Outlines by a London Minister Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. I. AN ORDINARY EVENT IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. It was not a miracle that a large fish should swallow Jonah. Instances have been known in which sharks have swallowed men. II. WHAT MAY BE CALLED A SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD. A remarkable coincidence of ordinary providences leading to some important result we generally regard as a special providence. III. WE HAVE A MIRACULOUS PROVIDENCE OF GOD. That the prophet should have lived in the fish was a miracle. And the miracle is the more striking because conscious ness continued. Learn — 1. That there is no way out of a plain duty except through chastisement. 2. That the place of prayer can neither add to nor take from the value of prayer. 3. That the inferior creatures may become instruments of moral instruction to man. 4. That the fish was honoured by being thus brought into the plan of God for Jonah's recovery to the way of duty. Consider — (1) The object and design of the miracle. (2) The Disposer and Ruler of the action. "The Lord." (3) The manner of doing it. "The Lord prepared." (4) The instrument. "A great fish." (5) The end of its preparation. To swallow up Jonah. (6) The time during which Jonah continued in the fish. "Three days and three nights." (Outlines by a London Minister.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. |
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