Jonah and Nineveh

[Shev]

I have been thinking lately about the symbolism in the book of Jonah, and how it relates to UR and also ET.

In Jonah, we have a man of God, but one who resents the fact God is merciful, and would be more happy about his lot if the people of Nineveh got the fire and brimstone act. I can almost hear Jonah saying "what is the point of preaching if they are all going to be saved anyway?" His following exchange with God must be among the most bitter in the scriptures:

"Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."

4 But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

In Nineveh, we have a whole city full of disobedient children, but also children who are to some degree blind and ignorant of the will of God. ("You were by nature children of disobedience"). Surely a picture of an unbelieving world if ever we had one. And yet, upon hearing the word of God, they repent in ashes, and seek the face of God. It is uplifting to hear God's admonition to Jonah at the end of the book:

"You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?"

Now I say all this, because if ET were to be correct, God's supposed 'mercy' on Nineveh would be an absurd joke, because they would all be merrily burning in hell upon expiring from this earthly life, and any judgment they avoided through the preaching of Jonah, merely delayed the fire and brimstone. To me, the book of Jonah only makes sense if God is as merciful on the other side of the grave as He is on this side. Who needs mercy in the flesh if there is none in the ages to come?

Thankfully, we know that this same mercy that was shown to a wicked, disobedient city, is an eternal, unfailing attribute of our Father, that He shows towards all people, for all time!

[Seth]

I love how God exposes the thought process of being more concerned about a flower that died, and angry about God's mercy upon those who didn't die. It's like he's telling Jonah, "you're not making any sense." I love when God just hands our rear ends to us in a mere few sentences. Jesus does this kind of thing in the NT, and I just love it, when the truth just shines in the dark.

[Shev]

I love how God exposes the thought process of being more concerned about a flower that died, and angry about God's mercy upon those who didn't die. It's like he's telling Jonah, "you're not making any sense." I love when God just hands our rear ends to us in a mere few sentences. Jesus does this kind of thing in the NT, and I just love it, when the truth just shines in the dark.

:iagree:   Amen brother!

[micah7:9]

 :dsunny:

[Searching_For_The_Truth]

I have been thinking lately about the symbolism in the book of Jonah, and how it relates to UR and also ET.

In Jonah, we have a man of God, but one who resents the fact God is merciful, and would be more happy about his lot if the people of Nineveh got the fire and brimstone act. I can almost hear Jonah saying "what is the point of preaching if they are all going to be saved anyway?" His following exchange with God must be among the most bitter in the scriptures:

"Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."

4 But the Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

In Nineveh, we have a whole city full of disobedient children, but also children who are to some degree blind and ignorant of the will of God. ("You were by nature children of disobedience"). Surely a picture of an unbelieving world if ever we had one. And yet, upon hearing the word of God, they repent in ashes, and seek the face of God. It is uplifting to hear God's admonition to Jonah at the end of the book:

"You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?"

Now I say all this, because if ET were to be correct, God's supposed 'mercy' on Nineveh would be an absurd joke, because they would all be merrily burning in hell upon expiring from this earthly life, and any judgment they avoided through the preaching of Jonah, merely delayed the fire and brimstone. To me, the book of Jonah only makes sense if God is as merciful on the other side of the grave as He is on this side. Who needs mercy in the flesh if there is none in the ages to come?

Thankfully, we know that this same mercy that was shown to a wicked, disobedient city, is an eternal, unfailing attribute of our Father, that He shows towards all people, for all time!

Amen, and most ET believers cannot fathom the notion that God is more merciful than we think he is

[lomarah]

This is one of my favorite books of the bible because it portrays Fathers heart so clearly. He has such a tender heart, concerned for the animals and all. :HeartThrob:

[Searching_For_The_Truth]

This is one of my favorite books of the bible because it portrays Fathers heart so clearly. He has such a tender heart, concerned for the animals and all. :HeartThrob:

It's also one of my favorite books as well

[Shev]

This is one of my favorite books of the bible because it portrays Fathers heart so clearly. He has such a tender heart, concerned for the animals and all. :HeartThrob:

I agree! It always astounds me when ETers say something to the effect of: "Yes, He is merciful, BUT He is also a just God" - as if God can be divided against Himself, or as if mercy is somehow unjust!

Whatever God is, He is unchanging in that divine nature and attributes, and if He loved wicked Nineveh, down to the animals, He has not changed on iota!

[eaglesway]

ETrs and EDrs believe the limit of God's mercy is His judgment leading to wrath for most.

We believe mercy triumphs over judgment, leading to reconciliation for all.