LEADER GUIDE. discover JONAH

Transcription

1 LEADER GUIDE discover JONAH

2 LEADER GUIDE discover JONAH

3 We thank the team of writers who contributed to this revised study: Brent and Diane Averill, Deibi Lapian, Kathy Evenhouse, Sam Huizenga, and Betty Wieland. We also thank Deb Fennema, who wrote the first version of this study in In addition, we thank Sarah Schreiber, associate professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, for contributions made in a theological review of the content. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover Your Bible series. Discover Jonah (Leader Guide), 2017 by Faith Alive Christian Resources, th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI All rights reserved. With the exception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. We welcome your comments. Call us at or us at editors@faithaliveresources.org. ISBN

4 Contents To the Leader Introduction Historical Snapshot for Studying Jonah Glossary of Terms Lesson 1 Jonah Flees Lesson 2 Jonah Repents Lesson 3 God Relents Lesson 4 Jonah Resents An Invitation and Prayer of Commitment Bibliography Evaluation Questionnaire 3

5 To the Leader Prepare the Lesson Bible discovery leaders help people discover together what the Bible says and means. They are not teachers but guides, facilitators, and conversation leaders. This leader guide is meant to assist you as a small group leader by coming alongside you in your own personal work. Always answer the study guide questions first, using the suggested basic steps of preparation. Then use the leader material to enrich your understanding of the passage. We encourage you to study ahead of time so that you do not have to rely on the leader guide during your Bible study group meeting. You don t want to give the impression that the leader guide is an answer book. The answers are in the Bible; you are a guide to help your group find the answers in God s Word. This leader guide aims to include helpful ideas from a number of sources. Ideally you should use this information only after you have studied the text yourself. Read the passage and first ask your own questions. Allow God to speak to you through his Word. Look for answers in the text. What was God saying to the original readers and listeners, and what is he saying to us today? Consult the glossary if there are names and places with which you are unfamiliar. Get Ready to Lead Learn to think in terms of questions. As you prepare to lead a lesson, ask yourself questions and try to discover the answers yourself. This will prepare you to anticipate group members questions and thus help others discover truths from God s Word. The Conversation boxes in the study guide are for extra questions. The text of the leader guide includes many extra questions that you may wish to use to help build the group s conversation around the text. We also suggest that you adapt the questions in the booklet or write your own questions as needed. You know the interests, personalities, and needs of your group members. You know what they will be curious about or when they will want to dig deeper into a Scripture passage. Put those extra conversation-building questions in the Conversation boxes and use them during your group time to help get dialogue started. 4

6 Also, encourage group members to put their own questions and discoveries in the Conversation boxes. By doing this, they will also be preparing for the group discussion. You might want to start a group discussion by saying, What is in your Conversation box? What would you like to talk about together? If you are able to prepare and pray thoroughly before each group session, you will be able to lead without frequent references to your notes. This will free you to be more aware of the work of the Holy Spirit during your group discussion time and to focus more effectively on your facilitation and leadership responsibilities. You will also be able to keep better eye contact and listen more carefully. Lead with Questions Use questions to direct the group discussion. Draw out positive contributions by asking questions. Break down difficult or unclear questions with smaller, concise ones. Also use questions to respond to wrong or problematic answers. If you learn to lead others into truth by using questions, you will be a good Bible discovery leader. The questions in this study are designed to be used with the New International Version of the Bible, but other translations can also be used. Use the comments in this leader guide to help the discovery process of your group. You are leading a conversation on the text, and you want to help guide the conversation so that group members will hear the big ideas from the text rather than getting bogged down in small details. Avoid using this leader material to teach the lesson. Assume that you will not use all the information supplied in this leader guide. Ask questions that will help you get at what the text says and means. The questions in italics are the main questions. There are additional bulleted questions designed to clarify and assist in answering these main questions. The bulleted questions in bold print expand on the thoughts found in the main question, or they might simply rephrase the main question to help encourage a response from group members. Do not feel you have to ask all of these questions. Use only those that are helpful for your discussion. Use questions as well as comments in the leader guide only when it is helpful to guide the discussion and answer some questions that may arise. Do not bring up information simply because you find it interesting. Introduce it only if it will help the members of your group. In other words, tailor the questions to your particular group members. If some people in your group are new to the Bible, make 5

