J O N A HA 4 W E E K B I B L E S T U D Y

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Hithere!I’mdelightedthatyouhavedecidedtojoinmeinstudyingmyfavoritebookoftheBible-Jonah.Untilayearago,IcouldnotrememberlasttimeIhadreadthebookofJonah.Then,IbegantostudyJonahin-depthandsuddenlyitcamealive.Irememberthinking,“Wherehasthisbookbeenmyentirelife?”Itismydeepestprayerthatyouwalkawayfromthisstudywithtwothings:thatyouloveGodevenmoredeeplyandthatyoufeelempoweredtostudytheBiblein-depth.ThisworkbookisdesignedtohelpyouthinkdeeplyaboutthebookofJonah.Itcontainsavarietyofquestionsandinstructionsdesignedtohelpyouengageinobserving,interpreting,andapplyingthebooktoyourlife.Somequestionsorinstructionsmaybemoredifficultthanothers,butmyconcernisnotthatyouhaveperfectanswers.What’smostimportantisthatyouspendqualitytimewithGodreadingandreflectingonJonah.IamsoexpectantthattheLordisgoingtoministertoyouthroughthisshortbookoftheBible.Cheeringyouon!Love,LauraCourtney

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Week1:Jonah1Begineverydaythisweekinprayer.AsktheLordtospeaktoyoufromHiswordtodayandpreparetohearHimspeak.Thereissomuchwehavetolearnthroughthisamazinglittlebook,sobuckleupandgetready!Next,readthroughJonah1,underlining,highlighting,andmakingnotesaboutanythingyoufindimportant.

Jonah1

1ThewordoftheLordcametoJonahsonofAmittai:2“GotothegreatcityofNinevehandpreachagainstit,becauseitswickednesshascomeupbeforeme.”3ButJonahranawayfromtheLordandheadedforTarshish.HewentdowntoJoppa,wherehefoundashipboundforthatport.Afterpayingthefare,hewentaboardandsailedforTarshishtofleefromtheLord.4ThentheLordsentagreatwindonthesea,andsuchaviolentstormarosethattheshipthreatenedtobreakup.5Allthesailorswereafraidandeachcriedouttohisowngod.Andtheythrewthecargointotheseatolightentheship.ButJonahhadgonebelowdeck,wherehelaydownandfellintoadeepsleep.6Thecaptainwenttohimandsaid,“Howcanyousleep?Getupandcallonyourgod!Maybehewilltakenoticeofussothatwewillnotperish.”7Thenthesailorssaidtoeachother,“Come,letuscastlotstofindoutwhoisresponsibleforthiscalamity.”TheycastlotsandthelotfellonJonah.8Sotheyaskedhim,“Tellus,whoisresponsibleformakingallthistroubleforus?Whatkindofworkdoyoudo?Wheredoyoucomefrom?Whatisyourcountry?Fromwhatpeopleareyou?”9Heanswered,“IamaHebrewandIworshiptheLord,theGodofheaven,whomadetheseaandthedryland.”10Thisterrifiedthemandtheyasked,“Whathaveyoudone?”(TheyknewhewasrunningawayfromtheLord,becausehehadalreadytoldthemso.)11Theseawasgettingrougherandrougher.Sotheyaskedhim,“Whatshouldwedotoyoutomaketheseacalmdownforus?”12“Pickmeupandthrowmeintothesea,”hereplied,“anditwillbecomecalm.Iknowthatitismyfaultthatthisgreatstormhascomeuponyou.”13Instead,themendidtheirbesttorowbacktoland.Buttheycouldnot,fortheseagrewevenwilderthanbefore.14ThentheycriedouttotheLord,“Please,Lord,donotletusdiefortakingthisman’slife.Donotholdusaccountableforkillinganinnocentman,foryou,Lord,havedoneasyoupleased.”15ThentheytookJonahandthrewhimoverboard,andtheragingseagrewcalm.16AtthisthemengreatlyfearedtheLord,andtheyofferedasacrificetotheLordandmadevowstohim.17NowtheLordprovidedahugefishtoswallowJonah,andJonahwasinthebellyofthefishthreedaysandthreenights.1

1Unlessotherwisenoted,allScripturereferencescomefrom:TheHolyBible,TheNewInternationalVersion,(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2011).

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Jonah’sRebellion:Jonah1:1-3Pleasegobackandre-readverses1-3.Underlineanycommandyousee.

WasJonahgivenachoiceofwhethertogotoNinevehornot?ForgettingwhatyoualreadyknowaboutJonahforamoment,howwouldareaderwhohasneverheardthisstorybeforeexpecttheprophettorespondtoGod’scommand?HighlightJonah’sresponsetoGod’sdirective.Next,writehisresponsedown.

FirsttimereadersofthisbookexpectJonahtogetupandgotoNineveh.Instead,JonahgoestoJoppaandgetsonaboatboundforTarshish.

