A Perilous Defiance: The Story of Jonah

By Author Wright

A Perilous Defiance: The Story Of Jonah is an inspirational narrative of the biblical account of Jonah presented in storyline form. This narrative portrays the incomparable compassion of God. The word of God came to Jonah to go and preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. But he defied and fled in a westwardly direction, for he thought they were his enemies. He knew that through God's compassion, they would be forgiven if they took heed to his preaching and repented. And he thought they should be punished. This book of Jonah is unique among the prophetic writings, it presented the defiant behavior of the prophet instead. Nevertheless, Jonah saw a wonderful portrait of God's compassion. He now knows that it is His desire to forgive even the most paganistic heathen. This narrative also reveals that we should share God's compassion with all people. And to God be the glory!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669819448

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Copyright © 2022 by Author Wright.

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Rev. date: 04/26/2022

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Dedication

A Perilous Defiance: The Story of Jonah is expressly dedicated to the late Pastor John Oliver and Annie Ree Wright, my dear parents. Their dynamic teachings influenced me in the way of holiness and sanctification. In fact, their careful spiritual modeling directed me to the source of my salvation and Christian experience.

Additionally, this inspirational, enlightening, and encouraging narrative is dedicated to all of the devoted believers in Christ with whom I have had the privilege of being greatly influenced in the way of my Christian walk. Indeed, by their spiritual modeling, I have been further enriched in the redemptive love and compassion of our Lord.

Also, I am dedicating this informative and illuminating narrative to all of the men and women who are seeking a closer walk with our Lord and Savior. My desire is that all of you would triumph gloriously in the way of our Lord.

Lastly, this inspiring narrative is especially dedicated to my lovely wife, Celeta Clarke-Wright, and to all of our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and godchildren. It is my hope that the heart of each of you will be far more enriched in your trust in God.

And above all, to God be the glory!

Acknowledgments

Above all, I want to acknowledge the spiritual influence of my dear father and mother, the late Pastor John Oliver and Annie Ree Wright. These loving parents encouraged me to read the Bible regularly, and to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

Truly, with tender and loving discipline, my parents taught me the will of God, and the wisdom and understanding of his glorious truths. And with the help of God, I can now walk worthy in the faithful knowledge in the God of my salvation. Unquestionably, I greatly acknowledge them for their great love and devotion to my spiritual development.

Additionally, I want to also acknowledge that it was a host of sincere and dedicated believers in Christ who labored tirelessly to teach me the great truths of God as it pertains to holiness and sanctification. Therefore, a huge debt of gratitude goes to these dear saints who toiled in the ministry to pave the way for my spiritual growth.

Also, I want to especially thank my beautiful wife, Celeta, who is working closely with me in the Lord. Truly, she worked graciously with me in proofreading this manuscript, and in providing valuable insight and advice when needed. Her loving and delightful support is appreciated.

Lastly, I want to give a special thanks to my son, Jarvis, for his artwork support. He is the artist for the cover page of this narrative. He has been faithful in supporting me in artwork for many of my writings.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Divided Israel