7 certain that you help to clarify information. But do not use extra background material that may add confusion. Feel free to delve a bit deeper with groups who may be familiar with the Bible. However, keep in mind the evangelistic purpose of this study and make certain that you are being most sensitive to members who may be new to Bible study and may not yet be believers in Christ. Should differences of opinion arise, allow members to disagree. Your purpose is not to win arguments or even to defend a particular idea. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of your group members. Help to Apply Ask God to guide you to ask application questions throughout the lesson when it seems appropriate for your group. As leader, pray that God will first teach you what he wants you to hear from his Word. Then ask God to guide you in helping others hear what he is saying to them. Keep in mind that the purpose of this study is not to fill minds with facts but to change hearts as we learn what God is teaching us through his Word. Gently help group members discover the meaning of God s message for their own lives. Be careful not to be judgmental of persons who may not yet seem to be applying the truths you encounter together. It s the Holy Spirit s work to apply God s Word to people s hearts. Tactfully let the group know how the Spirit is applying the Word in your own heart and life. Pray faithfully for the Spirit s work in others. While giving people the time and space to apply biblical truths as the Spirit leads them, simply try to help group members see that there is a relationship between the Bible and life. Questions for reflection at the end of each session invite everyone to take some time for personal reflection and optional sharing. Try to offer at least a few minutes for reflection time toward the end of each lesson, and encourage group members to do additional follow-up reflection at home. 6

8 Introduction The story of Jonah and the great fish is one of the best known stories of the Bible. It is a particular favorite of children. The idea of a person surviving after being swallowed by a great fish captures our imaginations. Many explanations have been written about this miracle and whether it actually happened. Some commentators say the book of Jonah is a parable or perhaps an allegory and does not need to be taken literally. Other scholars cite Jesus references to Jonah in Matthew 12:39-42 and Luke 11:29-32 as proof that the events happened as described. In this study we will approach the story as factual. Jonah is a prophet of the Lord God of Israel. Most biblical scholars see him as the same prophet mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25. In that passage, as in Jonah 1:1, Jonah is identified as the son of Amittai, and we are told that he lived during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (northern kingdom see Historical Snapshot for Studying Jonah). In four short chapters Jonah s story unfolds, and in this study we will discover that Jonah s encounter with a huge fish is not even the most important part of the story. Instead, as in all Bible narratives, the main purpose of this story is to show us who God is and his love for humanity. As we study this book, we will consider questions like Why would God go to great lengths to get Jonah s attention? and What is the message God wanted Jonah to bring to Israel s most powerful enemy? What you learn about Jonah as you study may surprise you. What you learn about God may truly astound you! 7

9 Historical Snapshot for Studying Jonah The book of Jonah is one of the books of the Prophets in the Old Testament. Because it connects with the history of God s people Israel (later known as the Jews), it is important to understand where the prophet Jonah fits into that history. Abraham was the father of God s chosen people, Israel. God called Abraham to trust and follow him, and Abraham was promised a land that his descendants would inhabit. That promise was not realized in Abraham s lifetime; instead, it was realized after the people of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years and God miraculously delivered them under the leadership of Moses. After God established his covenant with his people at Sinai, where they agreed to obey the law of God given through Moses (Ex ), God led the people to the land he had promised them. Most of the people s leaders, however, were afraid to go in and drive out the nations that lived there, even though God had commanded his people to do so. For disobeying God, the people were punished to wander in the desert for forty years. After that time, Joshua led the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. This was the land of Canaan, in the area of the present-day state of Israel. Members of the twelve tribes, named after the twelve sons of Jacob, Abraham s grandson (whom God renamed Israel), were allotted sections of the land. Conquering the promised land was not an easy task, and it was made more difficult by the ongoing disobedience of the people and some of their leaders. Because the people were often unfaithful to their covenant with the Lord, God sometimes punished them by allowing other nations to oppress them. But when the people cried out for God s help, he raised up judges (spiritual and military leaders) to deliver them from their oppressors. Because the nations around them had kings, the people of Israel wanted a king as well. Saul became the first king of Israel and initially led the nation into military victories. But he turned away from God, so God chose David, described as a man after [God s] own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), to be king in Saul s place. Years later, after Saul died, David became king and led Israel into military victories and in establishing Jerusalem as the city where God s temple would be built. God promised David that the royal line in Israel would remain with his descendants (2 Sam. 7). David eventually became regarded as the greatest king in Israel s history. Though he 8

