Three days Jonah spent in the depths of the sea, stuck in the tomb of a fish’s belly. His journey in and out of the fish is an image of Jesus' journey out of the tomb.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 12:41, from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1: Let us pray Nineveh will stand up in the judgment
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Speaker 1: with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented
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Speaker 1: at the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
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Speaker 1: Jonah is here. Matthew twelve forty one, Dear Heavenly Father,
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Speaker 1: we stand humbly before you today, acknowledging that something greater
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Speaker 1: than Jonah is here, your son, Jesus Christ Lord. We
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Speaker 1: ask for the grace to heed your call for repentance
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Speaker 1: and to respond with humble hearts. Just as the Ninavites
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Speaker 1: turn from their wicked ways upon hearing Jonah's message, may
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Speaker 1: we also turn from our sins and seek your forgiveness
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Speaker 1: when we hear the teachings of Jesus. Father, help us
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Speaker 1: fully grasp the magnitude of your mercy and recognize that
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Speaker 1: in Jesus we have a savior far greater than any prophet,
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Speaker 1: one who took our sins upon himself to reconcile us
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Speaker 1: to you. Let this truth transform our hearts and renew
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Speaker 1: our spirits. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen,
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Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
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Speaker 1: for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
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Speaker 2: Jonah sat on a grassy hill and stared at the
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Speaker 2: open sea. He closed his eyes, felt the gentle kiss
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Speaker 2: of the mild morning sun, and listened to the sound
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Speaker 2: of gulls intermixed with crashing waves. Then, all of a sudden,
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Speaker 2: a voice interrupted Jonah's moment of gliss arise.
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Speaker 1: The voice said.
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Speaker 2: Jonah perked up, immediately, recognizing it was the Lord.
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Speaker 3: Go inland to the great city of Nineveh. They have
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Speaker 3: fallen into a cycle of wickedness and a corruption. Go
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Speaker 3: there and show them their evil so they can repent.
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Speaker 3: Jonah tensed up and shook his head. No, he whispered, No,
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Speaker 3: I can't, he declared. Jonah's hatred for the people of
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Speaker 3: Ninevah ran deep. Their cruelty was famous, and Jonah had
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Speaker 3: experienced firsthand the ripple effects of their wickedness.
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Speaker 2: He refused to heed the call of God. He wouldn't
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Speaker 2: give the people of Ninevah a chance to repent. He
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Speaker 2: wanted them to experience judgment. He wanted them to suffer.
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Speaker 1: They deserved it.
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Speaker 2: Jonah immediately gathered his belongings for a journey, but instead
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Speaker 2: of going inland, he boarded a cargo.
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Speaker 1: Ship to Tarshish.
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Speaker 2: His mind raised with rage against Nineveh and contempt for God,
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Speaker 2: he refused to be a conduit for God's mercy. Jonah
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Speaker 2: went down into the ship's cabin and laid his head
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Speaker 2: to sleep. As he slumbered, clouds rolled in from the
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Speaker 2: middle of the sea. The waves begin to stir, matching
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Speaker 2: the violent pattern of the skies. A storm was brewing,
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Speaker 2: could not outrun God.
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Speaker 4: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Jesus Podcast.
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Speaker 4: I'm Ethan frompray dot Com, here to guide you through
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Speaker 4: some of the most iconic stories ever told. If this
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Speaker 4: podcast has blessed you thus far, please take a moment
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Speaker 4: to leave a comment and review. Doing so will make
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Speaker 4: sure others discover these life changing stories. And be sure
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Speaker 4: to download the pray dot Com app to hear the
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Speaker 4: Bible come to life and make prayer a priority in
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Speaker 4: your daily walk with God. We've been traversing the peaks
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Speaker 4: and valleys of the Bible's most famous characters. These people's
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Speaker 4: lives were marked with tragedy, triumph, faith, and failure. These
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Speaker 4: heroes ultimately point us toward the greatest hero of all, Jesus.
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Speaker 4: Today we recount the story of Jonah and the giant fish. Jonah,
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Speaker 4: a prophet of God, was chosen to carry a message
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Speaker 4: of repentance to the wicked city of Nah. We're not
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Speaker 4: sure whether pride, prejudice, or history with ninev made Jonah
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Speaker 4: so bitter. Knowing what we know about the city of Ninevah,
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Speaker 4: Jonah most likely had several bad experiences with their people.
