WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

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For Sunday May 30, 2021

 

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PREACHING TO ENEMIES

(Jonah goes to Nineveh)

(Jonah 3)

 

   The prophet Jonah ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II of northern Israel. Years earlier, during the reign of Jeroboam’s great grandfather, Jehu, the nation of Assyria had established dominance in the east and had secured tributes from Jehu, making him their “vassal” (puppet) king.

    Several years later, the Assyrians suffered a temporary setback due to dissension within their own camp. This setback allowed Jeroboam II to expand Israel’s territories to its greatest size since the “United Kingdom of Israel” existed under Kings David and his son, Solomon.

    Unfortunately, because of Jeroboam’s disobedience to GOD, and his leading of the people of Israel farther into idolatry, GOD sent both the prophets Amos, and Hosea, into northern Israel to warn him of HIS impending judgment if they didn’t repent and return to worship and obedience to HIM only. In fact, the prophet Hosea specifically told Israel that GOD would use the Assyrians to topple them because of their steadfast refusal to repent.

    However, because Assyria had been lingering in a weakened and declining state for a few years at that time, Israel did not believe neither Amos, nor Hosea, and they remained rebellious and stubborn, continuing to ignore their warnings from GOD.

    And so, perhaps we can see more clearly why Jonah was so reluctant to obey GOD and go to preach repentance to Nineveh. He, of course, was one of those who believed Amos and Hosea, however, he had a problem with going to rescue Israel’s enemies from her own GOD’s judgment, just so they could come later on and destroy his own people.

    Here in Jonah chapter 3, the LORD speaks to Jonah a second time commanding him to “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message of judgment I have given you” (v.2 NLT). This time the prophet obeys the LORD’s command and travels to the massive city of Nineveh, which was so large that it took about three days to see it all.

    Jonah delivered this time-sensitive message to this sin-filled city, and much to his dislike, the people believed his report. The LORD was giving the pagan city forty days to repent or face certain destruction. The people of Nineveh fasted and tore their clothes to show their deep sorrow.

    Even the king of Nineveh, when he heard Jonah’s message, stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robe (v.6). He then dressed himself in sackcloth and sat on a heap of ashes before sending out a royal decree throughout the city. He ordered everyone, and all their animals to go without food and drink. He also ordered them to dress themselves also, in sackcloth and pray earnestly to the LORD of Israel for forgiveness. When GOD saw that the people of Nineveh had put a stop to their evil ways, HE had mercy on them and ceased to carry out HIS judgment against them (v.10).

    Nineveh’s repentance delayed GOD’s wrath for another 150 years. However, as man always does, so too did the Ninevites fall back into the doldrums of sin, and thus their city was still, ultimately allowed by GOD to be destroyed. In fact, world history now tells us that Nineveh was invaded and destroyed by Nabopolasser of Babylon, and his ally Cyaxeres the Mede in 612 B.C. (also see Nahum’s prophecy in the book of Nahum).

    The lesson that GOD is trying to teach Jonah is that, when we cause HIM to withdraw HIS compassion from us, through our ungratefulness and disobedience, we don’t have a right to be angry when we see HIM bestowing HIS mercy and grace upon someone else, even if that happens to be someone whom we don’t like.

    After all is said and done, we won’t be able to see weather or not this lesson was wasted on Jonah, because his book ends without him ever responding to GOD’s final comments to him. However, Jonah was clearly at fault with his attitude of not wanting GOD’s compassion bestowed in the lives of others, even if he felt like those who were “saved” were not necessarily his friends.

    The book of Jonah has often been called “The Gospel of Second Chance”, because it clearly shows that when we know GOD, HE will not let us run away from obedience for too long. And sometimes HE may have to place great storms in our lives, or great fishes in our path to get our attention. However, we can be thankful because, ultimately, our compassionate GOD always has our best interest at heart.

   

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

  

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