10 committed some grievous sins, he confessed and repented before God, and the Lord forgave him. David was also a musician and wrote many psalms that show the close relationship he had with God. David s son Solomon succeeded him as king and built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Solomon became renowned for the wisdom he asked for and received from God, but unfortunately he also violated many of God s commands. He made alliances with nations around him and built up a large harem of wives and concubines, falling into pagan religious practices in the process. Although Israel gained significant power and territory in Solomon s time, the kingdom broke apart during the reign of Solomon s son Rehoboam. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel split away to form a northern kingdom, and the remaining two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, became the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom continued to be called Israel (or sometimes Ephraim after its leading tribe), and they adopted Samaria as their capital. The southern kingdom became known as Judah, and Jerusalem remained its capital. The kings of Judah tended to be more faithful to God than those of the northern kingdom (Israel), but eventually both kingdoms were punished for their unfaithfulness to God and sent into exile. The northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C., and the kingdom of Judah, including Jerusalem, was taken over and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The story of Jonah takes place during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (see 2 Kings 14:23-29). He reigned from B.C. before the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom. When Jeroboam II reigned, the Assyrians had conquered the Arameans (present-day Syria) to the north of Israel but were not able to maintain control over the land. Jeroboam II took advantage of that weakness brought to his attention by the Lord through Jonah the prophet and was able to regain some land that the Arameans had taken earlier from Israel. (See also 2 Kings 10:32; 12:17; 13:3, 22, 25.) The book of Nahum provides some background on the wickedness and pride of Assyria. Though Nahum s prophecy occurred about a century after Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh, it provides a sense of what Nineveh could have been like in Jonah s day. 9

11 Glossary of Terms Amittai The father of Jonah. His name means loyal or faithful. Assyria In Jonah s day, the empire of Assyria was known for its violence, cruelty, and wickedness. It was a major threat to Israel and many other smaller nations. See also Nineveh. fast (fasting) an ancient religious practice in which people would go without food and/or water for set periods of time; in the Jewish tradition this was often accompanied by prayer to God for help in a time of great need (see 2 Chron. 20:2-4). Fasting was often also used as a sign of repentance. Hebrew a general term describing the descendants of Abraham, a descendant of Eber. The NIV Study Bible states that Eber is the origin of the Hebrew word for Hebrew (see Gen. 10:21, 25; 11:10-12:9). In Jonah s day the term was used to differentiate the Israelites from the cultures and peoples around them. The word was generally used in the presence of foreigners rather than among other Hebrews (Israelites). idol in ancient times, usually a sculpted or manufactured image worshiped as a god. In our day, an idol can be anyone or anything that we allow to be more important than God in our lives. Jonah a prophet of God (c B.C.) from the town of Gath Hepher in northern Israel (2 Kings 14:25; see Josh. 19:13). Jonah prophesied that Israel s boundaries would be expanded to the north and south, and this happened during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (c B.C.). Joppa a major port on the ancient eastern Mediterranean coast. Today it is called Jaffa, and it s a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel. the Lord God Almighty, the covenant God of Israel. God made a covenant (promise agreement) with Abraham, the father of the Israelites, promising to make him into a great nation through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-22; Ex. 3:13-17). Nineveh a major hub of the Assyrian empire, Nineveh was traditionally known as a great city (Jon. 1:2; see Gen. 10:12). The ruins of Nineveh are located on the east bank of the Tigris River and are surrounded by present-day Mosul in Iraq. See also Assyria. the pit a reference to sheol, which in ancient times referred to the place of the dead. See also realm of the dead. 10

