151 // Castaway // Jonah

Teacher: David Leventhal. In our last week of studying the book of Jonah, we see God's pursuit of the unlovable. David Leventhal highlights how Jonah's anger at God's mercy toward the Ninevites reflects our own struggles with forgiveness and judgment. The message also underscores the importance of seeing people as God sees them and challenges the audience to repent of any attitudes that hinder them from extending grace and mercy to others. Overall, we have room to grow in self-reflection, humility, and a deeper understanding of God's love and compassion.

1️⃣Jonah Saw the Lord's Character & Mercy in Action, and He Hated It. (Jonah 4:1–4)

• Jonah's anger over God's mercy and God's pursuit of the unlovable are central themes.
• Jonah's self-righteousness and hatred for the Assyrians become evident.
• Jonah acknowledges God's graciousness, but his anger questions God's mercy for the Assyrians.

2️⃣The Lord Saw Jonah's Elitism & Hatred, and He Loved Him Anyway. (Jonah 4:5–8)

• Jonah's object lesson illustrates God's pursuit of his hard-hearted prophet.
• The text uses details and nuances to emphasize God's appointments and the scorching east wind as a symbol of judgment.
• The change in titles for God, from "LORD" to "God," highlights the lesson's impact on Jonah.

3️⃣The Lord Saw the Ninevite Repentance, and He Showed Pity Because He Loved Them. (Jonah 4:9–11)

• Jonah's inability to see the lesson from the plant's demise reveals his hardness of heart.
• The Lord uses the plant to show Jonah how his anger over its loss contrasts with God's desire to show mercy to Nineveh.     

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