Overview
By Charlene Brown
Scripture Lesson Text: Jonah 3:1-10.
> In last week’s lesson we saw Jonah repent and offer a heartfelt prayer unto God, acknowledging God’s mercy and grace towards him for not obeying His command. God gives Jonah a second chance to fulfill his initial assignment, go to Nineveh, and preach repentance to the people. Thankfully this time Jonah obeys God and delivers His message to the people. Similarly in this week’s lesson we have the people of Nineveh offering repentance unto God for their wicked ways.
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> Jonah’s message to Nineveh was very powerful yet simple, they were to change their wicked ways or face the possibility of destruction. The people chose to humble themselves and obey the message. The King of Nineveh proclaimed a fast, they wore sackcloth, turned from their evil ways, and sought God. The actions of the people demonstrated a genuine change of heart. Seeing their genuine repentance, God chose to refrain from destroying them and their city. .
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> The people of Nineveh reminds us that no one is beyond repentance regardless of how far we may think we have strayed from God, He is righteous, faithful and just to forgive. The story of Jonah and Nineveh is a testament to God’s unmeasurable and boundless compassion towards His people, and the power of genuine repentance. “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13 NIV).
Related Scriptures
By Raufu Spagnoletta
Related Scriptures: Esther 4:1-3; Jeremiah 18:7-10; Amos 7:1-6; Nahum 1:7-14; John 21:15-17
Esther 4:1-3 shows us how Mordecai and the Jews learned of Haman’s plot to annihilate all Jews in every province with the king’s approval. There was great mourning with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloths and ashes. In Jeremiah 18:7-10, the LORD speaks to Jeremiah concerning the nations, “If an evil nation upon which I have pronounced judgement turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And if a nation or kingdom, I speak to build and to plant does evil in my sight by not obeying my voice, then I will repent of the good, that I had promised to bless them.”
The Prophet Amos is given two visions (locusts and fire) of Israel’s impending judgement in Amos 7:1-6, and the LORD relented twice in response to the prophet’s intercession. The message of the Prophet Nahum, about one hundred fifty years after Jonah has one subject, the destruction of Nineveh. When God judges the wicked, He also provides refuge for those who trust in Him. We read in Nahum 1:7-14, “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. But He will sweep away His enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue His foes into the darkness of night” (NLT/ Vss. 7-8).
Peter’s passionate devotion to Christ and restoration to spiritual leadership after his thrice denial of Christ is recorded in John 21:15-17. Because Jesus knew the Peter of the denial was not the real Peter, Jesus invited Peter to reaffirm everything he denied, by asking Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” “Love to Jesus is the indispensible qualification of service. Only those who love can satisfy the requirements of Christ’s service” (The Life of Peter/F.B. Meyer).
Practical Points
By Olivia Saunders
a) Because God is gracious, our past does not disqualify us from serving Him now.
As we read this lesson, I believe we can all agree that we have all had a Jonah moment, or even a season in our lives where God was calling and we had second thoughts. We can trust God when has assigned us His plan and purpose knowing that whatever the outcome may be that He will care for us. There are great examples of champions in the bible that God did an amazing work through them despite their past which would otherwise disqualify them. Daily we have a responsibility to not allow the past or the enemy flood our thoughts that we’re not forgiven or worthy. “ ….being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”( Philippians 1:6).
b) Speak the gospel plainly, trusting God to move hearts
The Apostle Paul gives us a great example of how to witness effectively in 1 Corinthians 3:6. He makes it clear that as we witness and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God will make the seeds that we plant grow. There is only one way to reach the lost and that’s through the name of Jesus. As we speak of Jesus to others, He has the power to save that person and come and change their lives forever. We are aware that Jesus is soon to return and we have a great responsibility to spread the gospel, so let us continue to ask God for His direction and make most of every opportunity to witness about Jesus Christ.