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Speaker 4: It's very likely that Nineveh had invaded Israelite cities or
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Speaker 4: cheated Israelite traders. Jonah didn't want them to experience mercy,
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Speaker 4: so he fled from God and sought to sail far
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Speaker 4: away to Tarshish, the opposite direction of Nineveh. Jonah's story
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Speaker 4: is packed with lessons, lessons that will unpack together. Yet
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Speaker 4: the greatest truth hidden within this story is a metaphor
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Speaker 4: see if you can spot it and the cinematic retelling
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Speaker 4: of Jonah. Chapter one buil.
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Speaker 5: The water, the captain chapters throw the cargo overboard. We
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Speaker 5: have to lighten the ship.
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Speaker 2: The ship's crew desperately tried to lighten the load to
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Speaker 2: endure the wind and waves. The storm had come like
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Speaker 2: a predator in the forest, unexpected bilt. The crew helplessly
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Speaker 2: prayed to each of their gods. They bowed to their
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Speaker 2: idols and begged for some sort of deliverance. The captain
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Speaker 2: burst through the cabin doors and the work Jonah.
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Speaker 5: Wake up, Hebrew, pray, Dear God, I fear we may
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Speaker 5: perish on these seas.
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Speaker 2: Jernah climbed to the deck and saw the heavens thrashing
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Speaker 2: and lightning crashing. Jonah gulped as his hands began to shape.
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Speaker 2: He had a feeling this storm was because of him.
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Speaker 5: Have a choicement to cast lots, so we know who
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Speaker 5: among us is to blame for such a storm.
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Speaker 2: The captain was a master of the seas. He knew
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Speaker 2: that an abrupt storm of this magnitude was not an ordinary.
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Speaker 2: Someone must have evoked the wrath of a god. The
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Speaker 2: crew members took a bag of knuckle bones and passed
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Speaker 2: them on to the deck. The lot rolled and fell
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Speaker 2: at Jonah's feet. The crew looked at him and demanded
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Speaker 2: an explanation. Am a Hebrew.
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Speaker 1: Jerah explained, they.
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Speaker 2: Do not worship gods of water in agriculture as you do.
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Speaker 2: I worshiped the lords of creation who made heaven and hell,
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Speaker 2: and running away from him.
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Speaker 1: But I fear it was a grave mistake.
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Speaker 2: Lightning struck beside them and sending the jumping at all sides.
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Speaker 2: They stayed away from Jonah and yelled, what must we
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Speaker 2: do to avoid catastrophe?
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Speaker 5: How do we please your God?
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Speaker 2: Jonah looked out at the black, chaotic ocean. He leaned
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Speaker 2: over the side and closed his eyes. Regret overcame him.
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Speaker 2: He turned back to the crew and said.
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Speaker 6: Hull me into the sea.
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Speaker 4: God's judgment is.
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Speaker 5: Directed to It's me, not you.
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Speaker 6: Throw me overboard and the storm will calm.
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Speaker 5: No, we do not abandon people to the sea. He
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Speaker 5: is not our way.
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Speaker 2: The captain yelled, forsake the sails and row, he ordered
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Speaker 2: his crew. The men rode with all their strength, and
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Speaker 2: the storm was working against them. It was as if
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Speaker 2: the hand of God was pulling them into the sea.
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Speaker 2: The captain cursed and prayed to Jonah's God. He begged
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Speaker 2: for mercy.
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Speaker 5: Lord of the Hebrews, do not put this man's blood
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Speaker 5: on our hands.
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Speaker 2: He turned to his crew and pointed at Jonah.
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Speaker 5: Throw him overboard.
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Speaker 2: So they picked Jonah up, and Jonah crashed into the
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Speaker 2: dark sea. Breakers crashed over him, pushing him up the hill.
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Speaker 2: The weight of God's judgment was over Jonah pulling him
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Speaker 2: deeper into the abyss. Jonah accepted that this would be
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Speaker 2: the end of him. As the blackness of the deep
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Speaker 2: ocean enveloped him, Jonah saw a large figure swim by.
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Speaker 2: His eyes widened, and the final thing he saw was
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Speaker 2: the shape of a giant fish swallowing him up. Jonah
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Speaker 2: opened his eyes but saw nothing. The smell of rotting
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Speaker 2: fish and kelp was nearly unbearable. Jonah tried to stretch
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Speaker 2: his arms and legs, but barely had enough room. He
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Speaker 2: was inside the belly of a fish, only given enough
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Speaker 2: space to breathe. It was like being locked in a
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Speaker 2: dark tomb. He was alone with his thoughts for three
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Speaker 2: days and three nights, contemplating God's judgment, mercy, and goodness. Ironically,
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Speaker 2: Jonah felt closer to the Lord and bottomless pit of despair.
