Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

“Yet forty days and Ninevah will be destroyed.” Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • Jonah goes to Ninevah, cries against it v. 3 • The city is large…a “daunting task” v. 4a • His “oracle” is only 8 words long v. 4b

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • The people of Ninevah responded vv. 5-9 • They “believed in God” v. 5a • They “fasted and put on sackcloth” v. 5b • The king also repented, and decreed that everyone “repent” & “call on God” vv. 6-9

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • Ninevah’s repentance = genuine Mt 12:41 • Jesus compared them to hypocrites • Why was Jonah successful? Lk 11:29-30 • He was a “sign” to the people of Ninevah just as Christ would be to the Jews

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • Why was Jonah successful? Lk 11:29-30 • Apparently, Ninevah had somehow heard of what had happened to him [the fish] • He “came back” from the fish…just as Christ “came back” from the dead

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • Why was Jonah successful? Lk 11:29-30 • This “resurrection” gave Jonah credibility • The people were willing to listen to his message and consider their behavior in light of what he said

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • God’s reaction v. 10 • He saw their “deeds” and their “turn from wickedness” • He “relented concerning the calamity He declared”…He did not do it

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • God’s reaction v. 10 • Some characteristics revealed about God… Before Ninevah’s repentance - a hatred for sin; just in punishing it

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • God’s reaction v. 10 • Some characteristics revealed about God… After Ninevah’s repentance - mercy and compassion towards those who turn from wickedness

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs With God 3:1-10 • God’s reaction v. 10 • God possesses the right to replace His wrath with compassion when people genuinely repent of sin Rom 9:15-24

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • Jonah should have been happy at seeing the “fruits of his labor for God” • Instead, he became “greatly displeased” and “angry” at God sparing Ninevah v. 1 • In his anger, he responds to God vv. 2-3

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • In his anger, he responds to God vv. 2-3 • “Was this not what I told you? I knew You to be a compassionate God.” • He admits this why he ran away • Jonah didn’t want what God wanted

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • In his anger, he responds to God vv. 2-3 • He may as well had said the words… “I didn’t want Ninevah spared – I wanted her destroyed.” • Jonah preferred dying over living

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God questioned his reason to be angry v. 4 • Jonah “went out from the city…to see what would happen in the city” v. 5 • Was he still hoping for Divine calamity? • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • A plant grew over Jonah, gave him shade (made Jonah happy) • A worm came & devoured the plant, taking away his comfortable shade

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • A scorching east wind made him suffer (made Jonah unhappy…longed for death) • God questioned Jonah re: his “right” to be angry about the death of the plant

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • Jonah was first angry because Ninevah had not been destroyed • Now, Jonah is angry because a plant has been destroyed

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • Jonah defended his “right” to be angry • God reminded him about his “compassion” for the plant for which he had done nothing to create or cause it to perish

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • God created the Ninevites Gen 1:26-27 • Why could He not have “compassion”… esp. for those who “…do not know the difference between their right & left hand?”

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Jonah Runs Ahead Of God 4:1-11 • God had 1 more lesson for Jonah vv. 6-11 • If Ninevah would repent, those who were “innocent” (as well as the animals) would not have to suffer • Why couldn’t God have compassion?

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Things “appointed” by God • For Jonah • A storm 1:4 • A great fish 1:17 • A plant & worm 4:6-7 • A scorching wind 4:8 Things w/o “free will”… could not oppose their purpose

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Things “appointed” by God • For Ninevah • Jonah 1:2 3:2 He possessed “free will”…was greater than the things God used on him Yet, he opposed God’s purpose for him

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Lessons To Learn • Like Jonah, we can become more concerned about things than we do about lost souls needing repentance & God’s compassion • Jonah’s task = our task Lk 19:10(we can run from it or share in it…our choice)

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Lessons To Learn • Jonah’s feelings were inappropriate • Yes, Israelites were to avoid relationships with pagans like the Ninevites • But they weren’t to oppose God’s mercy on them if they showed genuine repentance

Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion An Unbelievable Fish Story Jonah 1-4 Lessons To Learn • It is a story of national repentance • Our nation would do well to consider our own course in light of what Ninevah faced • Like Jonah, we can play an important role in bringing such repentance about

Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion