Death To Life - Jonah’s Prayer For Rescue

Jonah’s Prayer For Rescue

Where does God live?

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Genesis 1: 6-8

In Genesis 1, the sky is referred to as heaven. However, scripture also says that God lives in heaven.

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2
‘Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.’ Deuteronomy 26:15

In the ancient worldview, biblical authors often described God as dwelling “in heaven,” and by “heaven” they generally meant the sky above. But that doesn't mean they thought God was confined there physically. The language is both cosmological and theological — it expresses God's exalted status and transcendence more than a precise geographical location.

Eden

The author of Genesis presents the garden of Eden as a place on the land, but also a place where God was present. The garden of Eden was a space where heaven and earth overlapped.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

In ancient times, mountains/hills were seen as places where the realm of man and the realm of the divine overlapped, and it was no different for Israel. Mountains/hills were the highest points of the land, so this is understandable.

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 3: 1-4

The garden of Eden is presented to us as an elevated place on the land (rivers flowed from the center of the garden - Genesis 2). The garden of Eden - the place of abundant life where God dwelt with man - is the first mountain.

Too long, please open your Bible Ezekiel 28: 13-14, 16

When God exiled Adam and Eve from the garden into the wilderness, it was an exile from God’s presence; from life to death. Man is banished forever from the mountain of God.

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

Tabernacle & Temple

After God delivered the children of Israel through the sea, He came down on Mt Sinai to meet with them. They were frightened, and as a result, sent Moses to go up the mountain with them. God then gave instructions for them to build a tent/tabernacle.

Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. Exodus 15: 13,17
Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8
I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

Leviticus 26: 11-12

The Tabernacle was a dwelling place of God among His people - This is Eden! The transcendent God who appeared on Mount Sinai did not leave His heavenly throne, but dwelled in the tent with them in the wilderness, such that He was near to them. The tabernacle becomes a portable “mini-mountain” where God dwells among His people. Mount Zion is where the temple is situated after they settle in the land.

We see the clear association between the earthly temple and heaven where God dwells

Too long, please open your Bible 1 Kings 8: 41-43

Rival Mountains

Zion vs Bashan

In ancient times, mountains/hills were seen as places where the realm of man and the realm of the divine overlapped, so they were places established for the worship of gods. The biblical authors compared Zion to rival mountains.

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 68: 15-17

Zion vs Zaphon

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 48: 1-3 (NIV)

Zion vs Other Mountains In Israel

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 87: 1-3

God vs Other Secure Places

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 46: 1-7
Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 11

Jonah’s Descent

Jonah 2 is where the prophets descent is amplified to the highest volume possible, but the author has subtly hinted at his downward movement from Chapter 1

  • 1:3 - To Tarshish, from the presence of God (Jonah 1:3)
  • 1:3 - He went down to Joppa...went down into the ship (Jonah 1:3)
  • He went down into the innermost parts of the ship (Jonah 1:5)

Jonah’s descent is heightened in the most graphic ways possible, but no matter how far Jonah sinks, his voice can still reach God’s temple. We can learn from this that no matter how deep we are covered in chaos waters or death, God can still hear our cry for rescue.

GOD HEARS, AND HE IS NEAR

Let us not fear

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 16: 10-11
Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 23:4