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Speaker 2: The white noise of the fish's heartbeat intermixed with the
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Speaker 2: sound of the ocean. Jonah spoke a prayer to the Lord.
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Speaker 1: I called to.
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Speaker 6: You God, in my distress.
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Speaker 1: You answer me.
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Speaker 6: I cry from the belly of the grave, and you
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Speaker 6: hear me. You cast me into the deep heart of
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Speaker 6: the seas, and the water surround me. Your waves and
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Speaker 6: billows crash over me.
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Speaker 7: Even then I cannot see you, I will point my
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Speaker 7: eyes towards your holy temple.
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Speaker 8: Water sought to take my life, the deep surrounded me,
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Speaker 8: and the seaweed wrapped around my neck. Yet you brought
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Speaker 8: my life from the pit. When my life was faithful
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Speaker 8: and oblivion.
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Speaker 5: I remembered you with.
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Speaker 2: A voice of thanksgiving. I was sacrifice to you.
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Speaker 6: Salvation belongs to the lawn.
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Speaker 2: And just as he had finished his prayer of repentant praise,
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Speaker 2: the Lord commanded the wish to release Jonah onto the shore.
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Speaker 2: The sun's warmth was a balm to his aching body,
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Speaker 2: and Jonah laughed with relief and worship.
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Speaker 4: If you have followed along thus far, you'll remember what
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Speaker 4: choppy and chaotic storms represent in the Bible, sin, darkness,
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Speaker 4: and judgment. In Jonah's case, the righteous judgment of God
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Speaker 4: was seeking him out through the storm. There was nowhere
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Speaker 4: Jonah could run where God would not find him. This
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Speaker 4: truth ought to inspire comfort in all of us. Jonah
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Speaker 4: was given a mission by God, a purpose. God was
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Speaker 4: not about to let Jonah escape that purpose. No matter
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Speaker 4: how hard he tried, God was determined to draw Jonah's
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Speaker 4: calling out of him, even if it meant sending a storm.
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Speaker 4: You know this happens in our lives as well. God
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Speaker 4: has a plan and a purpose for you. He has
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Speaker 4: adorned you with gifts and desires to use you for
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Speaker 4: His kingdom. When we stray or run from that calling,
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Speaker 4: sometimes God will do whatever it takes to draw us back.
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Speaker 4: Who used circumstances, trials, and difficulties to return us to him.
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Speaker 4: Jonah knew that he had messed up, and he put
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Speaker 4: other people's lives in jeopardy. You know, that's what happens
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Speaker 4: with sin. It doesn't just affect us as individuals, but
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Speaker 4: every one around us. Many people suffer in the wake
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Speaker 4: of our own disobedience. To Jonah's credit, he came clean
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Speaker 4: eventually and did the self sacrificial thing. He allowed the
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Speaker 4: crew to throw him into the sea, and just as
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Speaker 4: Jonah thought that the dark abyss was going to consume him,
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Speaker 4: he was swallowed by a fish and survived there for
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Speaker 4: three days and three nights. Joah transformed in those three days.
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Speaker 4: His heart was softened toward God, and he was able
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Speaker 4: to see his mercy. Sometimes, in our most profound moment
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Speaker 4: of suffering, we discover the greatness of God's love above
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Speaker 4: these faith lessons. There's a greater thing happening in this story.
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Speaker 4: Jonah's time in the belly of the Beast foreshadows another event.
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Speaker 4: When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to show them a
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Speaker 4: sign of his deity, he pointed them to Jonah. Them
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Speaker 4: to Jonah, give us a sign.
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Speaker 2: The Pharisees shouted. Jesus turned around to see a group
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Speaker 2: of religious leaders approaching. They reeked of self righteousness. They
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Speaker 2: had followed Jesus for months, watching every miracle and listening
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Speaker 2: to every teaching. Their pompous legalism made them blind to
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Speaker 2: their own hypocrisy. They circled Jesus with accusations and challenges,
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Speaker 2: hoping he would take the bait.
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Speaker 5: You say you're amount of God like Elijah, but every
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Speaker 5: time we ask you to prove yourself you refuse.
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Speaker 2: Don't you care about the public thinks?
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Speaker 5: Send fire down like Elijah and prove you are who
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Speaker 5: you say you are.
