Scripture
Jonah 1:1-3; Psalm 139:7-10
Open your mind and heart as you read the passage of Scripture aloud and then again quietly to yourself. Listen for God’s word to you.
Observation
God spoke to Jonah in His own unique way and instructed him to do two things.
• Go to Ninevah. Ninevah was an important city at the time. But it was the capital of the Assyrian Empire so it was not a Jewish city in Israel but a Gentile city in a pagan land.
• Call the people there to
repent. In Jonah’s
mind, God was
sending His prophet,
who was a Jew – one of
His chosen people – to call the Gentiles to repent.
Spend some time in worship.
God had seen how wicked the people in Ninevah were and He wanted to send them a warning about the judgement that would fall upon them if they did not change their ways.
But Jonah did not want to go. Scripture does not tell us why he was reluctant but it would have been a challenging task for a Jew to go into such a wicked Gentile city with the message he had been given. He may have been afraid. It was likely that at best he would be ridiculed; at worst he may have been attacked and killed. It may even have been that Jonah did not want the inhabitants of the city to escape the
judgement that God wanted him to warn them about, for the Assyrians had treated Israel badly in the past. Perhaps Jonah thought they deserved to be punished.
So, Jonah took matters into his own hands and decided to go the other way – as far from Ninevah (and from God’s call) as he could get. The city of Tarshish (on the Mediterranean coast in the region of present- day Spain) would be a good place to head for.
Jonah made a courageous but impulsive decision. Sea voyages were always dangerous, but, nevertheless, he bought a ticket. As he paid his own fare, it all seemed easy enough. But Jonah had ignored God’s call and worked out a way to avoid it completely. At this stage, things seemed to be going well. But as the ship sailed smoothly away from the harbour, Jonah forgot that his God was present everywhere and no matter where he tried to run, God would be there (Psalm 139:7-10)
Icebreaker:
When did you set off on a journey and get hopelessly lost? Where were you going? Where did you get to
before you realised you were going the wrong way? What happened?
Application
- Have you heard God’s call on your own life? How have you responded?
- How do you feel inside when you procrastinate about something, especially something you thinkGod may be calling you to do? Does the feeling get stronger the longer you delay? How does it
change when you start to take action? And how do you feel when you complete the task?
- What does resistance look like in your own life? What are you resisting at this point of time? Why?
- How do you feel about God calling you by name? What does that mean to you? Does it makefollowing His call any easier? Why/why not?
- What distracts you from following God’s call? Brainstorm a list of present-day distractions. Whichone is the strongest in your life? As you name them, how do they make you feel?
- The book of Jonah comprises two movements – Jonah flees from God; God pursues Jonah and isalways present. Read Psalm 139:7-10 again slowly, pausing after each phrase. How do these words
apply to your own life and your relationship with God at this point of time?
- How do you feel about the God of love, who will never let you go, relentlessly pursuing you. Whathappens when you stop running and lean into God’s love for you?
- You may not be running at this point in time. You may be following God’s call on your life just as Hewants you to do. How does that change how you feel – about life, about others, about God? What has changed in your life since you started following His call? Has it been fulfilling or rewarding? Has it brought you joy? What would you say to those in the group who are hesitant about doing so?
- How can the group help you with the struggles you have mentioned during this session?Prayer
Pray for one another in regard to the issues that have been raised during your discussion time, and in regard to other needs of the group.
Service
In the coming week, read through the whole book of Jonah. What stands out for you in the book as a whole. How will it impact your life in the coming days? What is God saying to you? Take a small step to put whatever comes out of this reading into action. Who can you tell about this new realisation and the action you have taken?
Bibliography
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/jonah-1/
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