Jonah 3: Jonah's Obedience
GREAT REVIVALS HAVE occurred throughout history—among the Jews in the first century, the tribes of Ireland in the fifth century, the Protestants in the sixteenth century and the people of Wales in the twentieth century. Yet one of the greatest revivals of all time occurred hundreds of years before any of these—the amazing revival in Nineveh described in Jonah 3.
Warming Up to God
How have you seen God's compassion expressed when you are obedient?
Read Jonah 3. »
Discovering the Word
- If you were Jonah, how would you feel when the word of the Lord came to you a second time (vv. 1-2)?
- Assyria was one of the most powerful nations on earth, known especially for its military might and brutality. How would this make it difficult for Jonah to proclaim: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" (vv. 3-4)?
- What evidence is there that the Ninevites were sincere in their repentance (vv. 5-9)?
- How and why does the Lord respond to the Ninevites (v. 10)?
- What view of God do the Ninevites express in this chapter?
- If a genuine turning to God were to occur in this country, what results would you expect to see?
Applying the Word
- Describe one area in your life where you feel a need for repentance.
- What actions can you take to demonstrate the sincerity of your repentance?
Responding in Prayer
Spend some time before the Lord expressing your repentance and experiencing God's grace.
For Further Study
Perseverance by Eugene Peterson