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I am sure most of you have done Jonah before, perhaps many times, perhaps here! But I absolutely know there will be heart-melting encouragement and fresh insights because it’s The Word of God, and, it’s Paige. She has learned so well from Keller how to preach to the heart, and she knows how to connect with women. I’m really excited to do this with YOU!
If you have not already signed up to get a reminder in your inbox this Wednesday morning, please do so here:
https://westendcc.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6cacd77fce1778133da66b2b&id=956e47f392
It’s a six-week study but they will take a fall break, so we’ll be here seven weeks and one week you can just chat! 🙂
Format:
After this 10 day post, I’ll start posting on Wednesday, when Paige streams live. After she streams, her lecture goes up on You-Tube, but she takes it down Tuesday evenings at 10 P. M. Central. We don’t know why, but she means it, so don’t get caught.
This post will cover 10 days!
I want to try a simpler format — you’ll see!
Oh Lord, be with us as you were with Jonah!
Sunday:
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
Monday: Read Jonah 1-2 (Labor Day)
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Wednesday: Part I.
On you-tube listen through her reading of the Scripture at minute 24:26
3. What particularly stood out to you and why?
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
Thursday: Part II.
Listen to about 43:22 when she says “All sin is a rejection of God.” The Song she was referring to can be found here:
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
164 comments
Sunday:
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
—It is in kind of a strange way but it has to do with our daughter’s dog Quincy. He is a delightful good natured dog about 5 years old. The whole family loves him and we dog sit for him when they have to travel.
Last Monday my daughter called and asked if it was ok to ask for prayer for a dog since Quincy was very sick and they had taken him to the vet. We try to keep perspective in our family that dogs are not human. She was really worried he might die. I said God cares about sparrows that fall to the ground and I was sure he cared about Quincy. So we prayed if it pleased God he would heal Quincy. It turns out he had pancreatitis which can be fatal but he has responded well to antibiotics and seems to be back to his fun delightful self. I do feel dogs in particular can be God given companions and even protectors but their life spans are short and human life should never be diminished in comparison.
But we are grateful to God and hope it pleases him to give us a few more good years enjoying Quincy.
Bev, so glad Quincy is ok! Our daughter had a dog with the same diagnosis…had to be careful what they fed him. We have a caring God who hears our every prayer!
I’m glad Quincy is better. They can bring happiness and companionship.
I love it that you responded to your daughter and God responded to you!
Bev, my daughter, Ruth, has a lovable 9-year-old dog named Sam. He has had some vet visits that were serious but God has spared him for us still. And I do pray for my daughter’s critters, Sam, and her 2 cats, Ellie and Charlie. They are a delight to her and to me.
I am grateful to God that Quincy is well. Dogs contribute to the lives of many; they are protection for their owners, they are taught to assist the blind and crippled and are so often brought to nursing homes to bring comfort to the elderly. 🙂 Thank you for sharing, Bev.
I loved your story, Bev, and so glad God saw fit to spare Quincy. I truly believe dogs are such a sweet gift of love to humans. I know in my years of loneliness, I so often hug my two Boston Terriers at night as they sleep in either side of me and say thank you to God for the tender love of a dog. When our dogs suffer and even die, I often remember that all creation groans waiting for the redemption.
Amen, Missy. My dogs are a great comfort to me. They sense when my husband is not doing well and snuggle up to him. Their love and loyalty are truly a gift to us. I thank God that He has given us these creatures to comfort and bring tender joy to us and to our children.
What sweet responses from all of you. Thank you 💕
Sunday:
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
God’s Word has been my encouragement this week as I struggle through feeling overwhelmed and less able to do what I perceive are my responsibilities. Psalm 5:12 ” Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” He shields me against the temptations of fear, hopelessness, and discouragement. Instead, I cling to Him for His shield of faith, joy, and peace. Kept by Jesus (Jude) through the ups and downs of life.
Love this Bing…”Kept by Jesus…” and so glad you felt His arms of love and provision wrapped around you.
Prayers, God send encouragement and help and you sense His care and boundaries for you.
Bing, So thankful for this encouragement you had and I love that He is our shield! Psalm 5:12 ” Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Dear Bing, even last night I found a card from you in my bedside drawer and smiled as I thought of you and what a sweet blessing you are to the body of Christ. May God encourage you and lift up your head even as you encourage and lift up so many. Much love to you. ♥️
Awww, Bing. You are such an encourager to me. I wish I could be right there to hug you. Don’t be down! You have Him on your side and that’s all we need. How do you “eat an elephant?” One bite at a time! Take little steps. You can do it! ♥️♥️
I join these sisters in praying for you, Bing!
Bing, so blessed by your sharing and all the sweet responses. It truly is God’s Word that encourages us and then he throws in the extra blessing of friends in Christ.
Thank you all, sweet sisters! He is indeed, the lifter of our heads! Been working on a 4 week Bible study titled, “Grateful” in preparation for offering it after a women’s luncheon in October. Today’s study was on Psalm 118 and I learned a new word for bookends-inclusio, a literary device. Psalm 188 begins on v.1 and ends on v .29 with “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.” Whatever happens in between starts and ends with the forever love of God. Such a great reminder for me.