12 prophet someone God chooses to speak his message (see Deut. 18:17-19); generally a person who preached God s Word and (in some cases) foretold the future as revealed by the Lord. realm of the dead Where our Bibles say deep in the realm of the dead, the Hebrew text of Jonah has mibbeten sheol (Jon. 2:2), translated in some Bibles as the belly of Sheol (ASV) or the belly of hell (KJV). Most ancient cultures had some concept of a realm of the dead as a place underneath the earth where the souls of dead people gathered. In the Old Testament this was not perceived as a place of torment or punishment, but simply as the place where all the dead gathered. sackcloth coarse material worn to show repentance, humility, or grief. Tarshish a city that was probably in the western Mediterranean area, possibly the same as Tartessus, a mining colony in Spain. In the story of Jonah, it appears that Jonah sails for Tarshish to travel as far away as possible from Nineveh, where God has told him to go (Jon. 1:1-3). temple in ancient Israel, the temple for the worship of God was in Jerusalem and was built by Solomon (completed around 960 B.C.). This temple was destroyed when the Babylonians took Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 11

13 1 Jonah 1 Jonah Flees Getting Started In this opening session, we will be introduced to the prophet Jonah and find out how he responded to God and what happened to him. As you explore the Bible together in this session, look at how Jonah s choices affect him and the people around him. Also look for what God is revealing about himself to Jonah and to us. Optional Share Question Use a share question like one of these to start your discussion. Share questions are meant to relax members of the group, particularly newcomers, and to be answered with just a few words or a phrase rather than a few sentences. If you use your own share question, take care that it has something to do with everyday life so that anyone new to the Bible will feel comfortable answering it. What is a task that you prefer to avoid? or In just three words, describe an experience you had on a boat or a ship. In the lesson material that follows, the a, b, c questions in italics are for discussing the passage. These same questions are included in the study guide for your group members. The bulleted questions in bold print are optional. Use whichever of these questions will be helpful to the discovery process for your particular group. You can jot down those questions, or any others that you think would be helpful, in the Conversation boxes in your study guide. Group participants should also be encouraged to write their own questions in the Conversation boxes in their study guides. Some additional related Scriptures are listed at the end of each lesson (under the heading For Further Study ). These passages are mentioned at various points in the leader s notes for the lesson, and if you think they are helpful, you may want to discuss some of these with your group as you work through the lesson together. Some group members may also 12

14 find the list of additional Scriptures helpful if they want to look up those passages at home. What Does the Bible Say? 1. Jonah 1:1-3 a. Who is Jonah, and what does the Lord want him to do? Note: Nineveh was a major city in the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was a brutal conquering nation and a dreaded enemy of Israel. (For more information, see the glossary.) What do we learn about Nineveh? What does the phrase preach against it imply? What does the phrase its wickedness has come up before me tell us about God? Though we are not told how the word of the Lord came to Jonah, it is clear that Jonah s instructions are God-directed. The phrase the word of the Lord is used elsewhere more than 100 times in the Old Testament, most often to introduce a message that a prophet is to bring to God s people. In this case, particular instructions are given to Jonah to bring a message to the people of Nineveh. Nineveh is described as a great city, meaning that it was large and powerful. Nineveh was also long-established and very old; in Genesis 10:8-12 we read that it was built by Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah. Group members may wonder about the meaning of the phrases preach against it and their wickedness has come before me. Explain that Jonah is to announce or threaten God s judgment on the people. It may be interesting to note that the Hebrew word for wickedness in Jonah 1:2 can also be translated as disaster or difficulty. Some recent scholars have suggested that Assyria may have been struggling politically at this time, producing an atmosphere that was ripe for change and intervention by God. b. How does Jonah respond to God s instructions, and why? What do the words flee and run away imply? Where is Nineveh in relationship to Tarshish? To what lengths does Jonah go to avoid doing what God has asked? 13

