*Michael Mickey posted this...thought it was a good little study.
Jonah was a prophet without compassion. 2 Kings 14:25
-God was using Jonah. 2 Kings 14:25
-God gave Jonah a clear directive. Jonah 1:2
-However, this time Jonah refused to do God's will and ran from His presence. Jonah 1:3
-God sent the storm. Jonah 1:4
-God put Jonah into the whale's belly.
1. The smells he had to endure were sickening.
2. It was claustrophobic in space. He was under constant pressure. Jonah 2:5
3. There was no food. Jonah 2:5
4. It was lonely. Jonah 2:4
5. The affliction brought Jonah to repentence. Jonah 2:1-2
-He hated the Ninevites but he went and preached to them anyway. He obeyed. Jonah 3:3
-They repented in mass. Jonah 3:5
-Great deliverance was given to Nineveh. Jonah 3:10
-Jonah was disappointed and grieved that God had forgiven Nineveh and didn't destroy them. Jonah 4:1
1. In his heart, he didn't want God's will to be done.
2. He obeyed out of fear for God and not because he loved God.
3. He never allowed his own will to agree with God's will.
4. He never caused his heart to have compassion for his enemies.
1. He asked to die. Jonah 4:3
2. God still blest Jonah. Jonah 4:6
3. Jonah continued in his angry spirit. Jonah 4:9
1. Will you obey with your heart? Jonah didn't. Jonah 1:17 - 3:3
2. Will you not be angry about the gourd and learn the lesson I have for you? Jonah was still angry and got smart with God. Jonah 4:9
3. Then God asked his last question and when Jonah failed to have compassion for sinners, the book ends. There is no more record of Jonah. Maybe God just took him on home through physical death. We know by the abruptness of the book's ending God did something with Jonah and he is never mentioned again. Jonah 4:10-11
As we near the time of Christ's return, I wonder how many of us relate with Jonah's desire to see the Ninevites judged harshly by God. I know I do at times which is why I felt led to post this Bible study outline which a brother in Christ sent me from his church.
If there has ever been a time when we need to try - and, believe me, I know it's hard - to look at things from God's perspective, this is that time!
It's important for each of us to fully realize that even those we sense are worthy of judgment are loved by God - enough that He allowed Jesus Christ to die a sinner's death on the cross of Calvary for every last one of them, just as He did for us!
Do we not, therefore, owe the lost the same compassion that Almighty God had for us when we were lost and didn't know our right hand from our left?
Something for us to think on as we await the return of our Lord.
link
Jonah was a prophet without compassion. 2 Kings 14:25
I. Jonah was a prophet that did not want to do the will of God.
-God was using Jonah. 2 Kings 14:25
-God gave Jonah a clear directive. Jonah 1:2
-However, this time Jonah refused to do God's will and ran from His presence. Jonah 1:3
II. God always punishes and tries to correct our disobedience.
-God sent the storm. Jonah 1:4
-God put Jonah into the whale's belly.
1. The smells he had to endure were sickening.
2. It was claustrophobic in space. He was under constant pressure. Jonah 2:5
3. There was no food. Jonah 2:5
4. It was lonely. Jonah 2:4
5. The affliction brought Jonah to repentence. Jonah 2:1-2
III. Jonah obeyed, but not with his heart.
-He hated the Ninevites but he went and preached to them anyway. He obeyed. Jonah 3:3
-They repented in mass. Jonah 3:5
-Great deliverance was given to Nineveh. Jonah 3:10
-Jonah was disappointed and grieved that God had forgiven Nineveh and didn't destroy them. Jonah 4:1
1. In his heart, he didn't want God's will to be done.
2. He obeyed out of fear for God and not because he loved God.
3. He never allowed his own will to agree with God's will.
4. He never caused his heart to have compassion for his enemies.
He became bitter at God's gracious forgiveness to his enemies.
1. He asked to die. Jonah 4:3
2. God still blest Jonah. Jonah 4:6
3. Jonah continued in his angry spirit. Jonah 4:9
Jonah failed each test God gave him. Jonah 4:9
1. Will you obey with your heart? Jonah didn't. Jonah 1:17 - 3:3
2. Will you not be angry about the gourd and learn the lesson I have for you? Jonah was still angry and got smart with God. Jonah 4:9
3. Then God asked his last question and when Jonah failed to have compassion for sinners, the book ends. There is no more record of Jonah. Maybe God just took him on home through physical death. We know by the abruptness of the book's ending God did something with Jonah and he is never mentioned again. Jonah 4:10-11
-------------------------
As we near the time of Christ's return, I wonder how many of us relate with Jonah's desire to see the Ninevites judged harshly by God. I know I do at times which is why I felt led to post this Bible study outline which a brother in Christ sent me from his church.
If there has ever been a time when we need to try - and, believe me, I know it's hard - to look at things from God's perspective, this is that time!
It's important for each of us to fully realize that even those we sense are worthy of judgment are loved by God - enough that He allowed Jesus Christ to die a sinner's death on the cross of Calvary for every last one of them, just as He did for us!
Do we not, therefore, owe the lost the same compassion that Almighty God had for us when we were lost and didn't know our right hand from our left?
Something for us to think on as we await the return of our Lord.
link
