Expert: Lee Mowat - 6/30/2004

Question
I was wondering if you could explain or find out what the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, specifically, the first chapter means.  I was also pondering about how the first chapter affects us in today's society.

Thanks

Answer
Well looking at the first chapter we kind of see the explantion of the complete book.
I guess it can be taken in from two views; from that of the Christian perspective and that of the secular which of itself is not completly void of Gods presence within it and therefore must come under some effect.
From a Christian perspective any christian in a relationship with God (being in his presence) will regardless find themselves a tool for Gods will whether they wittingly participate in it or unknowing, what must be seen of the first chapter is that God had always inteded for Jonah to get on the ship and travel in the direction that he did, along with this the witness to those sailors.
Sure God had said to Jonah to travel in the opposite direction but God knows everything otherwise he is not really a God.
So then "security" is the key word for the Christian in this.
Another thing of this chapter is that through Jonah being "out of service" God was able to do much "unhindered" through him, what is an interesting question is that if Jonah was willing and sped off to serve God in the best way that he knew how -would he have got in Gods way? The reason i ask this is because God has always used people that through weakness glorified God because his strengh was all the more evident, and puny SAMPSON is a perfect example of this wherein he was a skinny runt with unbelievable strength and everybody wanted to understand the secret of his power.
Jonah was rebelious and not weak but it comes to the same "end" in that one is not functioning to Gods purpose and so GOD HIMSELF needs to do his work through them, incidently this is the difference between christianity and religions a whole -the difference between God using or us doing.


From a secular point of view it must be agreed that the secular world is pretty much "Godless"  materalism and vainty are the Gods of the world.
Effects of creation itself being in oppostion to the laws that not only govern but are the purpose of it, cause destruction of the initial form in many varing forms, this can be seen with the sailors who were prepared to put somebody other than themselves to death that they might profit from it with their own lives, and what a direct contrast to Christ who gave up his life to save others!

The book of Jonah is about struggling with God and the struggle being what we want to do that is not what God wants to do and the conflict that arises as a result.
Even from a secular point of view it is always deemed of benefit and sometimes even wisdom to abide to somebody elses will if they are greater and more powerful than you.

I could go into more detail but this seems like a achdemic question so i will leave it there.

Lee Mowat