15 Scholars note that Tarshish could refer to more than one location. It is mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament (Ps. 48:7; Isa. 23:6; Ezek. 27:25) and is well known for its shipping activity. It may well have been the port also known as Tartessus, in southern Spain, which was about as far away in the opposite direction from Nineveh that Jonah could go in a hurry. The words ran away and flee in verse 3 indicate that Jonah is deliberately disobeying God. Perhaps Jonah feels that the farther away he goes, the less likely it will be that he will have to obey God and go to Nineveh. c. What are some factors in Jonah s choice to disobey God s instructions? Do you think he has a good reason for disobeying? Why or why not? Can we blame Jonah? Why or why not? Assyria, where Nineveh was located, was a dreaded enemy of Israel. It was feared by most nations in the region at that time. It was a cruel conqueror known for its brutality against other nations. Jonah may well have feared for his life, since God was calling him to bring a negative message there. It is also possible that Jonah did not want to offer the Ninevites the opportunity to repent. It would have been quite natural to want God to destroy this wicked enemy city. Jonah could have reasoned that if he refused to preach there, Nineveh would be destroyed. If any group members ask what was so bad about Nineveh, you might refer them to some verses in the book of Nahum (see Nah. 3:1-4, 16). Even though Nahum s prophecy occurred a century after Jonah lived, it provides a sense of what Nineveh could have been like in Jonah s day. d. Jonah tries to avoid God by getting on a ship. What are some ways that people today avoid doing what God wants? What are ways in which we might actively disobey? What are ways in which we might passively disobey? If some of your group members are studying the Bible for the first time, be sensitive in asking this application question. Several times throughout the book we will see Jonah acting in ways that dishonor God. And that gives us an opportunity to examine our own attitudes and behaviors. By calling Jonah to warn Nineveh, God is demonstrating his love for all peoples. How do we share that love? In what ways do we turn away when 14

16 we should listen to God s message and obey it, or share it with others? In what ways do we not listen to God s instructions? Invite group members to share on a level where they feel comfortable. Give everyone the time and opportunity to speak. It may be helpful for you as a leader to share about a time when you either actively or passively disobeyed God. 2. Jonah 1:4-6 a. What does the Lord do after Jonah disobeys? What does this tell us about God s control over nature? God sends a severe storm that threatens to break up the ship. God s sovereign rule over nature is seen here and throughout the book of Jonah. The Lord who has set up the laws of nature can manipulate them if he wishes. b. How do the sailors respond to this sudden, violent storm? Describe the things they do. Fear is the natural response to this unexpected life-threatening storm. As the ship threatens to break into pieces, the sailors toss valuable cargo overboard to lighten the load. The sailors also cry out to their gods. The crew apparently come from diverse backgrounds and worship a variety of gods. As sailors, they are familiar with weather patterns and would not have ventured out if they suspected a storm at sea. Apparently because the storm has come on so suddenly, they believe it has been sent by an angry god. c. In the original text, the same word (meaning hurled ) is used to describe God sending a great wind and to describe the sailors throwing the cargo overboard. How does this heighten the contrast between God and human beings? God controls the wind and the waves, while the sailors are powerless to save themselves. 15

17 d. Where is Jonah during all the commotion? What is he doing? What does this tell us about him? How would you describe Jonah in comparison to the sailors? Jonah is sound asleep in the bottom of the ship. Possibly he knows he is to blame and wants to ignore what is happening. He may still be trying to hide from God and from responsibility. Some have suggested that Jonah is in utter despair, but it may simply be that he is totally exhausted (the same verb indicating deep sleep is used in Judg. 4:21). Some have also observed that the sailors seem more spiritually aware than Jonah; they are certainly upset and frantic, as might be expected in a life-threatening storm. e. What does the captain ask of Jonah? The captain is dismayed at Jonah s lack of concern. How can he be sleeping? The captain challenges Jonah to consider the danger to the ship and crew. Perhaps Jonah s God can help, he suggests. Everyone except Jonah has prayed to his own god. The captain appears to be thinking that since their gods have not answered, perhaps Jonah s will. 3. Jonah 1:7-10 Note: Sometimes the Lord chooses to reveal things to people through lot casting. It is not forbidden in the Bible. For example, Joshua 18:1-10 describes lot casting in the distribution of land to the tribes of Israel. a. What are the sailors trying to determine by casting lots? Why are they looking for who is responsible? The sailors are seeking divine direction. They want to find out who is causing the storm. They are convinced that something supernatural is going on, and they are hoping they can find out why. God uses the casting of lots to point to Jonah. b. When the lot falls to Jonah, how do the sailors respond? What information does Jonah provide? How does he identify himself? How does he identify God? Why are the sailors terrified? 16