Chapter 2 Northern Israel’s Repentance Call

Chapter 3 The Emergence of the Prophet Jonah

Chapter 4 Jonah’s Prophetic Encouragement

Chapter 5 Jonah’s First Call to Nineveh

Chapter 6 A Defiance Response

Chapter 7 Absconding from the Presence of God

Chapter 8 A Colossal Storm Appeared on the Sea

Chapter 9 Jonah Admits Blame for the Storm

Chapter 10 The Mariners Seek to Appease God

Chapter 11 Jonah Is Thrown Overboard

Chapter 12 Jonah’s Safety Is Seriously at Risk

Chapter 13 Jonah’s Survival is Now in Jeopardy

Chapter 14 Jonah Is Swallowed by a Huge Fish

Chapter 15 Jonah Is Trapped in Fish’s Stomach

Chapter 16 The Sincere Prayer of Jonah

Chapter 17 The Prayer of Jonah Is Heard

Chapter 18 Jonah Is Released on Dry Land

Chapter 19 A Joyful Return to His Home

Chapter 20 Painful Revisit of His Disastrous Flight

Chapter 21 Jonah’s Second Calling to Nineveh

Chapter 22 Preaching Repentance to the Ninevites

Chapter 23 The Repentance of the Ninevites

Chapter 24 God’s Loving Compassion Displayed

Chapter 25 A Passionate Disapproval

Chapter 26 An Angry Outpourings

Chapter 27 A Lesson on Love and Compassion

Chapter 28 God’s Compassion Revealed

Conclusion

Bibliography

Suggested Readings

Foreword

In today’s Christian evangelistic callings, there is no calling more crucial than the Great Commission, for in these last days, there is an urgent need to take the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world.

Truly, the Great Commission of Jesus to go to the whole world with the Gospel is still relevant today. The major stumbling block for not taking the Good News of the Gospel to others outside of our group is our ethnic hatred and prejudices.

Actually, the Great Commission should be the evangelical driving force of every Bible-believing Christian. However, in a time of great spiritual needs among the people of the world, many Bible-believing Christians do not take the Gospel of Jesus any further than their local church.

Therefore, I write this narrative especially to Bible-believing Christians to encourage them to be about their Father’s business. For every Spirit-filled believer should be carrying the Good News of God’s compassion into the whole world of his or her experience.

Certainly, this imaginative portrayal of the defiance of Jonah is illustrative of many Bible-believing Christians of today who have restrictions in their evangelism. Therefore, I hope this small narrative gets into the hands of many Bible-believing Christians and be seriously read so that the Great Commission of Jesus Christ would be fully carried out.

Definitely, I regard A Perilous Defiance: The Story of Jonah as a vitally important inspirational source of strength for all Spirit-filled believers who desire to go further in their evangelistic outreach to win souls for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For only when Bible-believing Christians obey the Lord in the Great Commission, then will it be possible to evangelize the whole world in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I encourage every Spirit-filled believer to go into all the world and win souls for Christ.

Dr. Author O. Wright, MS, MMin, PhD, DMin, ThD, DD

Christian educator and counselor

Ordained elder

Preface

A Perilous Defiance: The Story of Jonah is a distinctively powerful, inspirational narrative of the biblical account of Jonah presented in storyline form. Unquestionably, this narrative portrays, despite the defiance of Jonah, the incomparable compassion of God.

Undoubtedly, when the word of God came to Jonah to go northeast and preach repentance to the cruel people of Nineveh, he quickly defied and fled in a westwardly direction. He tried to escape this undesirable commission to go and preach repentance to those who were his enemy.

Jonah was afraid that since God was loving and compassionate, his grace and mercy would prevail favorably to this wicked city. And if these wicked people of this oppressive heathen city took heed to his preaching and genuinely repented, he knew that God would forgive them.

Therefore, he was very unwilling to prophesy repentance to a nation whom he thought was his enemy. Hence, due to his lack of compassion for the Ninevites, he became very reluctant and disobedience, and he thought that he could defy the commission of God.

Clearly, this small prophecy of Jonah is very interesting. In fact, it is unique among the prophetic writings. Instead of highlighting the prophetic word to this wicked city as has been commissioned by the Lord, this small prophetic book presented an incredibly sad account of the defiant behavior of the prophet himself.

Certainly, Jonah thought Israel had a privileged relationship with God, And he was extremely defensive against any nation whom he felt was trespassing on it. Nevertheless, he had an unexpectedly enlightening experience when he learned that the expansive love and compassion of God encompasses the entire world.

Therefore, this inspirational narrative presents the story of Jonah with special attentiveness, Mainly because the defiant behavior of this prophet of God is representative of many Bible-believing Christians of today when it comes to dealing with those whom we don’t like, or have become a great menace to our lives.

Definitely, this