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Speaker 2: Jesus looked at them and shook his head. He could
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Speaker 2: never run out of patience, but these men tried. Nonetheless,
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Speaker 2: their vain religiosity was annoying and ineffectual. They claimed to
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Speaker 2: be of the same stalk as Elijah, but they were
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Speaker 2: much more similar to the prophets of bail. Jesus stretched
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Speaker 2: out his.
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Speaker 7: Arms and replied, when you look at the sky and
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Speaker 7: you see that there aren't any clouds, you can perceive
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Speaker 7: that it's fair weather. When you look up and see
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Speaker 7: dark storm clouds, you rightly know to seek cover.
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Speaker 2: Jesus stepped closer to the Pharisees. They could not help
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Speaker 2: but step back, for he exuded authority.
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Speaker 7: How can you look to the sky and interpret the weather,
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Speaker 7: but you're unable to see the signs right in front
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Speaker 7: of you.
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Speaker 2: Everyone stirred. Jesus pointed a finger at them and made
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Speaker 2: sure he was clear.
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Speaker 7: I will not give you a sign. I will not
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Speaker 7: dance for you, nor will I play these games. You
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Speaker 7: will have only one sign, the sign of Jonah, for
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Speaker 7: the son of Man will be in the grave for
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Speaker 7: three days.
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Speaker 1: And nights the heart of the earth.
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Speaker 7: I tell you that the people of Neneveh would stand
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Speaker 7: up to you and condemn you. They repented when they
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Speaker 7: heard the preaching of Jonah. And behold, someone greater than
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Speaker 7: Jonah is here.
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Speaker 2: The crowd stirred, and Jesus left their presence. He had
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Speaker 2: performed many miracles. He had restored sight to the blind,
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Speaker 2: healed levers, cast out demons, and walked on water. Yet
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Speaker 2: only one miracle truly mattered, the sign of Jonah rising
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Speaker 2: from the grave.
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Speaker 4: We have all had times when we wished God would
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Speaker 4: reveal himself to us in a specific way. Sometimes we
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Speaker 4: ask for miracles because we're doubting, suffering, or struggling with
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Speaker 4: our faith. Other times we're angry with God and want
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Speaker 4: him to prove something to us. These Pharisees asked Jesus
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Speaker 4: to prove himself through miracles, as if he needed to
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Speaker 4: prove himself to them. But that's not how Jesus operated.
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Speaker 4: He wasn't a street performer asking tips. He wasn't an
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Speaker 4: actor or an artist trying to prove his worth. He
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Speaker 4: didn't need their approval. When Jesus performed signs and wonders,
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Speaker 4: he did it to aid the suffering and to teach
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Speaker 4: people about the character of God. He wasn't submitting miracles
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Speaker 4: to people as a resume of his godhood. Besides, the
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Speaker 4: Pharisees had already seen Jesus perform miracles and signs. It
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Speaker 4: wasn't that they wanted Jesus to show them a sign
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Speaker 4: they wanted, a sign on their own terms. We must
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Speaker 4: all beware this mentality. God is working all around us.
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Speaker 4: He performs miracles every day and is constantly on the
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Speaker 4: move doing wonderful things. But sometimes we're too self consumed
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Speaker 4: to see it. We want God to move in specific
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Speaker 4: ways and on our own terms, so we end up
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Speaker 4: missing the beauty of every day miracles. However, Jesus did
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Speaker 4: say he would give them one sign, the sign of Jonah.
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Speaker 4: Let's break that down. The chaotic seas represent God's judgment.
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Speaker 4: The fish represents the grave under God's judgment. Jonah was
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Speaker 4: trapped in that grave, considered dead, then came out three
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Speaker 4: days later. Can you piece that together and connect it
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Speaker 4: to Jesus. Jesus took on the judgment of God, sin
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Speaker 4: and shame, and died. He was buried in a grave
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Speaker 4: for three days, but then rose again. Jonah's time in
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Speaker 4: the belly of the fish was a sign that pointed
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Speaker 4: forward to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, because
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Speaker 4: Jonah's life was a foreshadowing of Jesus's great journey to
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Speaker 4: the cross, into the grave and out again. Next time
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Speaker 4: we're together, we'll dive into one of our final heroes
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Speaker 4: of the series. This man had unwavering faith and conviction
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Speaker 4: amidst a hostile culture. He was wise, devoted and rose
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Speaker 4: out of the lion's den. Join us for our next
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Speaker 4: episode as we explore why Jesus is the Greater Daniel.
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