The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-09-12
JONAH

Who does not know of Jonah? Not person in
the broad land but knows the tale of Jonah and
the whale The story Is another one of the bits of
knowledge that we acquire grow-one could
not tell in exactly what manner But everyone
knows about Jonah. The trouble is none of us know
enough about him. Too much we place him and
his adventures with the fairy tales of by gone days.
Oft times it is with much levlty that people re-
fer to Jonah. Oft times Jonah is cited as proof that
the Bible is only myth. But did you ever hear of
the beauties of this tale about man and great
fish" and wonderful magnificent, but very wicked
city? Beauty and Jonah? you ask.
In very truth, yes. Beauty and worth equal to
any comparison. -Four short chapters compose the
tale-you can read them very few minutes; but
life time is not long enough to give full apprecia-
ton to the beauty that revealed there or to under
stand the full value of the lessons those chapters
hold.
First we must understand that Jonah was real
personage-not the creation Of fancful mind
He unquestionaby, an historical character
He was a prophet of Israel during the reign
of Jeroboam II, which was from 100 B. C. to 749
Is. C.. Now historians tell that dates and facts
prior to about the ninth or tenth century before
Christ cannot be fixed or known to any near degree
of certainty. But after that time the history of
mankind becomes more and more clear and accurate
So it is known has been proved, that Jonah lived
and had an active part in Hebrew history.
The existence of Nneveh cannot be questioned
1t holds prominent place in ancient history. Re-
cords show that it of BabyloDlan origin and at
very early period contained temple to the goddess
Ishtar. About 1900 B. c. the first secular use of the
site made after which 1t fell into partial decay
1t was rebuilt with great splender about 400 B. c..
and from that time until it's complete destruction
about 900 B. c., it the chief city and the capt.
tai of the Assyrians So complete was the destruc-
ti"n of Nineveh by the combined armies of the Ba-
bylonians, Medes Persians and Armenians that in
classic times the departed Nineveh became like a
myth. 1t was not until in the nineteenth century
that excavations by the British and French disclosed
the ruins of the ancient city and credited facts about
it proved true
In Jonah's time Nneveh was al the height of it's
power, magnifcence and learning and also famed
for its cruetes and wckedness. The Assyrians DOM
mated the eastern world at that time and they
brought their rich spoils and many slaves the cap
ital. Their victories followed by orgies of be-
stiaty dolatry and cruelty unequaled by any other
ancient nation.
Now there came day when the wickedness of
commanded Jonah go to Nineveh and warn the
people that their evil ways would destroy them But
the prophet could not bring himself to do this AS
syria enemy of his king; was continually
harassing his people. 1t would have pleased Jonah
to the city destroyed so instead of obeying the
Lords command he attempted to do the impossible
run away, hide from Him.
He went to Joppa on the Mediterranean coast
and took ship to sail to Tarshish-that country from
which Solomon drew so many rich treasures The
ship put sea and was overtaken and threaten
ed with destruction by furious storm. Then it
that the prophet realized the futlity of his &C.
tons and confessed his disobedence to the sailors
At his request they cast him into the sea and at
once the sea ceased from it's raging"
Now comes the part that our practical minds find
it hard to Acceptable Lord preparing great fish to
swallow JONAH and his being in the belly of the
fish three days and three nights great number
of interpretations have been given this part of the
narrative. It's consideration allegory or par
able is most AS this avoids the miracle and
keeps it practical basis. But an actual his
torical fact it has many favorable arguments and
proofs But what does it matter which of these it
be? Must vision be so limited, so enslaved by
the metes and bounds of beggarly knowledge
that cannot how possible this would have
been for God to do? The important fact that should
hold attention is that Jonah brought back to
the way chosen for him to walk and in the spirit
that enabled him say i will pay that that have
vowed
So he went to Nineveh and through his warn
ngs the great city led to repent of it's evil and
spared from the destruction that all but over
took it. That is a simple tale but beautiful and in
structive well. Each of us is more or less like
Ionah-rathar more I think We wear onr very