THERE WAS ONCE A GREAT

1 THERE WAS ONCE A GREAT

CITY... city widely known for its influence and A cutting edge, luxurious ways. This great city had many people... people who had to navigate the cultural norms of the time, who, despite their shortcomings and misguided ways, did the best they could to raise their children, survive, and thrive. It was a city full of people trying to live right according to the standards of their culture. Truth be told, though, this was a city in great need; a city that was crying out for something more something beyond what culture and worldly prosperity could offer them. This story also contained a great mission... a call to rise up and change the culture of the city, to influence the people and help them experience life as it should be! This was a grand, seemingly impossible task; a mission so daunting that running away before it swallowed you up seemed like the safest, most logical thing to do. But this isn t primarily a story about a prophet. It s not about a great, big fish, or even about a city. It s about a great God! A God who has a heart for this city; a God who saw lost, broken, hurting people... people who needed hope and guidance. It s a story about God s love for all people, for us, for the people of this city. As we make our way through the Book of Jonah, we invite you to consider where the Lord is calling you to make a difference in your community. Pray with us about the work God wants to accomplish in and through our church in this season. Pray for the people of our city. We encourage you to use this booklet to take notes, journal your prayers, and record what God is showing you through this study. 2

3 NINEVEH 101 According to Genesis 10:11, Nineveh was founded by Nimrod. Nineveh was a large, major city, the flourishing capital of the Assyrian empire King Sennacherib made it the official capital of Assyria in 700 B.C. and it remained so until it fell in 612. In fact, it s referred to as an exceedingly great city (Jonah 3:3), likely containing well over 500,000 citizens during the time of Jonah, with over 120,000 young children (Jonah 4:11). Located on a very desirable, very fertile plain just east of the Tigris River, Nineveh was a city known for its great wealth, luxury, and wickedness. Though it s not talked about much today, the Assyrians were instrumental as a culture. They brought a myriad of scientific, philosophical, and practical advances to humanity, including many inventions that we still use today. Every day most of us lock our doors when we leave the house. Did you know that the Assyrians invented locks and keys? They also invented a system that kept time and ascribed 360 degrees to a circle. In addition, they re given credit for inventing paved roads, the first postal system, the first use of iron, the first libraries, and the first plumbing flushing toilets and aqueducts. They came up with the first governmental administration involving the division of territories, which were ruled by local governors, but reported to a central authority. They were also known to be a brutal people, ruling and subduing other nations through terrible means. In light of this, Nineveh particularly during the time of Jonah experienced a great deal of upheaval, a particularly low point during the reign of Assur-dan III. During this period, the Assyrian Empire had suffered military losses, diplomatic setbacks, famine, and many domestic uprisings. In addition, an eclipse had taken place on June 15, 763 B.C., which almost certainly would have been seen as a terrible omen, leaving the Ninevites ripe for revival.

LYDIA MESHECH URARTU ASSYRIA NINEVEH MEDIA Caspian Sea Mediterranean Sea SYRIA ISRAEL Tigris River ELAM JUDAH EGYPT ARABIA Euphrates River Persian Gulf N Red Sea 4

BACKGROUND ON THE BOOK OF JONAH The Book of Jonah is actually one of the most controversial Old Testaments books, with some scholars considering it to be a work of fiction this is not the widely held belief amongst Christian or Jewish scholars, though. AUTHORSHIP Though not explicitly outlined, many scholars believe Jonah to either be the author of the book or the author s primary source. The reason for this conclusion is because almost everything contained in the book stems from the direct, first-hand experiences of the prophet, and even outside details of his personal knowledge such as the sailors making a sacrifice to God (Jonah 1:16) and the ritual of the king of Nineveh (Jonah 3:6) which would have been difficult to account for otherwise. DATE This question is obviously closely linked to the book s authorship. If historical, then it most likely took place somewhere between 785 and 770 B.C. In this case, it would have been written sometime during the eighth century. AUDIENCE The Book of Jonah was addressed to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (793 753 B.C.). This was a time of vast territorial and commercial expansion for Israel. THEMES God s Sovereignty: God is in control of life, nature, and all of our circumstances (Jonah 1:4, 9, 15, 17; 2:10; 4:6 8). The God of all peoples, He is concerned about everyone and everything including animals He has created (4:11). And He will bring His all-encompassing plan to fruition. God s Compassion and Mercy: God loves even the most wicked of people, the enemies of His people, the blasphemers of His name. And He 5

shows mercy, compassion, and grace to those who repent and turn to Him (Jonah 3:10; 4:2, 11). He demands obedience and devotion (Jonah 1:1 17) but He gives grace and offers second chances. God s Great Mission: Jonah foreshadows the Great Commission in the New Testament (Matthew 28:19 20), the mission to proclaim the message of God to the whole world (Jonah 1:1 2; 3:1 2), even to those who stand in opposition to it (Jonah 4:11; Matthew 5:44). As God s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we are called to speak a message of reconciliation and hope. THINGS TO CONSIDER Pay close attention to Jonah s negative attitude, even as he went about answering God s call. After his act of rebellion and dramatic turnaround, his attitude still needed to be checked. Notice his declaration to God that he was angry enough to die when the vine withered and the shade was gone (Jonah 4:9). What do these details say about God s willingness and ability to use us, despite our limitations, shortcomings, negative attitudes, and petty complaints? How do you believe you should approach the call of God on your life? 6