Oh, what beautiful and faithful bookends!! Brings tears. So thankful!
Sunday:
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
These past couple of weeks I have been meditating and re-memorizing Psalm 23. Last weeks lesson with Keller went so well with what David writes in this Psalm. The Lord is my Shepherd…He provides, protects and guides. I shall not want…He’s all I need and I must be dependent upon Him (poor in spirit). Everything this world provides will spoil. I could go on, but y’all know this beautiful Psalm. It has been such a comfort waking up and going to sleep with this Psalm on my mind…what a feast…He is my daily bread!
Such a beautiful psalm to memorize!
Amen to Dee!
What an encouragement, Sharon! I shall read Psalm 23 again!
Cooper had to memorize this Psalm for Awana last year. I did it with him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking of the meaning of the words, just trying to remember it! I will go back as well and try again. Thanks for a good reminder Sharon!
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why? That the Ninevites believed God. They were a cruel group of people and yet one unknown foreign man came and spoke to them and they repented. I’m thinking of the power in God’s word when earnestly spoken and how it temporarily changed their lives. So I need to be careful not to miss His word for me and to speak His word when the Spirit brings it to mind.
Sharon this is so good. “It has been such a comfort waking up and going to sleep with this Psalm on my mind…what a feast…He is my daily bread!”
Sharon, that is a very practical and rewarding practice for me to imitate. I will start tonight.
How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week? I really liked last week’s lesson on bread of life. I’ve lost the notes I took, but what I remember is Jesus’s bread of life is zoe. He’s everything that makes life good and satisfying. Without Him we cannot have true satisfaction. Jesus is all we need. This past week I had a lot of unplanned things to do. Monday a dear friend needed a ride to ER. Hospital kept her though transferred her to another hospital not as convenient to me and I’ve needed to run errands for her and just sit with her this week. Kids had unplanned things that resulted in having grands more. Hubby was angry that I contacted his doctor when I saw how red his leg was. He did calm down when they called in an antibiotic. Then there were the discouraging words to me about me by a friend (did she really mean what she said or did I read into it? I don’t know) Grands acted out a little. Things that I needed to help with at church, of course, didn’t go as smoothly as I thought. I’ve had a toothache and kidney stone issues this week. Though busier than I like, I look at your question, and realize it was God’s mercy that kept me calm. I smiled at people and He kept me from being stressed and overwhelmed. Jesus is what I needed all week and He was there and I am thankful.
Sounds like the book my children always loved: Alexander’s No Good Terrible Awful Day. And God kept you calm! And you were so merciful to your friend.
Oh, Judy! I will pray that this coming week is more calm for you. That sounds like a lot. So thankful that Jesus was with you.
Oh my Judy…what a week!! So glad you felt His hand upon you🙂
I love to see how God met you, Judy, in the common annoying circumstances of life and gave you His love and peace. He can do the same for me if I let Him. ♥️
I’m glad you could attack the week with a positive outlook! Yes indeed, Jesus keeps us together.
Judy, Praying for God’s strength and encouragement this week for you.
Judy, “all is well with my soul” as the song goes. He was all you need to face all the trials of your week. I too loved last week’s lesson on Jesus being the bread of life.
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
God has removed a very bad habit that I have. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Celebrating and praising God!!
Praise God!!
We have such a faithful God and Father who walks with us in the daily.
Praising God, with you Laura! Thank you Father!
Laura, what a praise!
That’s great, Laura!
Thank you for your faithfulness, Dee, in preparing these Bible studies and introducing us to so many resources and fellowship with so many good women of God. I so much miss being here each week, but God has me full to the brim with being a single mom and sole bread winner. I loved Keller’s messages and look forward to Paige’s messages as well.
Always excited to see you, Miriam. You bring such richness to us.
We miss you Miriam but appreciate your special situation and know God is using you in your commitment to your family. Good to hear from you and just knowing you still follow with us.
So good to see you here, Missy! You have a very full plate and I thank God for you and your faithfulness in serving Him, as you care for your children and your patients.
Missy, you have a full plate and it is always so good to see you here. I am so thankful for my 1:15 alarm (smile). Keeps me prompted to pray for you. And the occasional pics on FB help!
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Jonah uses scripture (Psalms) to pray to God. He knows the verses. I wish I could remember them better. He knows then by heart.
“I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
Psalms 120:1 NLT
“I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.”
Psalms 138:1 NLT
Love this verse, Laura! “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
Psalms 120:1 NLT
Monday: Read Jonah 1-2 (Labor Day)
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
—In the first chapter it is interesting to see the response of the Gentile sailors who were pagan in their beliefs. They believed in many gods and thought that in each one praying to their own favorite god maybe one of those gods would answer. So that is why that were asking Jonah to join them in praying to his god who might be a god who answered and would save them from the storm. Jonah acknowledged that he was a Hebrew and he worshiped the One true God “the LORD” who had created the sea and the land.
