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Jonah
Jonah lived at a time when the nation of Assyria was a feared enemy of Israel (c. 8th century B.C.). God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Ninevah, Assyria’s capital. Instead of going, Jonah fled the other direction. While he was on the sea, God caused a great storm. Jonah knew it was because of him, so he told the people to throw him overboard. They didn’t want to do this, but eventually agreed. They threw Jonah overboard and the storm ended. The men who did this “feared the LORD greatly.”
Jonah was swallowed by a great fish prepared by God. He was stay there “three days and three nights.” While here, Jonah prayed to God. After the time, the fish vomited Jonah onto the dry land.
The next time God told Jonah to go to Ninevah, he went right away. His message was: “Yet forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown. At this message, the people believed in God and repented. So God spared them at this time. This angered Jonah. He did not want Assyria spared, and asked that God take his life. Jonah went outside the city and made a shelter. God caused a plant to grow up over it for shade, and Jonah was happy about that. But the next day, the plant withered, and Jonah became angry again. God used this as a lesson: “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow.... Should I not have compassion on Ninevah...?” God was concerned about the people there. Jonah was not.
Jonah teaches that God cares for all people. So should we. Even those who may be enemies will be welcomed to God if they repent. We should rejoice when this happens.
Discussion
1. Who were the Assyrians? After the events here, what did Assyria do that greatly altered the history of Israel?
2. Why did Jonah flee? How was the situation on the boat remedied?
3. How was Jonah spared in the water? Describe his prayer.
4. Why was Jonah upset when God spared Ninevah?
5. What lessons can we learn from the events of this story?