Father, We ask that You will guide us in this time of study to get all the lessons that You desire for us. We each may get something different because Your word is a living word new each morning. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Jonah 1:4-6 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” Fact 1: But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Meaning 1: God was not going to allow Jonah to get away when he was instructed to do something for God. He sent the storm to wake Jonah up from his disobedience. Question 1: Does God have to use something big like a storm to get me to do the things that He asks of me? Do I realize that God will not allow us to get away with things that are against Him? Fact 2: Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried out to his god and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the see to lighten the load. Meaning 2: They did the only thing that they knew to do and cried out to whomever they believed in and started throwing the cargo overboard to stop the ship from sinking. Question 2: What things do I throw out of my life when God is trying to just get my attention to do what He asks of me? Am I watching for Him to speak or do I run around worried? Fact 3: But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. Meaning 3: Jonah was not upset at all, he thought that he had fled from God, and he would not be found out. Question 3: Do I ever think that I am good for not getting caught and sleep soundly thinking i am free? Fact 4: So, the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise call on your God, perhaps your God will consider us so that we may not perish." Meaning 4: Jonah was not planning on calling on God he was trying to run from him. He was so sure he got away that he was not even worried about the storm. He was at peace in stupidity. Question 4: Do I ever think that I am at peace with life when I am running from God? Am I willing to go the wrong way just to not do what I am called to do? Take Away!! I need to heed what God tells me and not run. I need to trust Him to know what is best for my life and to get back into life when He speaks out to me to do that. I need to trust what He tells me and spend more time on the chat with people too. Father, thank You for reminding us that we cannot run or hide from You, and You know that wherever we are or whatever we are doing You are in control and know our every step before we take it. In Jesus Name Amen!
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Father, we appreciate the difference that you make in the books of the Bible so we can study different things. Help us to enjoy our time in Jonah. In Jesus Name Amen!! Jonah 1:1-3 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so, he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Fact 1: Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai Meaning 1; God spoke to the prophets in that day in age. It could come during worship or dreams, but He spoke to them. Jonah the spoke of his father. People were known by their families back then. Question 1: Do I listen to the Lord the way he talks to us these days through the Bible in study and at worship in church? Am I known as someone who shares the word of the Lord with others? Fact 2: saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it for their wickedness has come up before Me." Meaning 2 Nineveh was an evil and wicked city and Jonah was being sent to give them warning and try to get them to change their ways and come to God in their lives. Question 2: Do I want to do what God tells me or do I run when it is something I do not really want to do? Am I willing to go for God no matter what He asks? Fact 3: But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Meaning 3: Jonah was not wanting to do what the Lord asked him to do. He would rather run from God than go and speak out to the Ninevites he did not want them in God's favor. Question 3: Do I see that God sends me to do something and I take off in the other direction? Am I running from anything in my life right now? Fact 4: He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so, he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Meaning 4: Jonah ran for Tarshish, he thought that he could outrun God and get away. As a prophet he knew little about God. Question 4: Do I know that you cannot run from God no matter how hard you can try? Am I running from Him or am I doing what I know He wants? Take Away!! I need to not run from the Need Him chat, I need to spend more time chatting with others and sharing Jesus with the people who come on to talk. Not run from that time. Father, I thank You for a good reminder that we can try to run from God, others have done it before it. We will find out how it works for Jonah to run from You. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Jonah!!Jonah was a differently written book than the other minor prophets. They obeyed God and did what they were told so their books were more of a telling of how God worked in the nations. We do not know a lot about the prophet that gave the messages and more about the messages given. Not Jonah though. Because Jonah's first response to God's word was rebellion, his book also shares the more personal aspect of him learning to obey God in a real way. So, we not only have a rebellious nation to speak too, but we also have a rebellious prophet that is doing the running then speaking. God gave grace to both the prophet and the nation. During the time of 780-760 B.C. Israel was prosperous and was starting to rely on themselves and forgetting what God did for them. The Assyrians were fighting among themselves and leaving Israel alone. But Israel got complacent. They walked away from the things they used to live for. Israel was testing God's patience. Jonah hated the Assyrians for all the pain they had caused Israel over the years of war and constant pain that they gave Israel for so long. So, when God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh and give them God's word and forgive them. He said no and ran. God told Jonah to go to the east to Assyria, he turned and went west to Tarshish, which is probably Spain. At this time the whole book shifts from telling the message God said to dealing first with a prophet who was disobedient and outright defying God. He was more resistant to God than the pagan people. Jonah finally went to Nineveh, but Jonah was undone when they repented. He was worried at this time more about what he thought was fair and less about the fact that these people wanted to live for God and God forgave them. He pouts and is so pathetic you have to just laugh at him. He really did not want the people of Nineveh to be forgiven or brought into the family of God. What it Says - Prophet with a Problem!!The book of Jonah is one that shows the Bible is not afraid to show real life. The disobedience of some even not ending happily, Jonah was still upset at the end that God forgave the Ninevehites. God forgives and accepts anyone that comes to Him for salvation. When we want His love, He is there for us. No matter who we are He loves us. The people of Nineveh were sinners who were totally lost apart from God's grace. Yet so was Jonah and so are we. Everyone needs to come to God at some time in their lives to find the joy and love and future in Him. What it Means - A Narrative of Grace!!Jonah shows how God acts to restore His prophet as well as the people that are away from Him too. He extends to all the lovingkindness that will change our lives. * Mercy and Grace = Most of the prophets came to deliver the message of judgement to the gentiles. Jonah on the other hand shares that God sends Israel to be a light to the gentiles. It is up to us to go and talk to others about Christ. He gave us the same grace and mercy. * God's Sovereignty = He is omniscient {All-knowing} He is onmipresent {in all places} And he is sovereign over all creation. Jonah's experience confirmed that God is God in every respect. * Second Chances = Jonah's narrative reveals God as our forgiving and loving God. He is ready and always able to respond to prayers of repentance. What it Means for You - |
HaniniyaI am Haniniya and I am from Bethlehem, Judea, Israel and I love the Lord and walk in His Word. I want to share His Word with You each day. Past Studies!!
July 2024
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