We see here that God used even a disobedient Jonah running from from him to show his power and bring salvation to a group of Gentile sailors. They responded with worship and commitment to serve Him. I’m impressed with the heart of God for those lost men to show them his power and to save them.
Chapter 2 which is Jonah’s prayer has many layers to it but the last sentence stands out to me. “For my salvation comes from the LORD alone. “
For me that is a radioactive reminder that all of life is about Jesus alone! I bring nothing to him. It is all grace.
Amen, Bev. It is all grace.
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week? God answered many prayers this week, on behalf of my daughters and a problem they were together trying to figure out. 🙂 The Lord has been my day planner and I am so grateful for His faithfulness in giving me strength to get through each day and hope for tomorrow. Thank you Father God. “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Lamentations 3:22-23 are great verses!
Yes what wonderful verses. The faithfulness of God rings so true in hard times like yours. Praying for you. 💕
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
Since all but one of our boys has moved out of the house, I’ve established a once or twice a month family game night so that they can come over and we can keep in touch face to face. We break bread and play cards. Elijah, our oldest, asked if it was okay to talk about spiritual things. After dinner we had rich discussions regarding God, purpose, who is Jesus Christ, and whether or not scripture is reliable and true. Elijah seems to be VERY slowly moving toward Christ. That’s been so encouraging, but our other three boys are struggling with their faith. So that night I was both encouraged and heart broken so I wrestled with God asking how long? I didn’t sense Him strongly yet sensed His comfort. Exodus 34 says He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness.
I love that the Lord sent you his comfort, Rebecca. It does sometimes take so long for young people to have their eyes open to the Savior. The game night is such a great way to have fellowship with them and to keep those discussions about Jesus open. Prayers that they all come to know Him in His time.
Rebecca, I feel your heartbreak. It is similar to how I feel with our daughter. But I cling to Philippians 1:6 for her. She knows the Lord and I claim that God will finish the work that He has started in her. Praying for your sons’s struggles to pave the way for them to meet Christ and find Him their all.
So hard to wait, but I truly believe they will all come.
Rebecca, We have missed you and will pray for your boys. I have a grandson and granddaughter who grew up near us and very much a part of church who now have strayed and question. We love on them when we have opportunity and I know they love us but we long for them to live for Jesus. I agree with Dee your boys will come. God hears our prayers for them.
Praying for your boys, Rebecca. Never lose hope!
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Jonah disobeyed God’s call to go to Ninevah and cry out against their wickedness. He quickly learned that he could not run from God, for God is everywhere. In His sovereignty, God send a great wind to upset the ship. The sailors cried out to “their gods” and it was futile. When Jonah told them that He was a Hebrew and believed in the Lord God of Heaven, they felt Jonah’s disobedience had caused the storm. It seems that the sailors suddenly turned from “their gods” to The God of heaven and earth and called out to Him and offered Jonah as a sacrifice. When God sent the fish to save Jonah, he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and repentance to God for saving him. We cannot run from God’s will. I love that Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights, foreshadowing the burial and resurrection of Jesus.
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2. Jonah is pouring out the lamenting Psalms of David and though he mentions God’s steadfast love, it’s about Jonah and what he’s done mostly. Even though in the belly of a fish knowing God put him there, he remains in his pride. We can quote verses, and gain head knowledge all we want but God knows our heart and if it doesn’t drop from our head to our heart, it’s rubbish. His delight is in a broken and contrite spirit. In His mercy and grace He breaks us. OH I needed this. I don’t want pain, but God break my pride!
Love your heart, Rebecca.
Oh, Rebecca! Such good points! I love this: His delight is in a broken and contrite spirit. In His mercy and grace He breaks us! I so needed this today.
Monday: Read Jonah 1-2 (Labor Day)
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
In the ESV translation, the phrase, “flee/away…from the presence of the LORD,” is repeated 3 times (twice in verse 3 and once in verse 10). Jonah was disobeying God’s call for him to go to Nineveh and heading the opposite direction. It’s amazing to think what God did to get Jonah’s attention…sent a storm, had the ships crew throw him overboard so they could survive and then spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a great fish. I’ve never been swallowed by a great fish but I know when I disobey God’s will and try to flee from the presence of the LORD it doesn’t go well. There have been times where God has had to get my attention and other times I realize sooner, but either way it’s a hard lesson. Jonah does repent, we see God’s mercy and Jonah sees that salvation belongs to the LORD.
Good to see that repetition!
Amen to this, Sharon! I’ve never been swallowed by a great fish but I know when I disobey God’s will and try to flee from the presence of the LORD it doesn’t go well.
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why? That Jonah fell into a deep sleep. He knew he was disobedient yet slept deeply. I don’t know if that was from God or exhaustion. I need to be careful not to ignore my own disobedience and allow my conscience and Holy Spirit to work not allowing sleep to keep me from repenting.
Interesting observation, Judy!
