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Chris Salem

The Unfathomable Mercy: The Epic Story of Jonah and the Whale (Fish) and Ba'utha

The story of Jonah and the whale is a profound and captivating tale of obedience, repentance, and the unfailing mercy of God.


At the time of Jonah's preaching, Nineveh was ruled by a powerful king named Ashur Dan III. The people of Nineveh were not beyond redemption. When Jonah, a prophet of God, came to their city and preached for them to repent, they heard his words and believed. They repented of their sins and cried out to God for mercy.


The king himself, Ashur Dan III, was moved by Jonah's message and issued a decree that all inhabitants of Nineveh, from the king to the lowliest slave, were to fast, put on sackcloth, and ashes as a sign of repentance. The entire city was filled with the sound of mourning and the people cried out to God for forgiveness.


And God, in His infinite mercy, had compassion on the Ninevites. He did not destroy the city, but instead, granted them a chance at redemption and salvation. The story of Jonah and the whale is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace and that repentance and humility can bring about true and lasting change.


The story of Jonah and the whale is not just a historical account but it is a timeless message that speaks to the hearts of all humanity. It is a call to obey God, to turn away from our sins and to seek forgiveness, and to trust in the mercy and love of our Creator.


It is a reminder that through repentance and humility, we can experience the transforming power of God's grace and find true peace and salvation.


13 Churches that Celebrate the Rogation of Ninevites (Ba'utha)

  1. Ancient Church of the East

  2. Assyrian Church of the East

  3. Chaldean Catholic Church of the East

  4. Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

  5. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

  6. Malabar Independent Syrian Church

  7. Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

  8. Mar Thoma Syrian Church

  9. Syriac Catholic Church

  10. Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch

  11. Syriac Orthodox Church

  12. Syro-Malabar Church

  13. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church


Etymology

ܒܥܘܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܝ̈ܐ

Ba'utha d-Ninwaye

Literal Translation: The collective want of the Ninevites


In the Eastern dialect of Syriac, also known as neo-Aramaic, the word for "want" is Baya. Likewise, the word for "our want" is Ba'utha.


In English, it is referred to as Ba'utha, Baoutha, Bautha, or Bauta.

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