God Loves People – Jonah 3-4
If you were hated, belittled, mocked and the object of scorn, how would you treat the person that hated you? What if it were a group of people? An entire city or nation? What if you had the power to destroy those who hated you? Let’s see what God’s response is toward the people of Nineveh – an exceedingly wicked people.
Words That Describe God
Many different industries use words that describe their products. Few companies spend more time describing their products than car companies. When you see an advertisement for a car, the words used to describe it can tell you far more than the actual name of the car ca. Words like refined, rugged, exhilarating, and limited edition give a picture and expectation of what that car is like. What is God like? All too often, the word God does not mean as much as it should, because we don’t know much about the person and character of God. As you read God’s Word, you will find words that describe Him, or you will be able to summarize a verse with a word that describes the way He is or what He does. When filling out this section, take time to record the word and the verse where you found the word.
A
Almighty – Job 40:2
C
Comforter – Psalm 23:4
G
Giver – Job 1:21
Gracious – Job 4:2
K
Kind – Job 4:2
L
My Leader – Psalm 23:2-3
M
Merciful – Job 4:2
O
Owner of Everything – Job 41:11
P
Preparer – Jonah 4:6-8
R
Restorer – Psalm 23:3
S
Shepherd – Psalm 23:1
Slow to anger – Job 4:2
T
Taker – Job 1:20
Commands of God
Record here things that God tells you to do. Be thankful that God is straightforward! Each time you write down a command, take time to reflect on your life and ask yourself if there is anything that you need to change today.
God’s commands bind Satan – Job 2:6
To preach the Word that God has given – Jonah 3:2
What Pleases God?
Singing – Psalm 95:1
True worship – Psalm 95:6
A repentant heart – Jonah 3:10
What Angers God?
A hard heart – Psalm 95:8
Not knowing Him – Psalm 95:10
Selfish motives – Jonah 4:10-11
Wickedness – Jonah 3:4,9
Character of God: Goodness
The state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute vale, excellence, or perfection; kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; kindness; benevolence of nature; mercy; the Lord God – abundant in goodness and truth (Exodus 34)
God’s provision – not just for needs, but supplies the best things – Psalm 23:1-2
God’s protection – Psalm 23:4
I am sandwiched between his leadership (Psalm 23:3) and his goodness and mercy that follow me (Psalm 23:6)
Delivers us from grief even when we are wrong – Jonah 4:6
God cares about his creation – Jonah 4:11
Character of God: Grace
Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him; favorable influence of God, divine influence or the influence of the Spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin (my grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Corinthians 12)
God’s provision of shelter and refreshment – Job 4:6
God has the right to be gracious even to the lost – Jonah 4:10-11
Character of God: Forgiveness
The act of forgiving; the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty; the pardon or remission of an offense or crime, as the forgiveness of sin or of injuries; disposition to pardon; willingness to forgive; remission of a debt, fine, or penalty
God can forgive the most wicked people – Jonah 3:11
God looks for reasons to forgive – Jonah
Character of God: Impartiality
Not favoring one party more than another, equitable
Even in the Old Testament, God cared about the other nations as much as he did his own chosen people – Jonah 3
God blesses even those whose heart is not right with Him – Jonah 4:6
Character of God: Longsuffering
Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked
God gives time for people to repent – Jonah 3:4
Character of God: Mercy
That benevolence, mildness, or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to for bear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant
He protects me from my enemies, though I was by nature His enemy – Psalm 23:5
His mercy is everlasting – Psalm 23:6
His mercy is long-lasting (40 years for the Israelites) – Psalm 95:10
He does not always carry out judgment, even though it is His right to do so – Jonah 3:10; 4:11
Character of God: Truth
Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be; true state of facts of things; veracity, purity from falsehood
God keeps His Word – if he offers the opportunity of forgiveness based upon repentance, He will honor that repentance – Jonah 3
God gives clear warning – Jonah 3:2-4
Concluding Thought for Week 3
The main character of Jonah is not Jonah, it is God. We see God as a patient (longsuffering), forgiving God whose love for people does not change. It doesn’t change when they are angry at Him, sin directly against Him, or choose to be stubborn against Him. What an example to emulate! We should love others as God loves us – no matter what. God loves those who hate Him and ridicule Him – what a magnificent God!
The book ends with a question mark. Why do you think that is? Does Jonah’s answer matter?
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