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
I think it is interesting how Jonah does what God says, God saves the people, and then Jonah acts like a child and throws a tantrum telling God that he knew that would happen so he was angry. It seems silly.
Yes, but I can be the same!
1. How did you experience the presence, power, or mercy of God this week?
Hi, everyone. I am going to try to join you during this time. I have been missing this Bible Study and I do so love Paige’s studies. As I anticipate the Fall I am pondering many of my usual activities and feel the need to focus on God, Bible study and prayer for now instead of scattering my focus on several “should do” activities. It’s hard to say “no” to things I have done for years, but I am feeling a dryness in my soul that I know only God can fill.
Welcome back, Diane! Love this: I am feeling a dryness in my soul that I know only God can fill.
You ladies all lift my spirits and water my soul with your beautiful hearts for Jesus!
Diane, So good to see you joining in again. I always felt challenged in a good way to think deeper by your answers and insights. Like you I love Paige’s studies.
Good to see you here, Diane! Always have loved your insights.
So glad to see you back Diane 🙂…look forward to studying His precious Word together.
Glad to see you back, Diane!
Yay! Dianne is back!
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
—I am fascinated by the anger of Jonah. He was furious that God would forgive the people of Nineveh and not destroy them as he hoped God would. But Jonah knew what kind of God he served and suspected God wanted to save a lost and reprobate people. His testimony of God is revealing.
“And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”
Jonah 4:2 ESV
What an amazing perspective about God. Especially in light of my own sin.
Jonah was a prophet and preacher for the LORD God and acknowledges that God is slow to anger but unlike his Lord Jonah was quick to anger and felt justified in it.
Twice God asks Jonah “Do you do well to be angry?” The second time it is in regard to the plant God caused to grow up and give him protection and shade but then God took it away from him. At that point Jonah says “Yes I do well to be angry and I just want to die in my anger.” If God wouldn’t kill the Ninevites then he wanted God to just kill him. Jonah actually cared more about a plant than the many human lives who were living in complete spiritual darkness. I do understand that the Ninevites were horribly cruel and their atrocities were beyond the pale so Jonah’s desire to see justice served is understandable. The contrast is huge though in Jonah wanting them dead and to God caring about thousands of unsaved souls in sin and darkness. God even cared about the animals that would have been destroyed along with the people. Living things matter to God.
Love your closing thoughts, Bev. I’m asking God to help me see really hard people as He does, for otherwise I’ll never love them.
Monday: Read Jonah 1-2 (Labor Day)
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Jonah fled from God’s call to condemn the city of Ninevah. We don’t know why he fled but he didn’t want to. Sometimes I want to flee from God’s call. I might not physically flee but I do what I think God wants me to do with a grudging spirit. I obey the letter of the law, but my heart is in rebellion. God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
I’m wondering why Jonah was so upset that God was merciful to the Ninevites. I know they were a violent people and the enemies of the Israelites. But I am wondering if there was more to it than that. Jonah says he wants to die because God did not destroy them. That seems harsh.
Monday: Read Jonah 1-2 (Labor Day)
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Lessons I am learning from the Book of Jonah:
Chapter 1
Our disobedience to God’s call not only affects us but other people as well. Because of Jonah’s disobedience, the men on the ship he sailed with went through a storm and lost their cargo. Our disobedience can exact a high price.
God is merciful in that He pursues us relentlessly even though we run away from him. Such a comfort for me!
God uses the worst in us (disobedience) to turn others to Himself. After the sea calmed down, the men on the ship offered sacrifices to the Lord and made vows to Him. “Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this, the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.” Jonah 1:15-16
God can use an unlikely vehicle (the fish) to save us from our foolish actions.
Chapter 2
How often the psalms have brought comfort to me just as they did for Jonah as he brought them to mind.
God allows us to be in an impossible situation (3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale) to get our attention and to let us know of the seriousness of His calling to us.
Thankfully, Jonah acknowledged His distress and turned to the only One who could rescue Him. We are called to death to self so we can look up and see that salvation can only come from on high.
“From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
Bing, so true how our disobedience affects other people…thanks for that reminder.
Yes, to this Bing: We are called to death to self so we can look up and see that salvation can only come from on high.
I love that verse, Bing.
In the song I posted a few weeks back, I loved the lyric “So I cried out to the only One who hears”
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
The people of Nineveh’s reaction to Jonah’s message. They didn’t talk about repenting, but rather put repentance into action. 3:5, the people believed God, proclaimed a fast, and “put on sackcloth,” from the greatest to the least of them. 3:6, the king laid aside his robe, “covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.” 3:7 & 8, the king proclaimed by decree that man, beast, herd and flock not eat or drink but be “covered with sackcloth (even beasts),” and cry mightily to God, turn from their evil way and from the violence that’s in their hands. In verse 10, God saw their works, He saw their hearts, that they turned (repented) from their evil way and didn’t destroy them. Repentance can’t be lip service but must be an action of the heart…it’s definitely not for show (God saw the genuineness of repentance of the people of Nineveh), but an active turning from sin.