18 The sailors want to know the details about Jonah s God. Jonah indicates that his God is the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. This means that God rules over all things. Jonah also indicates that he is a Hebrew (an Israelite) and that he worships this Lord (Yahweh). This is the name God used to identify himself when he appeared to Moses and made his covenant with Israel (see Ex. 3:1-15; 19:3-24:8). Group members may wonder, If Jonah knew God controlled everything, why would he think he could run away? The soldiers are terrified because Jonah s God is Lord not only of the land but also of the sea. They now believe that the cause of the storm is some terrible offense against this great God. They want to know what Jonah has done. At this point the reader learns that Jonah has already admitted to the sailors that he is running away from God. 4. Jonah 1:11-12 Why do the sailors ask Jonah what they should do? What does he tell them? Why do they think Jonah may know what to do? What does Jonah admit? How does he take responsibility for what has happened? The storm is getting worse. Jonah admits that the trouble they are in is his fault. Perhaps they think Jonah can give them insight into how to appease God. Jonah says that God will make the sea calm once he is thrown overboard. At this point Jonah is at least taking responsibility for what has happened. 5. Jonah 1:13-14 Describe the sailors dilemma and what they decide to do. What do they try instead of throwing Jonah overboard? Does it help? Why? The sailors probably believe in capricious gods, and that could be part of the reason for their indecision. At first, instead of throwing Jonah overboard, they try to row their way out of the storm s fury and back to 17

19 land. But the storm grows even wilder than before (1:13). So they pray to Jonah s God. How do they address God? What does this tell us about their respect for the Lord? What do they ask of him? Do they think Jonah is innocent? The sailors address God by using his covenant name, Lord (Yahweh). Notice that this is the first time in the story that anyone speaks to the true God. They acknowledge that the Lord can do whatever he pleases, and they ask not to be punished with death for ending Jonah s life by throwing him overboard. Their request Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man can also be translated this way: Do not make us pay for his death if he is innocent. So they do not necessarily think he is innocent, but if he is, they do not want to be made to pay for taking Jonah s life, perhaps especially since all the evidence seems to point to Jonah s having offended God in some way. 6. Jonah 1:15-17 a. What happens after they throw Jonah overboard, and how do the sailors react? How does the sudden stop of the storm show God is in control? How has their fear changed? What does their offering sacrifices and making vows tell us? God calms the sea, showing his sovereign control over it. The sailors respond by fearing (revering, honoring) God, offering a sacrifice and making vows to the Lord. We don t know how deep their faith went, and whether they gave up their other gods, but it is clear that the mariners worship was directed to the true God and not to their false gods. The author ends the account of the sailors at this point and refocuses on God s relationship with Jonah. 18

