Deconstructing Jonah
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About this ebook
As if with any story you’ve ever heard or read. There is more than one side to the story and I believe the story of Jonah deserves to be looked at with a different perspective, with at least some context. You’ve probably heard one of two versions. The kid friendly version with the drawings of a beautiful whale and Jonah comfortably praying on his knees inside the whale’s belly, or the adult version where an angry God will send a storm your way to punish you for not doing his will and then still gets his way after He has you vomited from a sea beast, and the stubborn and unhappy prophet who is dissatisfied to the end with his mission because he wanted to see destruction. If we read carefully we find there is a lot more to the story than that.
What does it mean to be a regular man or woman? It means we get upset when things don’t go our way, it means we get tired of trying and trying without success. That is why the Bible is full of promises of God giving us strength. Some of my favorite Psalms are 138:3, 46:1, 59:16, 73:26, 138:3 and I could go on for pages. God keeps telling us not to be discouraged or afraid because He is our strength and our refuge. What we see in the book of Jonah is a God that doesn’t tire of us acting like humans.
Irving Martinez
I grew up in a conservative Christian environment and I always thought to be a follower of Christ was this hard and complicated thing to do. Like there was some much I had to give up and receive so little back, and even what I would receive wasn't that attractive anyways. I mean, who wants a bunch of rules and regulations as a gift? After a very rough patch in my life I decided to go "back to church", but it still felt like an obligation more than anything else, I was just going through the motions. One day I was presented with the concept that anything and everything you might have questions about, you can find answers for in the Bible. If you want to know about sex, politics, relationships, finance, anything you want it's in the Bible. Later I was presented with a relevant and contemporary view of the Bible and for the first time, I found myself connecting with the Bible. The Deconstructing The Bible series is a tool that you can use to see the Bible stories from a relevant and practical point of view. I pray that theses books help you see the Bible for what it really is, God's perfect word spoken to you.
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Reviews for Deconstructing Jonah
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Really good short book on Jonah with refreshing style of writing. Some typos but does not take away from key points of God's message. Helped me.
Book preview
Deconstructing Jonah - Irving Martinez
DECONSTRUCTING JONAH
Irving Martinez
DECONSTRUCTING JONAH
Copyright © 2016 by Irving Martinez. All rights reserved.
Cover Art Copyright © Anthony Harrison/lightstock
Cover Design by Andrea Cárdenas
All verses used are from the New Living Translation of the Bible
No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
CONTENTS
Dedication
Intro
A Case for Jonah
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
To Laura, my wife and best friend. After God, no one like you can bring out the best in me.
INTRO
The church I attended in my childhood was this beautiful red brick building with high ceiling and wooden bins. It was built and designed by a group of American missionaries who had established in Guatemala. The lower floor of the church was where the children bible classes took place and I remember walking down the hall to the last classroom and sitting with my little friends and listen to the Bible stories illustrated on a board with felt figurines. Obviously these were simpler times, I wasn’t worried about the burdens grown up life comes with or the weight of sin we have to carry with when we run away from God.
Can we run from God? It’s something we all try at some point in our lives. Some might even believe they have succeeded in this and that God is nowhere near, some others might still be running but it seems God just doesn’t give up and keeps coming after us. Jonah’s story is one that depicts a person’s attempt at running away from God.
Every week in those Bible classes I was taught about God’s provision to the faithful and how being a Christian was the only way to live life fully. Still sometimes I was confused. Was I supposed to love or be afraid of God? Did I have to obey or I want to obey? Maybe it was my limited knowledge of God or maybe the way I was being taught. Somethings aren’t exactly easy to swallow for a child. That, plus not being able to utter a single word during the sermon made it just a little hard to understand this wonderful God that my father wanted me to obey.
One story always stood above the rest in terms of God being like an all mighty bully. The book of Jonah. In my opinion, the book of Jonah has been misunderstood many times and its true message has been lost in the shuffle. You’ve probably heard one of two versions. The kid friendly version with the drawings of a beautiful whale and Jonah comfortably praying on his knees inside the whale’s belly, or the adult version where an angry God will send a storm your way to punish you for not doing his will and then still gets his way after He has you vomited from a sea beast, and the stubborn and unhappy prophet who is dissatisfied to the end with his mission because he wanted to see destruction.
Whatever version you’ve heard I’m sure it has left you wondering, like I use to as a child. Am I supposed to love or be afraid of God?
A few years ago I was at a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner and one of her guest was a