I also appreciated Jonah’s honest response to how God spared the people of Nineveh…it showed in me my lack of grace towards others even when I know how much grace God has shown me🤦🏻♀️.
Amen to this, Sharon. I also appreciated Jonah’s honest response to how God spared the people of Nineveh…it showed in me my lack of grace towards others even when I know how much grace God has shown me🤦🏻♀️. love the emoji!!
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
Jonah was a prophet and a man of God, yet he fled from God because he did not want to obey Him. When Jonah was saved by God, he repented. When Jonah finally obeyed God and went to Nineveh to deliver God’s message, the King and the people of Nineveh repented. God responded to their repentance and did not punish Nineveh. Yet, Jonah’s heart was hardened and he was defiant against God….much like a spoiled child…much like me. This shows me how easy it is for me to overlook my own sin and my attitude, while God is seeing the big picture of repentance for all to come to Him. I so see the stubborn way my heart can respond to wanting “my version” of justice (which can be so sinful) over God’s desire for all to repent. Lord give me a heart filled with grace to desire all to come to know You.
This reminds me of the stubborn ways of the older son in the parable of the Prodigal Son and Keller’s book, The Prodigal God.
Patti, yes, to this “my version of justice”. I repent of this sin in my life. God has been doing good work in my heart about my attitude toward real justice. This afternoon, one of our regular attendees at our church asked me what Richard and I think of “gay” people. Would we turn away her nephew if he came to our church with his partner? The Holy Spirit helped me with our conversation and I can honestly say that the spirit of the older brother in the Prodigal Son parable and in me at various times in my life, was squashed! His mercies to me are ever before me and He has, and the only One, who can, and has changed my heart. One step at a time. One conversation at a time. Help me, Lord.
What a good conversation, Bing!
Bing, this is so good and true…the spirit of the older brother in the Prodigal Son parable…and in me…squashed! His mercies are new to me each morning and I need to show His mercy to others and listen to their hearts.
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
1. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
How like Jonah I can be! Praying for somebody to have a change of heart and turn to God and when they do and do not get the consequences of their sins meted to them, I pout. I tend to still have works-oriented righteousness. Don’t I deserve something (a plant over my head to keep me comfortable?)
I found it interesting the book had an open-ended question from God. I wonder how Jonah replied. How would I reply? I hope I will respond like Job. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Lord, help me show love and mercy to others just as you have shown love and mercy to me.
Tuesday: Read Jonah 3-4
2. What particularly stood out to you or even became radioactive and why?
This reminds me of the prodigal son story with Jonah being the older brother and the Ninevites being the younger brother. What stood out is how God has compassion for Jonah even though Jonah is angry at him, but Jonah doesn’t see that compassion. He’s angrily hyper-focused on God having compassion toward the Ninevites. This is obvious but it excites me to see God’s lovingkindness to both Jonah and the Ninevites. Gives me hope when I think He can’t STILL be putting up with me in my lack of trust and crankiness about a few injustices in my life lately.
Such a good parallel that you and Bing are seeing with older brother.
3. What particularly stood out to you and why?
Obedience doesn’t rest in our understanding of the command. It rests in our knowledge of the Commander. I like that it points to God and not my feeble attempt to understand. I know His ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I need to be seeking a greater understanding of Him
That was key to me too, Judy. A few weeks ago we talked about things in the Bible we didn’t understand but what our response should be —
I think sometimes we disagree as we may misinterpret the passage — I thought about how we just saw how many turned away after Jesus said they had to eat his body and drink his blood. The right response should have been, “I don’t get it — but one day this will clear — and I trust you.”
So good and so true, Judy.
Wednesday: Part I.
Listen to Paige for about 20 minutes and take notes in a separate notebook. Then come back here and share:
3. What particularly stood out to you and why?
—Her point about the book of Jonah as being totally unique among all the prophetic books and even wondering why it is among the prophetic books.
She clarified in my mind that the book of Jonah is not about what he said or preached as a prophet but what he experienced. She said it is about Jonah experiencing through his pain the character of his own God.
—The other point is that we are not studying Jonah but we are looking to Jonah to study us. She said we read and study the Bible to study us. The Bible studies us and we see the patterns of our own hearts as we study Jonah’s heart. A bottom line is that all Bible study is to know God and to know his heart and his character.
I see where that has tremendous ramifications for my life personally.
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
—Not yet in this introduction but I fully expect to in the study.
I loved this too, Bev:
She clarified in my mind that the book of Jonah is not about what he said or preached as a prophet but what he experienced. She said it is about Jonah experiencing through his pain the character of his own God.
And your last sentence made me smile.
3. What particularly stood out to you and why?
”A pouty prophet!” Hahaha!
Follow God no matter what.
Tim Keller! “Obedience is our submission to having our will crossed.”
Jesus says how dare you say you love me but then not follow my way….
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
I will remember “pouty prophet!”
