This is the story of Jonah and the big fish, as told with cartoon pictures, sound effects, and hymn music. Jonah was called by God to warn the people of Nineveh that if they didn't repent from their sins, idolatry, and wickedness that God would have to judge them. God had already been calling out to them before He called Jonah to go. But, they were not listening to Him. So, God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh to plead with the people to repent and to turn to the true and living God.
But, Jonah had a problem. He had a grudge against the Assyrian people. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and it was his enemy. The Assyrians had oppressed the people of Israel, and Jonah wanted nothing to do with God's will to plead with them and warn them. So, Jonah decided he would do his own thing and go the very opposite direction. He was heading for Tarshish in what is now modern-day Spain. Back then, it was a Phoenician coastal city. The ruins of Nineveh are located at modern-day Mosul, Iraq. In ancient times, Nineveh was densely populated and prosperous. But, Jonah didn't want to see God reach the hearts of Jonah's enemies, so he found a ship headed for Tarshish and got aboard. While they were sailing in the Mediterranean, a great storm arose and threatened the safety of the people aboard the cargo ship. But, Jonah didn't care. He was fast asleep until someone awoke him. Watch the video to see what happened next. The text for this video can be read here at this link: https://biblehub.com/kjv/jonah/1.htm . To learn HOW TO BE SAVED through Jesus Christ, click here: https://exploringchristianity1.blogspot.com/p/salvation-through-jesus-christ_10.html .
This is the story of Jonah and the big fish, as told with cartoon pictures, sound effects, and hymn music. Jonah was called by God to warn the people of Nineveh that if they didn't repent from their sins, idolatry, and wickedness that God would have to judge them. God had already been calling out to them before He called Jonah to go. But, they were not listening to Him. So, God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh to plead with the people to repent and to turn to the true and living God.
But, Jonah had a problem. He had a grudge against the Assyrian people. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and it was his enemy. The Assyrians had oppressed the people of Israel, and Jonah wanted nothing to do with God's will to plead with them and warn them. So, Jonah decided he would do his own thing and go the very opposite direction. He was heading for Tarshish in what is now modern-day Spain. Back then, it was a Phoenician coastal city. The ruins of Nineveh are located at modern-day Mosul, Iraq. In ancient times, Nineveh was densely populated and prosperous. But, Jonah didn't want to see God reach the hearts of Jonah's enemies, so he found a ship headed for Tarshish and got aboard. While they were sailing in the Mediterranean, a great storm arose and threatened the safety of the people aboard the cargo ship. But, Jonah didn't care. He was fast asleep until someone awoke him. Watch the video to see what happened next. The text for this video can be read here at this link: https://biblehub.com/kjv/jonah/1.htm . To learn HOW TO BE SAVED through Jesus Christ, click here: https://exploringchristianity1.blogspot.com/p/salvation-through-jesus-christ_10.html .
Fire From Heaven - The Priests of Baal Versus Elijah, a Prophet of God - Animated Bible Adventure
(This is a semi-animated / illustrated video about the prophet Elijah calling fire down from Heaven. It contains scripture verses, artwork, and hymn music.) -- Fire came down from Heaven and consumed stones, water, and an animal sacrifice when Elijah, a prophet of God, asked God to demonstrate His power to show the backward people of ancient Israel who the real God is. For years they were serving Baal and many other idols. Then, famine and drought struck the land for about 3 years. Near the end of the famine, Elijah, the man who King Ahab had sought to capture, appeared and wished to speak with the king.
He told King Ahab to get the children of Israel together to conduct an experiment to see who the true God really is: Baal or JEHOVAH. The real God would answer his worshipers with fire from heaven. Elijah let the Baal worshipers go first. Then, the priests of Baal began to conduct pagan rituals to call upon Baal to send fire from heaven. But, nothing happened. This went on for many hours.
How Satan Is Like Joab in 2 Samuel 19 -- Applications from 2 Samuel 19
(King David weeps over Absalom.)
A short civil war erupted between men loyal to Absalom, a son of King David, and those loyal to his father. Absalom, using deceptive techniques, powerful public relations tricks, and charisma, drew many people in Israel into his goal of replacing King David with Absalom. David and many of his most loyal followers fled from Jerusalem and dwelt in the wilderness. Absalom sought counsel and then determined he would to fight against his father, and slay him. After King David crossed the Jordan river and entered a fortified city, Absalom, accompanied by thousands of armed men, crossed the river and attacked David's men in a forested region. The battle went poorly for Absalom and his men, and most of them were slaughtered or died due to falling into deep pits or chasms. Absalom, who had long hair, rode past an oak tree and his hair was ensnared in its branches. His mount, a mule, left him literally hanging. Joab, the captain of David's army, saw the king's son hanging in the tree and unable to escape. Ignoring David's orders not to kill Absalom, Joab brutally killed him in cold blood and Joab's armor bearers finished him off. It was not the first time Joab disregarded the king's wishes.
Mary Byrne's 1905 English Translation of "Be Thou My Vision"
Can Be Our Prayer to God or Our Statement of Faith
Mary Byrne's English translation (from 1905) of "Be Thou My Vision" is very powerful when you pray it to God. It was an old Irish song of worship from hundreds of years ago. We don't know who exactly wrote it. But, some think it could have been influenced by Patrick of Ireland, who God used to bring Christianity to that island nation.
Worshiping God with music is very powerful and moving. I was thinking that we could read the text of "Be Thou My Vision" but substitute "You are" in place of Be thou" to make it a statement of praise. Or, we can leave it as "Be thou" and use it as a prayer to God. Personally, I like both options.
Another way of looking at this is to use this old Irish hymn as both praise and prayer. We want God to be our vision, our focus, our delight. But, we can thank Him that He is our shelter and our Father, for instance. (Also, we could change "King of the seven heavens" to "High King of Heaven".) We have Mary Byrne's translation below. __________________________________ Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart None other is aught but the King of the seven heavens. Be thou my meditation by day and night. May it be thou that I behold even in my sleep. Be thou my speech, be thou my understanding. Be thou with me, be I with thee