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Bible study: Is Calling (: Session 1)

Opening Prayer – Father, it is all too easy for us to become complacent and comfortable. We love your gifts but too often ignore you, the Giver. We confess that such a smug faith is really no faith at all Just as you called Jonah to an uncomfortable assignment when you sent him to , you likewise seek to stir our hearts into action. As we begin our study of this prophetic book, enliven our faith by your so that we respond anew to your call with the words, “Here am I. Send me!” ( 6:8). We ask this in the name of . Amen.

A Song melody CW 125

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God. All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Text, Tune, Setting: public domain.

Synopsis of Theme God sometimes calls his people to assignments that are not always convenient. In Jonah 1:1-3, he summons Jonah to preach his Word – not within the friendly confines of Israel, but to the fierce, pagan Ninevites. How did Jonah answer this call of God? Not with an exuberant, “Here am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8), and not even with a reluctant “Okay, Lord, I guess I should go.” Called to speak, Jonah was silent. Called to arise, Jonah went down to Joppa. Called to Nineveh, Jonah got on a boat for Tarshish!

Part 1: Jonah Is Called The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. (Jonah 1:1-3)

1. Why do you think God called Jonah to go to Nineveh?

2. What sort of welcome could Jonah expect to receive in Nineveh?

Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. (1 Kings 22:48)

You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. (Psalm 48:7)

Wail, you ships of Tarshish; your fortress is destroyed! (Isaiah 23:14)

“ ‘The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea. 26 Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces in the heart of the sea. (Ezekiel 27:25-26)

3. Why is it significant that Jonah got on a ship bound for Tarshish? What fate did such ships typically meet?

4. What are we to make of a prophet who flees from the command?

Part 2: Response to the Call But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:1-3)

1. According to 4:2, why did Jonah flee to Tarshish?

2. Why is Jonah’s attitude toward the salvation of the Ninevites hypocritical?

3. How has Jonah’s relationship with God changed here in chapter 4 since chapter 1?

Part 3: Mission in the Old Testament It is commonly assumed that God’s salvation in the Old Testament was only for Israel and only in the New Testament was this salvation broadened to include the Gentiles. But God called other Old Testament believers to go beyond Israel’s borders. Read the following passages and describe those whom God called and how this call demonstrates his love for all people:

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

Now was tending the flock of his father-in-law, the of , and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of , the God of and the God of .” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in . I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and —the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses aid to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will God on this mountain.” 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:1-14) “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” (1 Kings 17:9)

I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in ’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 All the people in the were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. (Luke 4:25-29)

Part 4: Discussion/Application 1. Do you think God still speaks to his people today? Does he speak directly or through other means?

2. Should the guilty escape responsibility, as did Nineveh, or should they be punished?

A Closing Hymn Melody CW 397 Just as I am, without one plea But that thy blood was shed for me And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all I need, in thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am; thy love unknown Has broken ev'ry barrier down. Now to be thine, yea thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Text, Tune, Setting: public domain. A Closing Prayer Forgiving Father, you have made all that there is, and your desire is that all people would come into a saving relationship with you, as you demonstrated when you sent Jonah to the pagan city of Nineveh. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we are patient and loving when we find ourselves among people who are different from us. Give us courage that we might be bold to speak your Word even when it is uncomfortable, to the end that all people might share in the eternal life that is freely given through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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