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TheCityofNineveh

Let’stakeafewmomentstolearnabitaboutNineveh.ThisgivesushistoricalcontextandhelpsusunderstandwhyJonahsohatedthecity.Imustwarnyou,however,thatwhatweareabouttoseeisdifficulttoreadandgruesome.NinevehwasthecapitalofAssyria―famousintheAncientNearEastforitscruelty.2Describingthecity,theprophetNahumsaysinNahum3:19,“forwhohasnotfeltyourendlesscruelty.”3Clearlythesurroundingnations,includingIsrael,hadfelttheimpactofNineveh’sruthlessness.

ArchaeologistshavefoundgruesomepicturesanddescriptionsofbattlescenesinoldAssyrianpalaces.4ThesebattlessceneswerecreatedasawayfortheAssyrianstoboastabouttheirbrutality;theywereproudofit.5RecordsofAssyrianviolencespeakof“livedismemberment”ofprisonersand“paradesofheads,”wherethe“friendsofthedeceased”wouldoftenbeforcedtocarrytheseheadslifteduponpoles.6TheAssyrianswouldstretchprisonersandskinthemalive,laterdisplayingtheseskins“oncitywallsandonpoles.”7Picturesweredrawnofpilesofprisoners’“heads,hands,andfeet”tocommemorateandboastofvictories.8TheAssyrianswereevenknowntodisplayheadsofprisonersforeveryonetosee.9Stillothercaptiveswouldbeburnedalive.10Icoulddescribethingsfarworse,butIthinkbynowyouunderstandthattheywerewicked,inhumanepeople.ThepeopleofIsraelhadlivedundertheAssyrianthreat,andrecordsshowthatintheeighthcenturyBC,apopulationoftheIsraeliteshadbeencapturedanddeportedtoAssyria.11WhenGodcalledJonahtogotoNineveh,theverycapitaloftheterribleAssyrianEmpire,youcanimaginethedifficultsituationthatJonahfaced.AllofthesethingsthattheAssyrianshaddonemusthavebeenattheforefrontofhismind.

2DanielJ.Hays,TheMessageoftheProphets:ASurveyofthePropheticand

ApocalypticBooksoftheOldTestament,editedbyTremperLongmanIII,(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2010,322.

3TheHolyBible,TheNewInternationalVersion,(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2011).

4JamesBruckner,TheNIVApplicationCommentary:Jonah,Nahum,Habakkuk,Zephaniah,editedbyTerryMuck,(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2004),28-29.

5Ibid,28.6Ibid.7Ibid.8Ibid,28-29.9Ibid,29.10Ibid.11Ibid.

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WiththisinformationaboutNinevehinmind,pleaselistpossiblereasonsthatmightexplainwhyJonahdidnotwanttogotoNineveh.

Thisinformationiswithheldfromusrightnow.WhydoyouthinkthewriterofJonahmighthaveleftoutthispieceofinformation?

Inverses1-3,underlineanyphrasethatimpliesGod’spresence.ThewordplayintheHebrewlanguagetellsusthatJonahis“fleeingfromthepresenceoftheLord.”

Pleaselookuptheword“flee”inthedictionaryandwritethedefinitionyoufinddown.Flee:

Whatdoestheword“flee”imply?

Basedonthisimplication,isJonah’sresponsetofleefromtheLordlogical?Whyorwhynot?

ThereisanoteintheNETBiblethatexplainswhyJonahthoughthecouldfleefromGod’spresencebygoingtoJoppa.

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“Jonah chose a port [Joppa] where the people he would meet and the ships he could take were not likely to be Israelite.”12

Knowing this information, explain Jonah’s logic for going to Joppa:

IsitpossibleforanyonetofleefromthepresenceofGod?

HaveyoueverwantedtorunfromGod?Why?Whathappened? ThisisnottheonlytimeintheBiblewereadaboutfleeingfromthepresenceofGod.ReadPsalm139:7andnoteitssimilaritiestoJonah1:1-3.Lookforsimilarphrasingandsentiments.

“WherecanIgotoescapeyourSpirit?WherecanIfleefromyourpresence?”

Pleaseparaphrasethisverse.

WhatisthePsalmist’simpliedanswertothesetoquestions?

GobackandreadtheentirechapterofPsalm139.ThePsalmsarefilledwithuncomfortablyhonestprayerstoGod.I’dliketosuggestthatPsalm139isoneofthoseprayers.InthisPsalm,thePsalmistwritesthatGodknowshimcompletely,insideandout,andthismakeshimuncomfortable.Perhapsheevenfeelsabitclaustrophobic.

12TheHolyBible,TheNETTranslation,(Richardson,TX:BiblicalStudies

Press,2005),Jonah1:3.

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TakeafewminutesandconsiderthefactthatGodknowsyoufully,insideandout.Heknowseverythoughtyou’veeverhadandthenumberofhairsonyourhead.CanyourelatetohowthePsalmistisfeelinginPsalm139?Whyorwhynot?

WhatwasthePsalmist’sconclusionaboutbeinginGod’spresenceattheendofthechapter?

ThePsalmistheredecidesthatitisgoodforGodtosearchandknowhimandinvitesGodtodoso.Henolongerwantstoflee.

SpendsometimeinprayertodayinvitingGodtoknowyou.BehonestinyourprayertoHimabouthowyouaredoingandwhatyouarefacing.Healreadyknows!

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God’sRespondstoJonah’sRebellionPleasereadJonah1:4-6Circlethephrase“ThentheLord.”PleaselistotherwaysthatGodcouldhaverespondedtoJonah’srebellion:

TheLordwasnotdonepursuingJonah!Howisthisstormanactofgraceandlove?

Howdotheotherpeopleontheshiprespondtothestorm?HowdoesJonahrespond?Whichresponseismorelogical?Why?JesusstatesinMatthew12:41“somethinggreaterthanJonahishere.”HeisspeakingofHimselfinthisverse.WeknowthatJesusisbetterthanJonah;afterall,HeisGod!BylookingatseveralversesintheNewTestamentandseeinghowJesustriumphsinareaswhereJonahfails,wecangainadeeperloveandreverenceforJesus.StudyingtheseverseswilldriveustoworshipHimmorefully.Becauseofthis,wewilllookatsomeofthesepassagesthroughoutthisstudy.

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PleaseReadMark4:35-41.Afterreadingtheseverses,pleasenoteallofthesimilaritiesanddifferencesthatyouseebetweenthestorminJonah1:4-17andinMark4:35-41.

Jonah’sactionscausedhisstorm.Jesushadpowertocalmthestorm.Jonahmayhaveslepttoavoidtheconsequencesofhisdisobedience.JesusprobablysleptbecauseHewasn’tworriedaboutthestorm,knowingHehadpoweroverit.

Haveyouhadany“thentheLord”momentsinyourlifewhereyouwerenotobeyingorlisteningtoGodwhenHeintervened?Ifso,writeaboutthem!TaketimetothankGodfororchestratingthosemoments.

Similarities

Differences

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JonahandtheSailors:Jonah1:7-17

PleasereadJonah1:7-17WhatdidJonahtellthesailorsabouthimself?Underlinethosestatementsinthetext.HowdidJonahdescribeGod?Underlinethisdescription.WhatissignificantaboutJonah’sdescriptionofGodinthisparticularsituation?HowdothesailorsrespondtoJonah’sdescriptionofGod?HowdidthesailorsknowthatJonahwasrunningawayfromtheLord’spresence? WhatdoesthistellyouaboutJonah’sattitudetowardGod?WhatisJonah’ssolutiontothisproblem?WhatdoesthissolutiontellyouaboutJonah’sattitudetowardhisownlifeandaboutobeyingGodandseeingNinevehrepent?HowdidthesailorsrespondtoJonah’ssolution?

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CompareJonah’ssolutiontothisstormandthesailors’responsetothestormevenafterJonahgiveshisproposedsolution:

Jonah

Sailors

WhatdidthesailorsdowhentheythrewJonahoverboard?Why?WhohadmorerespectfortheLordandwhovaluedJonah’slifemore:Jonahorthesailors?IsGodcurrentlyaskingyoutodosomethingyoudon’twanttodo?Itcouldbeforgivingsomeone,choosingtotrustGodinsteadoffear,lovingsomeonewhoishardtolove,sharingthegospelwithsomeone,ortakingabigleapoffaithevenwhenyouarescared.Writeyouranswerinthespaceprovided.Committoobedience,evenifitishard.Tellafriendandaskherorhimtoholdyouaccountable.

The“onething”thatGodiscallingmetodois:

Asyoufinishthisweek,pray.ThankGodforHisundeservedgraceinyourlife.Askhimforboldnesstodothatthingthatheiscallingyoutodo.I’mprayingforyouasyouprocessallthatyouhavebeenlearningfromJonahthisweek!

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Week2:Jonah2

Begineverydaythisweekinprayer.AsktheLordtospeaktoyoufromHiswordtodayandbepreparedforHimtoanswer.Thereissomuchwehavetolearnthroughthisamazinglittlebook,sobuckleupandgetready!Next,readthroughJonah2,underlining,highlighting,andmakingnotesaboutanythingthatseemssignificant.

Jonah2

FrominsidethefishJonahprayedtotheLordhisGod.2Hesaid:“InmydistressIcalledtotheLord,andheansweredme.FromdeepintherealmofthedeadIcalledforhelp,andyoulistenedtomycry.3Youhurledmeintothedepths,intotheveryheartoftheseas,andthecurrentsswirledaboutme;allyourwavesandbreakerssweptoverme.4Isaid,‘Ihavebeenbanishedfromyoursight;yetIwilllookagaintowardyourholytemple.’5Theengulfingwatersthreatenedme,thedeepsurroundedme;seaweedwaswrappedaroundmyhead.6TotherootsofthemountainsIsankdown;theearthbeneathbarredmeinforever.Butyou,LordmyGod,broughtmylifeupfromthepit.7“Whenmylifewasebbingaway,Irememberedyou,Lord,andmyprayerrosetoyou,toyourholytemple.8“ThosewhoclingtoworthlessidolsturnawayfromGod’sloveforthem.9ButI,withshoutsofgratefulpraise,willsacrificetoyou.WhatIhavevowedIwillmakegood.Iwillsay,‘SalvationcomesfromtheLord.’”10AndtheLordcommandedthefish,anditvomitedJonahontodryland.

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Jonah’sPrayer-AnOverview

InJonah’sattempttofleefromtheLord,heranstraightintothebellyofafish.TakeaminutetoappreciatethesituationinwhichJonahfindshimself.Heisinthebellyofafish.Ithastobedisgusting,smelly,andcramped.HowdoyouthinkyouwouldhaverespondedifyouwereinJonah’ssituation?

WhatwehavehereinJonah2isapauseinthestorytogiveusabetterpictureofJonah’sattitudeandwhathewasthinkingwhilehewasinthefish.

Jonahisinsomeserioustrouble.Whatcouldhehavedonetogetoutofthissituation?

TherewasabsolutelynothingJonahcoulddointhissituationbutpray.SometimesGodputsusinthesesituationstocauseustorealizethatHe’stheoneincontrolwhowemustturnto.

Beforebeingswallowedbyabigfish,whodoyouthinkJonahthoughthadcontroloverthissituation?Why?Howmighthiscurrentquartershavechangedhisperspective?DescribeatimeinyourlifewhereallyoucoulddowasdependontheLord.HowwastheLordfaithfultoyouinthatsituation?

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Jonah’sPrayerandthePsalms

TheNETBibletellsusthis:

These elements, as well as much vocabulary and imagery found in Jonah’s prayer, appear also in other Hebrew psalms. With Jonah 2:1 compare, for example, Pss 18:6; 22:24; 81:7; 116:1–4; 120:1; 130:1–2; Lam 3:55–56. These references and others indicate that Jonah was familiar with prayers used in worship at the temple in Jerusalem; he knew “all the right words.” Consider also Ps 107 with Jonah as a whole.13

Pleasere-readJonah2:1-9andcompareJonah’sprayerwiththefollowingverses:PsalmsandLamentations Jonah2

Psalm18:6:

Psalm22:24:

Psalm81:7:

Psalm116:1-4:

Psalm120:1:

Psalm130:1-2:

Psalm107:

Lamentations3:55-56:

13TheHolyBible,TheNETTranslation,(Richardson,TX:BiblicalStudies

Press,2005),Jonah2:2.

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WhatdothesesimilaritiestellyouaboutJonah?HowdoesJonah’sprofessionasaprophetaddtowhatyouarelearningJonah?AsIreadthroughthebookofJonah,Ifoundmyselfjudginghim.Whowouldn’twanttoseeawholecitysaved?Whowouldn’tobeyGodwhenHegavesuchclearinstructions?Butthen,asIreadthroughchaptertwo,theLordconvictedme.Jonahiscomplex.HerespectedGodandknewHimwell.HehaddedicatedhislifetoservingGod(whichweseebyprofessionasaprophet).IthinkJonahwantedtolivehislifepleasingGod.ButthentheLORDgaveJonahanassignmentthatheflatoutdidnotwanttodo.Wedon’tknowwhyyet,buthedidn’t.Andtheprophetmusthavebeentorn.AndinsteadofjudgingJonah,Ihavetolookatmyownlife.HowdoIhandleasituationwhenIreallywanttoserveandhonorGod,andthenHeasksmetodosomethingthatIdon’twanttodo?CanyourelatetoJonah’ssituationwhere,despiteyourloveforGodandyourdesiretoserveHim,youdidn’twanttodothethingGodaskedyoutodo?Ifso,pleasedescribethatsituation.

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Jonah’sPrayer-FromDespairtoDeliveranceJonah’sprayerisnotexactlyamodelprayer(wewillseethislater),butwecanstilllearnsomethingfromit.TherearetwoelementsofJonah’sprayerIwouldlikeforustoobserve:Jonah’sdespairforhislife(thiscouldbehisphysicalorspirituallife/hisrelationshipwiththeLord)andJonah’spraiseforhisdeliverance.ConsidertheversesinJonah2:2-9andcategorizetheminthespacebelow.Asyoudothis,besuretowriteouteachverse.

Jonah’sDespair

Jonah’sDeliverance

Eg:Jonah2:3:“Youhurledmeintothedepths,intotheveryheartoftheseas,andthecurrentsswirledaboutme;allyourwavesandbreakerssweptoverme.”

Eg:Jonah2:2:“Hesaid:‘InmydistressIcalledtotheLord,andheansweredme.FromdeepintherealmofthedeadIcalledforhelp,andyoulistenedtomycry.’”

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HowhasGodalreadyrescuedJonah?ListanyareasofJonah’slifethatstillrequiretheLORD’Sdeliverance.DoyouthinkJonahrecognizeshisneedintheseareas?Whyorwhynot?

PerhapsthereisanelementtoJonah’sprayerwherehehasalreadybeenrescuedandyetanotherelementwherehestillneedsdeliverance(evenifhedoesn’trealizeityet).

ReadingJonah’sprayerofpraise,IcannothelpbutthinkaboutthewaysGodhasrescuedme.Ibetyoucan’t,either.It’sgoodandnecessarytotaketimetowritedownourownprayersofgratitude,thankingHimforHisdeliverance.AsyouconsiderthewaysthatGodhasalreadyrescuedyou,aretherealsosomeareasinyourlifewhereyoustillneedfreedom?Jonahdidn’tacknowledgewherehewasstuck,butwecan!WecanbringbothofthoseelementstoGod.Let’stakesometimetodothisnow.OnthisnextpagewritedownthethingstheLordalreadyrescuedyoufromandthepocketsofyourlifewhereyouneeddeliverance.

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Godhasrescuedmefrom… ItrustGodtodelivermefrom…

BasedonGod’srecordofrescuingyouinthepast,youcanhaveeveryconfidencethatHewilldeliveryouagain,evenifdeliverancelooksdifferentthanyouexpect.

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Jonah’sPrayer-SpecificDetailsIfyouhadneverreadthebookofJonah,whatwouldyouhaveexpectedtheprophettosayinhisprayerafterthefishswallowedhim?Doesheincludethosethingsinhisprayer?InJonah’sprayer,underlinehowmanytimesJonahsays“you.”

WhatdoesthistellyouaboutJonah’sviewofwhat(orratherwho)wasthecauseofthissituation?

LookbackatJonah2:8-9.WhodoyouthinkJonahistalkingaboutwhenhesays“thosewhoclingtoworthlessidolsturnawayfromGod’sloveforthem?”Hint:LookbackatJonah1:16.Evaluateverse9basedonyouranswertothepreviousquestion.WhatdoyoumakeofJonah’sstatementhere?Hint:howishecomparinghimselfto“thosewhoclingtoworthlessidols?”

WhenwewouldexpectJonahtoconfesshisdisobediencetoGodandaskforforgiveness,heinsteadcelebratesthewaysGodhasrescuedhimandfocusesonhowmuchbetterheisthanthesailorswhowereontheship.14

14RobertB.Chisholm,AWorkbookforIntermediateHebrew:Grammar,

Exegesis,andCommentaryonJonahandRuth,(GrandRapids,KregelPublications,2006),67.

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Arethereanyareasinyourlifewhereyouneedtorepentofasin?Isthereanyprideinyourheartthatyouhavenotnoticedbefore?Taketimetopray,confess,andaskGodforforgiveness.Hecaresaboutyouandhearsyourprayers.

Jonah’sPrayer:JesusandJonah:

SpeakingofHimself,JesusstatesinMatthew12:41,“somethinggreaterthanJonahishere.”LastweekwesawthatbylookingatseveralversesintheNewTestamentandseeinghowJesustriumphedinareaswhereJonahfailed,wecangainadeeperloveandreverenceforChrist.ThiswilldriveustoworshipHimmorefully.Withthisinmind,pleasereadMatthew12:39-41.ComparethedifferencebetweenthecircumstancessurroundingJonah’sthreedaysinthefishandthecircumstancessurroundingJesus’threedaysinthetombandHisresurrection.

Jonah’sThreeDaysintheFish Jesus’ThreeDaysintheTomb

JonahwasinthebellyofthefishbecauseofHisdisobedience;JesuswasinthetombbecauseofHisobedience.JonahdidnotwanttoseeNinevehsaved;Jesusdiedsothatallcouldbesavedfromtheirsins.Jonahhadtheauthoritytotellpeopletorepentoftheirsins;JesusconqueredsinbyHisresurrectionfromthedead.

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Asthisweekcomestoaclose,taketimetoprayandthankGodforsendingHisSon,Jesus,toovercomesinanddeathsothatyoucouldenjoyfreedomandeternallifeforever.

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Week3:Jonah3

Begineverydaythisweekinprayer.AsktheLordtospeaktoyoufromHiswordtodayandprepareyourhearttohearHim.Thereissomuchwehavetolearnthroughthisamazinglittlebook,sobuckleupandgetready!Next,readthroughJonah3,underlining,highlighting,andmakingnotesaboutanythingthatseemssignificant.

Jonah3

ThenthewordoftheLordcametoJonahasecondtime:2“GotothegreatcityofNinevehandproclaimtoitthemessageIgiveyou.”3JonahobeyedthewordoftheLordandwenttoNineveh.NowNinevehwasaverylargecity;ittookthreedaystogothroughit.4Jonahbeganbygoingaday’sjourneyintothecity,proclaiming,“FortymoredaysandNinevehwillbeoverthrown.”5TheNinevitesbelievedGod.Afastwasproclaimed,andallofthem,fromthegreatesttotheleast,putonsackcloth.6WhenJonah’swarningreachedthekingofNineveh,herosefromhisthrone,tookoffhisroyalrobes,coveredhimselfwithsackclothandsatdowninthedust.7ThisistheproclamationheissuedinNineveh:“Bythedecreeofthekingandhisnobles:Donotletpeopleoranimals,herdsorflocks,tasteanything;donotletthemeatordrink.8Butletpeopleandanimalsbecoveredwithsackcloth.LeteveryonecallurgentlyonGod.Letthemgiveuptheirevilwaysandtheirviolence.9Whoknows?Godmayyetrelentandwithcompassionturnfromhisfierceangersothatwewillnotperish.”10WhenGodsawwhattheydidandhowtheyturnedfromtheirevilways,herelentedanddidnotbringonthemthedestructionhehadthreatened.

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Jonah’sSecondChance-Jonah3:1-3

WeleftJonahinapileoffishvomit.Let’sseewhathappensnext.Pleasegobackandre-readJonah3:1-4.Ifyouhadneverreadthisstorybefore,howwouldyouhaveexpectedGodtorespondtoJonah’sdisobedienceonceJonahwasbackondryland?

InsteadofgivinguponJonah,GodgivesJonahasecondchance.ThisisexactlywhatGodisdoingfortheNinevites.

WhatdoesGod’sresponsetoJonahconveyaboutHischaracter?HowhaveyouseenGodrespondtoyouwhenyouhavewalkedindisobedience?

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LookbackatthecommandthatGodgaveJonahin1:2fortheNinevitesandcompareitwiththeoneinJonah3:2.Whatissimilarandwhatisdifferent? Similarities DifferencesJonah1:2

Jonah3:2

HowdothestrikingsimilaritiesbetweenthetwocommandsdemonstrateGod’scompassiontowardJonah?

GodgaveJonahacommandthatwaspracticallythesameasHisfirstcommandtohim.Bygivingthesamedirective,HeisgivingJonahanotherchancetochooseobedience.

HowdoesthekeydifferencebetweenthetwocommandsdemonstrateGod’scompassionforNineveh?

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Thistimearound,Jonahrespondsexactlyhowreaderswouldhaveexpectedhimtorespondthefirsttime.Inthischapter,GodgivesJonahacommand,andJonahgoes.ButperhapsJonahstilldoesnothavetherightattitude.

WhydoyouthinkJonahobeyedGodthesecondtime?HaveyoueverfoundyourselfobeyingGodoutofobligationorfearofwhatwouldhappenifyoudisobeyed?Describeit.Next,thinkofatimeyouobeyedGodbecauseyoutrulywantedtoobeyHim.Howdidyoufeel?We’vebeenthinkingaboutonethingGodhascalledustodothatwedon’twanttodo.WriteoutanythingyoufeelGodcallingyoutowardandwhyyoudon’twanttodoit.Ifyouweretoobeyanddothatthingtoday,wouldyoubeobeyingoutofobligationoragenuinedesiretopleaseHim?Rightnow,GodiscallingmetotrustHiminsteadofworryaboutmyfuture.Igraduatefromseminaryinayear,andIdonotknowwhat’snext.Thismakesmeanxious.Honestly,sometimesI’dratherworry.Trustingfeelsmoredifficultandseemsmoreriskyattimes(it’snot).IfIweretoobeyGod’scallformetotrustHiminstead,Iwouldprobablybeobeying50%outofobligationand50%outofgenuinedesiretopleaseHim.

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Nineveh’sSecondChance:Jonah3:4-9PleaselookbackatJonah3:4.WearegoingtoseewhatJonahsaysinthecityofNineveh. WhatwouldyouhaveexpectedJonahtosaytotheNinevites?WriteoutJonah’sdeclarationin3:4.Whatwashisattitude?HowwouldyouhaveexpectedtheNinevitestorespond?PleasereadandsummarizeJonah3:5-9HowdoestheNinevites’responsecomparetoyourexpectations?

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Consideringwhatyou’velearnedaboutJonah’smessagetotheNinevites,whatissurprisingaboutthecity’sresponse?Lookatverse9ofJonah3.WhydidtheNinevitesgotoallofthistroubleoffasting,wearingsackcloth,andcoveringthemselvesinashes?

TheNineviteshopethatGodisarelationalGod;OnewhowillseetheirdeedsandchangeHisplanfortheirdestructionbecauseoftheirrepentance.

HowdoesGodrespondtoNineveh?WhatdoesGod’sresponsetellyouabouthowHerelatestowardpeople?BasedontheLord’sresponsetoNineveh,welearnthatHeseeswhatisgoingoninpeople’slives.Notonlythis,butGodchoosestohavearelationshipwithus,too.ThismeansHesees,listens,andrespondstoyou.ItalsomeansthatsometimesGodmightdecidetoactdifferentlybasedonhowwerespondtoHim(likewhenHedecidednottodestroyNineveh).TheideaofGodchangingHiscoursemightbenewtoyou.Shouldthisimpactthewayyoupray?Ifso,how?

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Jonah3teachesusthatGodgivesmorethanonechance.HastherebeenatimeinyourlifewhenGodgaveyougraceinthemidstofamistake?Ifso,writeaboutthattimeandthankGodHimforHismercy.Maybetodayyouareinneedofanotherchance.Ifthat’syou,turntoGod.AskHimtoforgiveyouifyouareinneedofforgivenessandaskHimtogiveyouanotherchancetoobey.ThankHimforbeingsuchafaithful,merciful,andforgivingGod!Helovesyousoverymuch.

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Week4:Jonah4

Begineverydaythisweekinprayer.AsktheLordtospeaktoyoufromHiswordtodayandprepareyourhearttohearHim.ThereisstillsomuchwehavetolearninthisfinalchapterofJonah,sobuckleupandgetready!Next,readthroughJonah4,underlining,highlighting,andmakingnotesaboutanythingthatseemssignificant.

Jonah4

ButtoJonahthisseemedverywrong,andhebecameangry.2HeprayedtotheLord,“Isn’tthiswhatIsaid,Lord,whenIwasstillathome?ThatiswhatItriedtoforestallbyfleeingtoTarshish.IknewthatyouareagraciousandcompassionateGod,slowtoangerandaboundinginlove,aGodwhorelentsfromsendingcalamity.3Now,Lord,takeawaymylife,foritisbetterformetodiethantolive.”4ButtheLordreplied,“Isitrightforyoutobeangry?”5Jonahhadgoneoutandsatdownataplaceeastofthecity.Therehemadehimselfashelter,satinitsshadeandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappentothecity.6ThentheLordGodprovidedaleafyplantandmadeitgrowupoverJonahtogiveshadeforhisheadtoeasehisdiscomfort,andJonahwasveryhappyabouttheplant.7ButatdawnthenextdayGodprovidedaworm,whichchewedtheplantsothatitwithered.8Whenthesunrose,Godprovidedascorchingeastwind,andthesunblazedonJonah’sheadsothathegrewfaint.Hewantedtodie,andsaid,“Itwouldbebetterformetodiethantolive.”9ButGodsaidtoJonah,“Isitrightforyoutobeangryabouttheplant?”“Itis,”hesaid.“AndI’msoangryIwishIweredead.”

10ButtheLordsaid,“Youhavebeenconcernedaboutthisplant,thoughyoudidnottenditormakeitgrow.Itsprangupovernightanddiedovernight.11AndshouldInothaveconcernforthegreatcityofNineveh,inwhichtherearemorethanahundredandtwentythousandpeoplewhocannottelltheirrighthandfromtheirleft—andalsomanyanimals?”

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Atthecloseofchapterthree,NinevehhadrepentedandGodhadrelentedfromdestroyingthecity.Let’sseehowJonahresponds.Doeschapterfourstrikeyouasodd?You’renotalone.JonahobeyedGod’scommandandtheNinevitesrespondedwithrepentance.Thisisthebestoutcome,sowhydoesn’tthebookofJonahendwithchapterthree?Aftertakingafewminutestoreadchapter4,whydoyouthinkthatthisisindeedtheperfectandneededendingfortheprophet’sstory?

Jonah4:1-4:Jonah’sAngerOverGod’sResponsetoNinevehPleaselookbackatJonah4:1-4Whydidn’tJonahwanttogotoNineveh?

Nowthatyouhavereadtheentirebook,whydoyouthinktheauthorofJonahleftthispieceofinformationoutuntilchapterfour?

IsthereasonJonahdidn’twanttogotoNinevehdifferentthanyouexpected?Ifso,how?

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Finally,wefindoutthatJonah’sbigissueisnotwithNineveh,butwiththecharacterofGod.HedoesnotsaytotheLord,“God,IknewthatyouwouldsaveNinevehandtheNinevitesdon’tdeserveit!”Instead,hetakesissuewithGod’scharacter.HeseemstobeangrierwiththeLordforHisforgivingnaturethanheisattheNinevites.

CanyourelatetoJonah’ssituation?DescribeatimewhenyouquestionedGod’scharacter.PleaseconsiderandwritedownhowGodshowedyou,orisshowingyou,compassionandloveevenwhenyouquestioned,orarequestioning,Him.WhatisironicaboutthefactthatJonahisangrythatGodis“agraciousandcompassionateGod,slowtoangerandaboundinginlove,aGodwhorelentsfromsendingcalamity?”LookatJonah4:4.PleaseunderlineGod’sresponsetoJonah’scomplaint.ParaphraseJonah4:4:WhatisJonah’sanswertoGod’squestionin1:4?

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Jonah4:4-10:Jonah’sAngerOverthePlant’sDeathPleasereadJonah4:4-10Fortwodays,JonahsitsandwatchestoseewhatwillhappentoNineveh.GodcontinuestoshowHispoutingprophetgrace,compassion,andlove.HecaresforJonah’sphysicalandspiritualneeds.NotehowHedoessointhespacebelow.GodprovidesforJonah’sphysicalneeds: GodprovidesforJonah’sspiritualneeds:

Ifyou’rethinkingthattheanswerstothisquestionseemcontradictory,Iagree.GodprovidedshadeforJonah,whichtookcareofhisphysicalneedbyprotectinghimfromtheheat.Thatshadedidnot,however,takecareofJonah’sspiritualneed.Ironically,takingawaythethingthatprovidedforJonah’sphysicalneedswastheverythingtheprophetneededtogrowspiritually.Haveyouhadasimilarexperience?Haveyoueverlostsomethingthatprovidedforyourphysicalneedsonlytofindthatlosingitwasacatalystforgrowth?Describeit.

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NotonlyisJonahfrustratedwithGod’sgracetowardNineveh;heisalsofuriousoverthelossofhisshadeplant.CompareJonah’sresponsetoNinevah’ssalvationinverse3andhisresponsetothedeathoftheplantinverse8.

Jonah’sresponseinverse3 Jonah’sresponseinverse8

Whatdoyoulearnabouttheprophet’sattitudeaftercomparingthesetworeactionstotwoverydifferentcircumstances?UnderlineGod’squestiontoJonahin4:9.HowdoesJonahrespond?TheNETBiblenotesthatJonah’sliteralresponseintheHebrewisthatheisangry“untodeath.”

Heb “unto death.” The phrase… is an idiomatic expression meaning “to the extreme” or simply “extremely [angry]” (HALOT 563 s.v. 1 מות.c). The noun…“death”… is often used as an absolute superlative with a negative sense, similar to the English expression “bored to death” (IBHS 267–69 §14.5)… Here the expression “I am angry unto death”… means that Jonah could not be more angry…The… English version that [best represents] the idiom correctly is BBE: “I have a right to be truly angry.”15

15TheHolyBible,TheNETTranslation,(Richardson,TX:BiblicalStudies

Press,2005),Jonah4:9.

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HowdoesthisaddtoyourunderstandingofJonah’sresponse?

Jonah4:10-11:God’sResponsetoJonahPleaselookatverses10and11.SummarizeGod’sresponsetoJonahinthesetwoverses.WhydoyouthinkthatGodcontinuedtoteachJonahinchapterfour?Hint:GodwasnotsimplyafterJonah’sobedience.WhatdidGoddesirefromJonah?ItisamazingtomethatGodneverstopspursuingHisprophet.TheLordwenttogreatlengthstorescuehimthroughoutthisbook.PleasethinkthroughandlistallofthedifferentwaysthatGodpursuesJonahthroughoutthisbeautifulbook.

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WemaywonderhowJonah’sstoryends.Afterall,heneverrespondstoGod’squestions.I’dliketosuggestthattheprophetfinallylearnedwhatGodwasteachinghimthroughoutthisbookoftheBible.Doyouseeanyevidenceofthis?TheonlyappropriatewayforustoendistoreflectonGod’sruthlesspursuitofyouandyourheartthroughoutthisstudy.Pleasereflectonthesethingsandwritethemdown.Asyoufinishthislesson,spendsometimethankingGodthatHeis“agraciousandcompassionateGod,slowtoangerandaboundinginlove,aGodwhorelentsfromsendingcalamity.”ThankHimforpursuingyou,eveninthemidstofyour“Jonahmoments.”AskHimforstrengthandboldnesstoobey,evenwhenyoudon’twantto.Heisn’tmerelyafterourobedience,butourheartsaswell.PraiseHimforthewayHegivesandtakesaway,blessesandteaches,andgoestoincrediblelengthstocaptivateyou.