Lesson 6 for May 11, 2013

If that conversion had been kept, Assyria would have avoided its total destruction a century later as prophet Nahum prophesied. Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh took place sometime during the reign of the Assyrian King Adad- ninari III ( BC) who was contemporary with King Jeroboam II of Israel. During the reign of Adad- ninari III, Assyria chose a monotheistic religion as a result of Jonah’s preaching.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You” (Psalm 139:7-12) How can we hide or run away from He Who knows even our most intimate thoughts?

Why did Jonah want to run away from the presence of God when he was called to prophesy to Nineveh? “So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2) The story of Jonah is really amazing. He knew of God’s love and forgiveness but he refused to accept that pagans deserved them. It’s completely illogical that he tried to run away from God. When he realized that God was chasing him, he went to sleep peacefully. Later he accepted his sin and condemned himself to death because of the circumstances. If God hadn’t done anything, Jonah would have died in his sin.

The dealers and sailors on the boat were greatly scared of the storm. They cried out to their gods but didn’t receive any answer. Jonah’s story frightened them even more. Nevertheless, he refused to throw Jonah to certain death. Their consciences didn’t let them do a human sacrifice. They threw the escaped prophet to the sea only when all human effort was unsuccessful. Then, the sea calmed down in the same miraculous way it became rough before. They were disappointed by their fake gods, so they turned to the living and powerful God: “Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows” (Jonah 1:16)

JONAH IS CONVERTED “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple” (Jonah 2:7) Despite Jonah’s unworthiness, God heard his prayer. Despite Jonah’s reluctance, God used him to save the people in Nineveh. Despite our unworthiness and our reluctance to do God’s will, He hears us and uses us to reach other people. His mercy and goodness are boundless. When Jonah sank to face certain death, he asked God for help. After finding that salvation in the belly of the fish, he thanked God with a praise psalm.

“Yet Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not wholly given over to evil. He who “beholdeth all the sons of men” (Psalm 33:13) and “seeth every precious thing” (Job 28:10) perceived in that city many who were reaching out after something better and higher, and who, if granted opportunity to learn of the living God, would put away their evil deeds and worship Him. And so in His wisdom God revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner, to lead them, if possible, to repentance” E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 22, pg. 265) “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here” (Luke 11:32)

How much joy filled the Nineveh streets when people were told that God had accepted their repentance so He would not destroy them? Then why did Jonah react so badly before that forgiving act from God? How can we learn to be more graceful and forgiving towards those who we think don’t deserve it?

Ask yourself the same question God asked Jonah. Fill the blank with the name of someone that you think doesn’t deserve salvation: “And should I not pity …………………………?” (Jonah 4:11) Contrary to Jonah, God is willing to open up and to offer salvation to anyone who wants to receive it.