20 b. How does God provide for Jonah? c. What might be the purpose of mentioning how long Jonah is inside the fish? God sends a huge fish that he has provided to swallow Jonah, keeping him safe from drowning. The emphasis here is not on the fish but on the God who rescues. In this story we see God as sovereign over all creation all powerful and yet merciful. The mention of three days and three nights, according to usage in the original Hebrew language, does not necessarily mean three times twenty-four hours but can mean a brief period of a few days or even less; and after three days can also mean on the third day. A similar expression occurs in Jesus descriptions about his time in the tomb after dying to pay for human sin (Matt. 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19), and Jesus himself refers to the Jonah story in predicting his death and his rising on the third day (see Matt. 12:39-41; 16:4). Taking It Home a. What do we learn about God in this lesson? How does he get the attention of the sailors? How does he get Jonah s attention? b. Compare and contrast Jonah s responses to those of the sailors in this story. c. Do you think life s difficulties draw people closer to God or move them farther away? Explain. Use these questions to review what has been covered so far in the study of Jonah. Members of your group may have a number of insights concerning the difference between Jonah s responses and those of the sailors. There is irony in the fact that the prophet is sleeping while they are desperately working to keep their ship afloat in a deadly storm. They are crying out while he is silent. It will be important to listen to the various responses from the group. Encourage your group members to see that the sailors, who worship false gods, seem to be drawn to the Lord God of Israel, whereas Jonah seems eager to move away from and try to hide from God. Even though Jonah tells the sailors he is guilty, he does 19

21 not cry out to God. Instead he appears to just give up, and he asks to be thrown overboard. For Further Study Genesis 10:8-12 Psalm 48:7 Isaiah 23:6 Ezekiel 27:25 Nahum 3:1-4, 16 Judges 4:21 Joshua 18:1-10 Exodus 3:1-15; 19:3-24:8 Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19 Matthew 12:39-41; 16:4 20

22 An Invitation Listen now to what God is saying to you. You may be aware of things in your life that keep you from coming near to God. You may have thought of God as someone who is unsympathetic, angry, and punishing. You may feel as if you don t know how to pray or how to come near to God. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved (Eph. 2:4-5). Jesus, God s Son, died on the cross to save us from our sins. It doesn t matter where you come from, what you ve done in the past, or what your heritage is. God has been watching over you and caring for you, drawing you closer. You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation (Eph. 1:13). Do you want to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord? It s as simple as A-B-C: Admit that you have sinned and that you need God s forgiveness. Believe that God loves you and that Jesus has already paid the price for your sins. Commit your life to God in prayer, asking the Lord to forgive your sins, nurture you as his child, and fill you with the Holy Spirit. 41

23 Prayer of Commitment Here is a prayer of commitment recognizing Jesus Christ as Savior. If you long to be in a loving relationship with Jesus, pray this prayer. If you have already committed your life to Jesus, use this prayer for renewal and praise. Dear God, I come to you simply and honestly to confess that I have sinned, that sin is a part of who I am. And yet I know that you listen to sinners who are truthful before you. So I come with empty hands and heart, asking for forgiveness. I confess that only through faith in Jesus Christ can I come to you. I confess my need for a Savior, and I thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross to pay the price for my sins. Father, I ask that you forgive my sins and count me as righteous for Jesus sake. Remove the guilt that accompanies my sin, and bring me into your presence. Holy Spirit of God, help me to pray, and teach me to live by your Word. Faithful God, help me to serve you faithfully. Make me more like Jesus each day, and help me to share with others the good news of your great salvation. In Jesus name, Amen. 42

24 Bibliography Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah in The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, Cary, Phillip. Jonah. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, Elwell, Walter A., ed. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, Guthrie, D., and J. A. Motyer, et al., eds. The New Bible Commentary: Revised. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, Keil, C. F., and F. Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament. Volume 10. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, Nixon, Rosemary. The Message of Jonah. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, Sasson, Jack. Jonah. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Stuart, Douglas. Hosea-Jonah. Waco, Tex.: Word Books, NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, Reformation Study Bible. Lake Mary, Fla.: Ligonier Ministries,

25 Evaluation Questionnaire discover Jonah As you complete this study, please fill out this questionnaire to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our materials. Please be candid. Thank you. Was this a home group or a church-based program? What church? 1. Was the study used for a community evangelism group? a community faith-nurture group? a church Bible study group? 2. How would you rate the materials? Study Guide: excellent very good good fair poor Leader Guide: excellent very good good fair poor 3. What were the strengths? 4. What were the weaknesses? 5. What would you suggest to improve the material? 6. In general, what was the experience of your group? Your name (optional) Address 45