! He was willing to chasten them both!
• Like every loving parent God makes a distinction for those who sin “unintentionally” and those who sin “defiantly”(Numbers 15:27-31). Jonah knew exactly what God commanded and still defied Him. Jonah’s punishment was appropriate and he learned that being swallowed by the fish was far better than dying in rebellion against God.
• Remember! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10) There is no limit to the evil men can do who have no fear of God (Romans 3:9-18). Thankfully Jonah feared God and repented! Hopefully, we will also fear God and repent.
• IF YOU KNOW GOD WANTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING, PLEASE DO IT! “IT IS A DREADFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.” (HEBREWS 10:31)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce