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THE MANGER AND THE MISSION
Why Care Whether or Not All People Hear God’s Salvation Message?
Jonah 4


John 3:1-5 (Monday)
“Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” (NIV)
1) Please note that this is the second time the LORD told Jonah to go to Nineveh! The first time Jonah tries to run from this assignment and ends up in the belly of a whale! Not good!
2) God calls everyone to be witnesses (Isaiah 43:10:13; Acts 1:8!) Does our own perfection or our own desire have any thing to do with God’s purpose in our life? Do we get an “out” because we don’t feel like it?
3) Oh, I pray you see God’s mercy and grace in these verses. God never sends judgment without first offering grace through repentance!
4) Notice the steps to true repentance. Please read Romans 10:8-17!
a) God sends the word
b) The word is preached or proclaimed
c) The people hear the word
d) The people believe the word
e) The people humble themselves before God
f) The people act on what they believe by seeking God’s mercy
Jonah 3:6-10 (Tuesday)
“When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” (NIV)
1) Don’t you wish all our government officials, from the president down, would rent their clothes at the sin taking place in our country? The fact that this king took the initiative is truly amazing. Nineveh was a pagan city! God had not revealed Himself to this king the way He had to the Jews. They did not know of God’s great love and compassion—Jonah did! What did this king, this city know of God? How much knowledge does it take to turn to God (Job 28:28 and Psalms 111:10?)
2) What would have happened if Nineveh believed, but did not take any action (James 2:14-26?)
3) What do you think would have been the end result if this king had not taken such action?
4) Leaders, rulers, kings, presidents, even your own boss and/or husband, are placed in their positions of authority by God (Romans 13:1-5.) Which of God’s purposes for authority do you see working here?
5) Has God ever called you to a fast? For what purpose? What was the result?
Jonah 4:1-4 (Wednesday)
“But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
1) Now we get to the heart of the matter! So, why did he not obey God the first time He sent him to Nineveh?
2) Jonah is mad! Today we see the same kind of wickedness all around us. Is anger against such evil wrong? How was Jonah’s anger wrong, or was it? Explain.
3) Are you surprised that God allowed Jonah to vent his angry at God’s goodness? Why?
4) Do you see any prejudice at work in Jonah’s heart?
5) Jonah’s reluctance to preach repentance to this city may be a hard concept for us to understand. Today we know that God’s plan for salvation has always included every race, color, people, nation, tongue and tribe (Isaiah 49:6!) The Israelites were to the kings and priests that led the pagan nations around them to repentance and belief in the one true God (Exodus 19:5-6!) They would not! Instead, they wanted to be like them, keeping some small hold on God, of course! They were chosen, they were unique—they alone belonged to God! Talk about exclusive cliques! Like the entire Jewish nation, Jonah didn’t want to see non-Jews saved! He wanted vengeance poured out on a whole city! He wanted blood! Did God ask rightly, “Have you any right to be angry?” Why?
6) In her radio broadcast on the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3) this past Friday (and I’m paraphrasing here), Beth Moore tells us that there are three distinct ways that God calls us to be His witnesses before a lost and dying world! They are that we become:
a) actual physical “letters” of recommendation for Christ--written by the Spirit of the Living God! We are to be conspicuous! Can our letter be read? As she said, “Is our “font” large and bold?”
b) competent as ministers, servants, witnesses! Knowing that our competence comes from God through the gifts He gives us by His precious Holy Spirit! We are approved and accepted in the beloved. We are more than enough for whatever purpose He has called us to!
c) become ever increasing reflections of Christ’s glory! The KJV says, we are being changed “from glory to glory!” God’s glory is what makes Him recognizable! When we live to the glory of God, that means that we are living in such a way that makes Him recognizable in us! That is what it is all about! Bring glory to God is the goal of everything! How, Colossians 1:27!
7) Come on now, have you ever wanted to see God “zap” someone?
8) Who does vengeance belong to (Deuteronomy 32:39-43?) Instead of pleading for vengeance, how are we to respond to injustices (Luke 6:27-38 and Romans 12:19-21?)
9) When Jesus came to the earth, what was His purpose (John 3:17-18?)
10) Who did salvation come to as the result of Israel’s refusal to be a light unto the world (Deuteronomy 32:18-21?) Oh, are we not a nation without understanding, a people who were not called?
a) Be careful and do not boast in your salvation because of the Jews rebellion (Romans 11:7-36!)
11) Now, who has our God made a nation of kings and priests (Revelation 1:4-6!) Glory!
Jonah 4:4-8 (Thursday)
“But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
1) Funny, Jonah’s heart could be gladdened by the shade of a vine, but not in God’s saving an entire city! Comments?
2) Some commentaries lean towards Jonah’s concern for his own reputation. They think he made have been more concerned with what others might think of him, labeling him as a false prophet if he preached disaster and then God relented. Do you think this is what is going on here? Explain.
3) Have you ever just wanted to run away, to escape, to die? Why? Did anger at God, or His mysterious ways have anything to do with your feelings? Exactly what were you feeling at the time? Explain.
4) In what way did God provide a shade for Nineveh?
John 4:9-11 (Friday)
“But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
1) Again, as in Job, we see God’s complete and total sovereignty and His great love for all mankind! So, what about rights? Do we really have any?
2) Instead of pouting, what were some other actions Jonah could have taken?
3) What role does intercession and repentance play in the events going on around us today?
4) Suppose a relative, an acquaintance, a co-worker, or your own boss who has been particularly unkind to you and others, as well as unethical in his/her morals and/or work ethics suddenly becomes a Christ follower, what would be your immediate thoughts or response?
5) God has changed His mind (relented) a few times in the Bible, (Exodus 32:7-14; 2 Kings 20:1-7) does this mean He is double-minded? What is His heart (Jeremiah 18:7-10?)
6) Finally, should we not be “concerned” for others (1 Corinthians 13:1-13?) God will judge, never make a mistake about that, but above all else, God is love (Exodus 34:5-8!) Compassionate and gracious! As His children, we are commanded to love, not just our friends and loved ones, but everyone (Matthew 5:38-48!) Judgment is near! The harvest is plenty! Our time is short! Don’t be like Jonah—go out and preach the good news! Don’t come to the Lord empty handed (Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:20; Deuteronomy 16:16 and Luke 20:9-16!)