The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-26
BIBLE STUDY DECEMBER Is


The Story OF Jonah and Its Moral
The Prophets Refusal to Proclaim
Jehovah's Message to the Heather. las
Listen. o members OF the Jewish race
sons which Jehovah would teach you by
mouth mo- Of his inspired s psSphets. In tie
days-of northern IuAel.s sprosperity. when,
the cruel Assyx1ans were rapidly moving
sd waste ss land Uf the
vine command to undertake q strange
mission came to Jonah the son Of Amt
great city OF Ninevah. the capital Of the
hostile Assyrians who were already On
the point Of invading Israel. and In the
name Of Jehovah. to denounce it's crimes
t and to point out the sure consequences Of
their continuance =
great was Jehovah's mercy. and fearing
lest the enemies Of his race might need
s 0rds assa sins and
sought flight to escape the task so alb
horrent to him. To this end he secured q
Rsbsssgs and sm5ssned ,h at 'G pana on for
Tarshish, one Of the most distant cities OF
the habftable world, possibly thinking
limits OF Jehovala's rule
The Discipline, Conversion. and Deliv-
erance OF Jehovah's Rebellious Messen-
Soon BY an awful experience the
prophet learned his fatal mistake. In his
| righteous wrath Jehovah caused a mighty
y
fragile ship, propelled only by oars and
sails, threatened every moment to go TO
pieces. Terror seized the sa,ncf i1n %no
| to do anything to save themselves from
the fury of the storm, they turned each IN
supplication to the idol which I ne p snsrs
everything that could be torn lose were
thrown overheard in order to tighten the
gale. Meanwhile the prophet, exhausted
pTomptinss to duty. was lying fast asleep
in the hold of the ship Astonished at
this strange action. the captain aroused
him and commanded him also to call upon
his God in the hope that perchance his
the death which yawned before them.
When their prayers brought no Relief
they concluded. according to the pre-,
their number had incurred the displeasure
| OF his god. To ascertain who was the
guilty man. they appealed to the gods
| for decision by means of the lot. ana
Jonah was the one thus designated.
In reply to their inquiries as to his oc-
| cuption and nationality, he declared that
he was Hebrew and a worshipper of the
God who rules supreme over both land
and sea- Knowing from his earlier con-
God and yet hesitating to execute the
ldeath-sentence upon him they appealed to
him to know what they were TODD to de.
his sin. Meanwhile the waves rolled
higher and higher. Moved by their spirit
or 1uSt1Co and reverence, the HOOAS quar-
tiles in the prophet asserted themselves
and he boldly acknowledged that he was
the cause of their misfortunes- Although
board, they still struggled desperately to
save the ship without sacrificing the
prophet, whose courage they could not
but admire; but their efforts were in vain.
for the storm only increased and drove
them farther and farther from the shore.
Then. at last. with g prayer to Jcnah .s
and in recognition Of his omnipotence.
they cast the rebellious prophet into the
sea, and a sudden lull i'll the storm con-
firmeA the rightness of their act. Rev
erence for the God who had thus mar
vellously revealed himself led them to
offer to him appropriate sacrifices and
vows.
In accordance with the divine purpose,
the once rebellious but now converted
prophet was swallowed by a great sea.
; monster, within which he was preserved
alive for three days.
AS he meditated III his place of confine-
ment. he prayed to Jehovah: In my hou1
of anguish and mortal peril, cried te
thee for help and thou hast delivered me
Thou didst cast me into the bottomie a,,
worshipping thee. and of participating in
forever at an end. In the dark depths OF
the sea 1 lay enwrapped in the Shiny sea.
weeds, far removed from the busy life OF
the certain destruction which had over
taken me. In my despair I cried unto
thee and thou didst answer. Apostates
) who worship dead idols turn from thee
the source of all life and love. With deer
joy will I renew by sacrifice my fealty
to thee and pay the vows which I have
made in return for my deliverance. foa
thou alone canst save those who turn &c
thee.s'
At Jehovah's command the great sea
monster threw out the prophet unhuvt
upon the dry land.
Next Saturday will contain the ques-
lions for Lesson Eleven. No classes next
Tuesday either in Bible Art.
MRS. C. F. MENNINGER.