3. What particularly stood out to you and why? We are always, in Bible study, studying God and His heart, before we ever look at our own. We are looking through Jonah to study us~ the patterns of our own heart in Jonah’s journey. We know all of this, but it is good to remind my heart. So important that every time I say “yes” to me, I say “no’ to Him. This study of Jonah is truly showing me that living in willful disobedience is distancing ourselves from the Presence of the Lord. In addition to the “pouty prophet”, I love “and how he discovered, through very painful experience, the character of his own God.” I am reminded of how often I have done that. My trust and obedience does not rest in my understanding of what God is asking of me, but in the ultimate character of God. It sounds so easy until I am at that crossroads.
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
With challenges in life, I need to remember this quote too…..from Tim Keller: “Obedience is submission to having your will crossed.” Oh, I am as stubborn as Jonah. Lord help me.
In case you are confused at to how far to watch on youtube each day, I’ve gone back and inserted some suggestions in red.
Thanks for taking the time to do this Dee…so helpful. I will be following along in the background.
Thank you, Dee! This will be so helpful.
3. What particularly stood out to you and why? (I listened to about minute 36. I only now am seeing that Dee has given specific instructions on where to go to each day.)
“Obedience is submission when having our wills crossed. What comes naturally to us will lead to decay and destruction.” The world says, “if it feels right, it must be right.” But God, because He loves us, contradicts us for our own good just like we try to keep our children from destroying themselves by doing what is destructive to them.
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
Watching my adult children do things that are destructive to them, disobeying God is that hardest thing I have ever done. They have been sucked in by the culture which is defying and ignoring God.
You have been long-suffering in that regard with adult children. I’m always encouraged by what someone said of Augustine — that they thought anyone with a mother who prayed so earnestly would indeed “come home.”
5. What particularly stood out to you and why? Obedience is not agreement It s God’s contradiction for our good. I’ll have to mull that over because it’s over my head.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here? I’m challenged by the above.
That is so challenging. C. S. Lewis said, “My dog doesn’t obey me, but sometimes he agrees with me.”
Just the command to love our neighbor as ourselves is super challenging!
Listen to Paige for about 20 minutes and take notes in a separate notebook. Then come back here and share:
3. What particularly stood out to you and why?
I love the way Paige gave us the context of Jonah. I did not know that his name was mentioned in 2 Kings and was considered a hero in his hometown having been asked to give the good news of the restoration that would come to their kingdom. Now the Book of Jonah is starting to make sense to me in light of its true message of the character of God rather than the book just being Jonah and the miracle of the fish. just like what Paige advised, “Don’t get distracted by the fish”.
“Read the Bible and the Bible reads us. Study the Bible and the Bible studies us.” We see in Jonah the patterns of our own hearts.
“Obedience doesn’t rest in the understanding of the command but in the character of God.” It does make sense to me at first when Jesus said, “Love your enemies”. But we do it anyway because God loved me when I was still His enemy. So my obedience is a reflection of what I believe in the character of God.
4. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
Not yet.
I hadn’t known that about I Kings and Jonah either and it really does add light.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
I got off the time stamps but I was struck by what Paige said about Jonah being suspicious of God’s motives. Jonah knew God’s character and that with him being sent to Nineveh to warn them means God is blowing the door of opportunity for Him to show His mercy to the Ninevites. And Jonah did not like that.
To Jonah, the repentance of the Ninevites was a threat to his identity and to Israel. We can look at other people and think, “They do not deserve God’s mercy” but “I deserve mercy”.
I look to the NT but this time, Jesus was calling to the religious groups. When Jesus came and called the Jewish leaders to repent, they did not do so. Jesus was showing them the true nature of their hearts. They did not like what He was saying, (you brood of vipers!), and did not want to heed Jesus’ words because he had threatened their self-identity and what they thought was the “purity” of the Jewish nation. No Samaritans in our court, no unclean person, no poor, etc.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
I am asking myself, “What threatens my identity?”
I also was challenged by what she said about present obedience. Not dwelling on the past or what obedience I plan, but for NOW.
Thursday
5. What particularly stood out to you and why? Obedience and agreement are not the same thing. It’s not really obedience until you disagree and do it anyway. Otherwise, it’s just me.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here? I’m definitely having a challenge with the application of doing things that my inner self disagrees with. When I see something in scripture that looks like I should be doing something that I am not currently doing i.e. hospitality (inviting people into my home), talking to people in my church that I don’t really know (I tend to only speak to people that I know and am comfortable with or only to respond to people who talk to me first) . I think to myself that God has gifted people in different things and for different purposes so if God wanted me to do those things He would give me a burning, irresistible desire to do it or in at the least I would feel comfortable doing them. Now I am beginning to wonder if I am just doing things that I am in agreement with, and not doing what God wants me to do because I disagree.
Dawn — I love how you are pondering all this!
Dawn I understand what you are saying here about discomfort with the idea of where God might want obedience from you. That is a bit of a new wrinkle for me too in how I respond to God’s commands. You ask a good question “Now I am beginning to wonder if I am just doing things that I am in agreement with, and not doing what God wants me to do because I disagree.”