WEEK ONE THE SETTING God sent a reluctant Jonah to Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian Empire, to preach repentance. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION Is there a group of people you have a hard time loving? 7 KEY VERSES The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because their wickedness has confronted Me. Jonah 1:1 2 (HCSB, emphasis added) Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals? Jonah 4:11 (HCSB, emphasis added) DEFINITION: GREAT (Jonah 1:2) Massive; prominent; vast in importance, magnitude, extent, and/or number. KEY CONCEPTS Nineveh was a huge, advanced, and bustling metropolitan city, likely over 60 miles in circumference. They were seen as great in the eyes of man, both in size and importance. In the eyes of God, though, there were two things about the Ninevites that were great: their wickedness (Jonah 1:2) and their need for Him (Jonah 4:11). Who is it and why?... Have you ever felt God call you to go somewhere or do something? How did He do this?... How have you responded to God s call in your life?...

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11 WEEK TWO KEY VERSES But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. Jonah 1:3 (NLT) Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 (NLT, emphasis added) DEFINITION: THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS (Jonah 1:17) The phrase three days and three nights as used here may, as it did with Jesus time in the tomb, refer to a period of one half day, one full day, and another half day. KEY CONCEPTS Jonah fled from the mission He was given by the Lord. Though we often brush off the gravity of avoiding God s calling and mission on our lives, the sailors who suffered the consequences of Jonah s decision rightfully called it sin (Jonah 1:14). THE SETTING Jonah boarded a ship on its way to Tarshish, a city believed to have been in the western Mediterranean, far from Nineveh. God sent a great storm, followed by a great fish, to wake Jonah up and redirect him towards His purpose and will. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION What may be keeping you from fully obeying God s calling and direction for your life? What has God done in your life to redirect you?... How are you now seeing God s hand at work in your life? What is God moving you from, and what is He moving you towards?...

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WEEK THREE THE SETTING The entirety of this chapter takes place with Jonah in the belly of a massive fish, reflecting on the Lord. 15 KEY VERSES Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! Jonah 2:1 (NLT, emphasis added) But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. Jonah 2:9 10 (NLT) DEFINITION: THE PIT (Jonah 2:6) The pit refers to the grave. Jonah is equating his three-day experience in the belly of the fish to three days in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). KEY CONCEPTS In his time of great distress (Jonah 2:1), the prophet is moved to prayer and praise. As we see with Paul s thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12, our darkest, most painful and trying seasons are when the grace and power of God is most evident and clear. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV). QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION What has the Lord shown you during a season of great distress?... Why do you believe the Lord s power and grace are more evident in our lives during trials and tribulations?... What is God saying to you now about the trials you re currently facing?

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WEEK FOUR THE SETTING Jonah arrived at the great city of Nineveh to deliver God s message to the people. It was such a large city that it took him three days to see it all. 19 KEY VERSES The people of Nineveh believed God s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. Jonah 3:5 (NLT) When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10 (ESV) DEFINITION: SACKCLOTH/BURLAP (Jonah 3:5 6) In ancient times, the putting on of sackcloth or burlap was a commonly used sign of repentance and/or mourning. KEY CONCEPTS The Bible tells us that God does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9 NLT), to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). His response to human repentance is always mercy, and He wants to use us to bring His message of repentance. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION Put yourself in this story. What do you think you would have done if you were a citizen of Nineveh? How would you have responded?... What do you think it means to repent, and how does this really happen? In what ways have you been a messenger to others? How has God used you to give someone hope or share with them the gospel?

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WEEK FIVE KEY VERSES This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it. Jonah 4:1 (NLT) DEFINITION: ANGRY (Jonah 4:1) To burn; to be kindled or provoked to great rage; to fret or self grieve; to be incensed against. KEY CONCEPTS Jonah was angry that God would have compassion on an enemy of Israel. He wanted God s goodness to be shown only to the Israelites, not to the Gentiles. This sort of prideful, merciless, self righteous, prejudiced attitude stands in complete opposition to the message of the cross of Christ and the reality that we re all sinners in need of God s salvation. As believers, we should never take this mindset toward anyone; instead, we should walk humbly and love our neighbors and enemies. THE SETTING Jonah sat, stewing in his anger, at the east side of the city, still hoping God would destroy it. There God taught him a powerful, convicting lesson. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION Have you ever felt that a certain person or group was not worthy of God s mercy? Why? What specifically about that person or group made/makes you feel this way?... What emotion does the compassionate mercy of God stir up within you and why?... 23

What lesson do you think the Lord was trying to teach Jonah with the plant (Jonah 4:6-10)? What can we learn about serving God and others from this story?...................................................... 24

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