The Firewall

Jonah 4

Jonah 4

Huh?  Is Jonah really mad that God spared the people of Nineveh?  Apparently his anger with the Ninevites outweighed the Godly compassion that should have been in Jonah's heart.  God does a nice job of calling Jonah out on this, even providing a vine to shelter Jonah as he waited for God to change His mind and destroy Nineveh.  Cleverly, God takes away the vine to further prove His point that Jonah has no reason to be angry.  The book ends with God expressing His right to be concerned over the salvation of thousands of His own creations.

They don't seem to teach this part of the book in Sunday school.  Jonah tried to let his (selfish) emotions get in the way of God's work.  But, God will do what needs to be done, whether or not we like or help Him with it.  Still, there is a strange, unresolved feeling to this story.  I would love some suggestions as to why the book ends this way; the "Comment" button can be found below…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Jonah 3

Jonah 3

Chapter three finds Jonah up on dry land, having just been thrown-up by some large fish.  Here, God instructs Jonah (again) to go to Nineveh and preach the message that they had forty days to turn from their evil ways before God destroyed their city.  This time Jonah agrees to take the message to Nineveh.  Funny what a few days inside a fish will do for your sense of obedience (or will it, wait for chapter four)!  The people of Nineveh hear Jonah's message and repent; with the king himself calling for the entire city to repent.  God sees their action and spares them and their city.  Our God is nothing if not a God of compassion!

Good things happen (and not just to/for ourselves) when we obey God.  Jonah finally obeys, and an entire city is saved.  Seemingly, this would be a great place to end the book, but, there is a bit of a strange ending left in chapter four.  Tune in tomorrow and see what I mean…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Jonah 2

Jonah 2

In this chapter, vv 1 and 10 bookend Jonah's prayer, which is found in vv 2-9.  The salvation Jonah speaks of may have been the fact that he had been saved from drowning, or his assurance that God would ultimately save him from the fish too.  It seems like God has got Jonah's attention, as the tone of this prayer is much different from the "no" he told God in chapter 1!  This prayer is sometimes referred to as a psalm, and like all good psalms, this one could be sung in a situation other than the one it was written for.  So, even if you're not inside of a whale, this psalm thanking God for salvation could still be appropriate in your life.

V 10 finds the fish vomiting Jonah up onto the beach.  I'm thinking he smelled pretty bad, and probably looked awful.  The Veggie Tales movie shows this nicely as the asparagus playing Jonah emerges from the whale bleached almost white.  Will Jonah obey God and travel to Nineveh…  Tune in Monday to find out!  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Jonah 1

Jonah 1

It's amazing that the entire sequence of events in this book is started by this phrase from v 3: "But Jonah ran away from the LORD".  Jonah was a prophet, he should have known better than to try and run from God!  The root of Jonah's disobedience was his hatred of the people of Nineveh for their oppression of Jonah's people, the Jews.  God was offering the Ninevites the chance to repent, and Jonah didn't want them to have that chance.  So, he books passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction.  God is aware of Jonah's travel plans and sends a massive storm to intercept Jonah's ship.  The ship's captain and crew begin to panic and ask everyone to call on their gods to save the ship.  The crew goes a step farther and decides to cast lots (think some random dice game) to find out who angered their god.  The "random" lot falls to Jonah, and so the crew asks him what he's done.  Jonah tells them that he is a Hebrew, and that he is running from the God "who made the sea and land" (v 9).  To calm the sea, Jonah tells the crew to throw him overboard.  In their defense, they tried to row out of the storm before they tried Jonah's suggestion.  But, the storm got even worse, and they finally decide to chuck Jonah overboard.  Immediately after they did, the storm cleared up, and the sea calmed down.  After seeing this, many of the sailors came to know God (which is an added bonus to the story).  To rescue Jonah (and give him the second chance that He is known for), God sends a "great fish to swallow Jonah".  Usually, "great fish" is interpreted as "whale", and the original Hebrew doesn't provide any extra clarity; anyway around it, Jonah spends the next three days inside of a seafaring animal.

God is the God of second, and third, and fourth, and fifth, etc… chances.  This will prove to be the main theme of this book, actually, of the entire Bible!  I'm still amazed that Veggie Tales derived an entire movie from the 48 verses in this book.  That's good story-telling!  Tune in tomorrow for Jonah's big "escape"… Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

An Introduction to the Book of Jonah

An Introduction to the Book of Jonah

The book of Jonah stirs up debate among Biblical scholars, particularly as to whether or not it is history or fiction.  If the story is historical, then Jonah was most likely the author (as he is referenced in 2 Kings, we know that Jonah was a real person), and the book would have been written between 785 and 750 BC.  If the story is fictional, its author is unknown, and most likely was written after the eighth century BC. 

What we do know is that Jonah was a Jewish prophet, with a strong sense of nationalism.  It is this national pride that leads to the main conflict in this story.  God tells Jonah to preach His message to the people of Nineveh, who have oppressed the Jewish people in the past.  I think that this would be a lot like God asking a modern-day Jewish person to preach to the Germans.   Jonah was not thrilled with the assignment, and so tries to run away.  The thing is, you can't run from God!

It is worth noting that in the Old Testament, a prophet was more like a teacher or preacher in today's world.  Try and get rid of the "Psychic Friends Network" picture in your head.  Jonah was not "predicting" the future, he was preaching God's word.

This is a story of second chances, both for Jonah and the people of Nineveh.  It is also a story of hard-heartedness, in spite of the obvious work of God.  As you read this story, be prepared for the last chapter, which seems to have been completely ignored by every Sunday School teacher I ever had.

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 10

Esther 10

Chapter Ten, in which it all ends.  After nine action-packed chapters, the book of Esther comes to a close with three verses.  The focus of this chapter is the high rank to which Mordecai rose in King Xerxes' empire.  Over the course of this book, Mordecai has gone from unknown Jewish man, to the King's rescuer, to having a death warrant signed against him, to "second in rank to King Xerxes" (v 3).  Not a bad journey!

And so ends the book of Esther.  I can't help but imagine what a great movie this would make if someone would treat the story with the proper respect; and if someone would put some real money behind it.  Anybody out there have several million dollars lying around…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 9

Esther 9

Chapter Nine, in which the Jewish people have the revenge that only a history of persecution could necessitate.  On the day in which Haman's edict was supposed to go into effect, the new edict (overturning the old one) goes into effect, and the Jews are allowed to defend themselves against anyone who comes against them.  Presumably, there are still some people who intended to enforce Haman's edict.  However, the Jews didn't stop with them, as they killed many others, most likely including those who might potentially rise up against them.  Their fury at their history of persecution was finally being given an outlet, and even the King was impressed.  Upon hearing the number of people killed just in his own city, the King asked Esther if there was anything else she would ask of him.  Her request was for the King to extend his edict to the following day, extending it across both the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar.  She also requested that the ten sons of Haman being hanged, and since they were already dead, this could only have been to warn others.  It is important to note that specific mention is made of the Jews not taking the property of those they killed, even though the King's edict allowed it.  The killing here was not for personal gain, as there was an ancient Hebrew law that stated that personal gain was not to be at the expense of an enemy in a holy war.  This was considered a holy war by the Jews.

The remainder of this chapter is devoted to the establishment of the celebration of Purim.  This celebration is still carried out today and apparently is quite boisterous!  A quick web search will show you what I mean. 

Nine chapters down; one to go!  Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of the book of Esther.  In actuality, it's not that exciting, but it is the conclusion!  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 8

Esther 8

Chapter Eight, in which the Jewish people are saved!  After the hanging of Haman, King Xerxes gives his estate to Esther, who leaves it to Mordecai to oversee.  Now comes the time for Esther to ask the King to rescind the order to kill the Jews.  Perhaps overlooked here and in the last chapter is that Esther uses the term "my people" when making this request of the King.  Finally, she identifies herself as Jewish.  Despite her withholding this information from him, King Xerxes agrees to rescind the order and instructs Mordecai to write a new order and seal it with the King's signet ring.  The new order declares that the Jewish people throughout the kingdom had the right to gather together and to defend themselves if attacked.  This order is sent out to every province in the kingdom, and is accompanied by joy and celebration by the Jews.  In addition, many people became Jews, probably because of the apparent protection that God offered them.

It is worth noting that the new edict went into effect the same day that Haman's edict was to become law.  Victory for the Jewish people!  We've still two chapters to go, and like any good story, there is plenty of wrapping up to do.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 7

Esther 7

Chapter Seven, in which Haman gets his comeuppance.  We begin at Esther's second banquet, with the King asking Esther for her request.  She finally asks him to spare her people, "forgetting" to mention that she is Jewish.  The King agrees, and then asks Esther who is doing this to her people.  When he finds out that it is Haman, King Xerxes storms out, leaving Haman to beg Esther for his life.  When the King returns, he sees Haman in what appears to be a compromising position with his wife; as if Haman wasn't in enough trouble already!  Immediately, Haman is taken off to be executed.  Helpfully, one of the King's men suggests they use the gallows that Haman had built to hang Mordecai.

What a twist!  But the King still hasn't quite answered Esther's request, tune in Monday…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

Esther 6

Esther 6

Chapter Six, in which justice begins to be served.  During the night between Esther's banquets, King Xerxes is finding it hard to sleep, and so he has some of his history read to him.  In this history is the story of how Mordecai thwarted the plan to assassinate him is read to the King.  Finding out that Mordecai was not rewarded for this deed, the King asked Haman (who was there to ask for permission to hang Mordecai) for a suitable reward.  Haman, thinking that the reward was for him, suggests a very public display of the King's gratitude.  The King likes the idea and has Haman gather the required robe and horse, and then give them to Mordecai!  And get this, not only is this reward not for Haman, but he has to lead Mordecai through the city and tell everyone of the King's gratitude towards Mordecai.  Needless to say, this doesn't sit well with Haman, who does what the King asks of him, but then goes home and complains to his family.  However, instead of a sympathetic ear, they tell Haman that he is doomed for daring to go up against Mordecai, because he is a Jew.  Even the non-Jewish people are beginning to see that God is looking out for His people.  While he is talking with his family, the king's men come to escort Haman to Esther's banquet.

Everything was going so well for Haman, and now it seems to be going rapidly downhill!  In all of this Haman humiliation, our author has kept us waiting to see if Esther asks the King to save the Jewish people.  Will she ask tomorrow?  How will Haman deal with his humiliation?  Tune in tomorrow to find out…  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net