Everyone the time stamps in red are meant to be a help — but ignore them if they are not. I can’t put them in until Thursdays after I’ve listened to Paige.
Prayer request: I’m a host to two international students who work in our tourist area for the summer. They are from Russia and Belarus, which is aligned with Russia. I have invited them to our first Bible study on Jonah — even though I know it will be way over their heads. They are headed for home next week, but would be free to come first — so pray they will come if it is God’s will. I am of course struck with the irony that Jonah was told to preach to a nation that was being cruel, and these girls are from Russia and Belarus, though I sense they are unhappy with Putin, though they have also heard a lot of propaganda. Anyhow — pray for God’s will! Thanks.
Praying for God’s for these girls
Praying for God’s will.
Oh Dee. Definitely praying for these international students. Did you have them in your home for the summer? I am sure your life is a testimony to them. God works in ways we do not see!
Oh, Dee! I will pray for these girls to come if it be the Lord’s will. Are they staying in your home? I know that they have been blessed just to be with you. How I pray that the Lord will open their eyes and fill their hearts.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
Well, I have to say the song to which she refers is a bit risqué to say the least (the video). At the same time it’s funny because my granddaughter only seems to know the word “no!” I will say too, that it’s weird to see this white chick singing with that genre of music. I guess I’ll get canceled for saying that! She just seemed out of place. Boy, the world is evil….So many emotions here!
Jonah knew what he was doing. He totally rejected God. Jonah should know (he does), as every preschooler does, that God is everywhere. There is no escaping!
Yep Laura, That music video took me my surprise. I just had to back up and realize how the secular world tries to illustrate its message in a whole different way. It did feel kind of contradictory to me some how. Saying no to sex but clearly displaying her sexuality. 🤷🏻♀️But the point was well made on how Jonah was saying No to God in no uncertain terms.
Laura and Bev, I totally agree. Oh, I was so disappointed to see that video….it made me almost sick to my stomach on several levels. I found it filled with contradictions and inappropriate poses. I guess I live in a different world….
Thursday: Part II.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
—Lots of things. This taking notes on her teaching is hard because I frankly want to record everything she is saying. It is so full of information and food for thought.
The way she frames obedience is so enlightening. I have thought of practicing obedience as something that will make my life easier and yes that it should “feel” good to do it. She quoted Keller as saying “Obedience is submission to having your will crossed.” Her comment that obedience and agreement are not the same. But Paige says It is not really obedience until we disagree and we do it anyway. She listed a number of well known people in the Bible who didn’t love their callings but they loved the Lord. She said “Obedience pure and simple is the indicator both of our understanding of God as God and our relationship to Him as God”.
I don’t even have time here to get into the whole other issue and her teaching on direct defiance. (And most of you don’t have time to read it🥴)
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
—The personal challenge here comes in evaluating my own areas of disobedience. I see obedience to the Lord’s commands on how I need to live my life and submission to Him in those commands as going hand in hand. But there can be very real tension in living that out. And I hear her saying if I live that out there will be uncomfortable obedience that can result. She said what God wanted from Jonah was simple obedience. The New Testament lists over 50 commands from the mouth of Jesus. So as I spend time reading the Word I am confronted with the reality of those commands and how I respond. It’s as simple as how I respond to my husband. He is my closest neighbor and I am called to love him as I love myself. This gets very personal very quickly on how I live it out.
I just listened to Paige’s powerful closing. Tears. Worth the whole lecture.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why? When you say yes to self you say no to God.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here? I’ve already said no to something this week and now I’ve been asked to help with something else. To help I’d have to ask others to change our schedule of prayer and I’m already feeling a little overwhelmed.
Sounds like a no to this too would be good. I find Proverbs 16:7 helpful: If a man’s ways please the Lord, he causes his enemies to be at peace with them.” I know these aren’t your enemies, but I find this verse helps me discern between people pleasing and pleasing God.
I understand how you feel, Judy. I love and appreciate your response, Dee. I sometimes feel pressured by people to do something that calls me away from the Lord. I will pray for you, Judy.
Thank you, Dee and Patti. I’ve told her no and I have peace about. I’ll pray she finds the right person.
Judy,
I feel you but glad you said, No. I was in a similar situation at work and I was ready to say yes when I was prompted to mentally count my present commitments. I felt at peace with saying No like you did and am thankful. For me, it was a struggle to give in to my idol of approval. As Paige said, “When we say yes to self, we say no to God.” What a powerful statement!
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
“There will always be a ship to Tarshish.” Just because there is an opportunity for a ship to Tarshish does not mean I should take it. Don’t read the signals. If we ever decide to rebel against God, there will always be an opportunity. Oh, Lord, thank you for your grace that like Jonah, though I ran away from you, you came running after me. You used storms to chase after me and I thank you.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
Taking the “ship to Tarshish” is a choice that I make. Every day, I have a choice either to obey and experience the joy of being a recipient of grace along with others or run away and board a “ship”.
. Do you have a God Hunt to share? A prayer request?
Your format for this Paige study, Dee, is my God Hunt. I was not sure how I could fit everything on my plate. I found her easier to listen to this time around. I guess I have gotten used to her style after several studies with her by now. Thank you so much!
Although at times, I felt like I had brought myself into a predicament, God always provides that extra strength, that extra help, (a friend unexpectedly came early and helped me prepare for a brunch I was hosting for a mutual friend who is moving away- I thought I can handle all the prep! Hah!), an idea that came out of the blue and saved me precious minutes, etc.
A prayer request: Our institute is hosting a documentary screening on Dementia on the 21st and I am coordinating the event. Please pray for direction, for the panelists to follow through with their participation, and for a good turnout (especially of key people in the community). I am hoping that their support of this endeavor could help pull the community together as we see a rising incidence of dementia in our county. Dementia is still a very hard topic for many people to talk about. I would like to see some barriers broken down for the sake of the people we love and are suffering in our community.
Oh I’m so glad you find it easier, Bing. It sure is for me!
She has so much good to say. The book read was very appropriate. In fact, I borrowed a 1972 edition from our local library and bawled through the reading as I read and thought of God running after me!
Bing, I will pray for your function to go as you plan. Such a difficult topic!
Thank you, Laura! It is a difficult topic that I know some about. And so private for others. I am thinking of asking one of my co-workers who happens to be the mayor of the town the institute is in to be the moderator. He has an aunt who has dementia. I, on the other hand, only have seen the condition among my patients but do not have any family members who are dealing with it. I go back and forth between excitement to see the community support and discouragement of the lack thereof. God knows! He will do as He pleases.
My gma had Alzheimer’s and my MIL dementia. I don’t know the difference between the two? I know my gma could remember her childhood but not what she ate for lunch. I also know she nearly burned our house down because she forgot a pan on the stove. My mom was at work. Thank God we had a nosy neighbor who used to check up on her! My gma called my mom and told her the stove was on fire! My mom called the neighbor who went to help gma. God always took care of us.
Prayers as requested.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
We all have some self-righteousness. It could be anything; politics, private vs. public, vs home school, fine wine drinkers vs beer drinkers, etc. But, there is no “they” when it comes to grace. Jonah is choking on grace so he tries to get as far away as he can so as to not be part of the God’s plan.
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
7. Do you have a God Hunt to share? A prayer request?
I was singing “Cornerstone” by TobyMac, over and over in my head yesterday. I got into the car, turned on KLOVE, and wouldn’t you know it was playing?! Love when God “talks” to me 😉
I (and Patti) really didn’t like the song by Meghan Trainor — but I think Paige was saying that was Jonah’s attitude.
Thought I should mention that I did a little research on Meghan Trainor because I was curious about the meaning of the lyrics. She wrote the song after meeting with a recording executive who told her the album she was wanting to produce wasn’t sufficient without a significant single to promote it and he was refusing to produce it. She was furious with him and went and vented to another song writer friend and they wrote this song “No” from of a knee jerk attitude. So yes Dee that is right about it exemplifying Jonah’s attitude.
I just don’t understand why the video for the song had such strong sensual and sexual overtones to it. But we are talking about secular minds in this case who often make their point that way.
Thanks for doing the research on the background of this song. It is sad that the writers and the video producers stressed the sexual undertones to the song. Yes, the secular mind goes toward the sexual smut. It sells. We sometimes need to look at what perversion the world is peddling — to add realistic urgency to our prayers and work for the Lord.
7. Do you have a God hunt to share? A prayer request? We had a family camping trip this past week. I stayed an extra day with just my sister and her husband in a separate campsite. As I was getting ready to leave I discovered that my car battery was dead and wouldn’t take a charge. I was so thankful that my sister and brother in law hadn’t left yet and they were able to take me to get a new battery.
A prayer request is that we have 2 of our granddaughters (ages 8 and 6) staying with us for the next 10 days. My husband is working from home and I’m praying that things go smoothly during the day while I’m away at work.
That was God’s provision.
Lord, please be with Dawn and her grand-daughters — may it be a sweet time. And peaceful!
Thank you, God, for your provision of her sister and brother-in-law being there for Dawn. And for time with their granddaughters to be peaceful and encouraging for her and her husband. May it be a special bonding time between them.
Join you in prayer that all goes smoothly Dawn and that you all have a fun relationship strengthening week.
Friday: Part III.
5. What particularly stood out to you and why?
6. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
—These comments from Paige stood out to me:
“Jonah knew what God would do because he knew God. Jonah wanted no part of it because it would be a direct hit to Israel’s and his personal identity and status of superiority.”
“We all have a Nineveh. An instruction that comes from the Lord and is an affront to our identity. It can potentially attack our identity, our self righteousness, our self worth our superiority. A call to those people that we will not love, that we will not engage with, that we will not accept and will not even sometimes acknowledge.
So often my identity comes from my being superior to them.”
—This is personally convicting because I do have people in my past that I really don’t care to have anything to do with. Right here in my small town community. I carry some scars from spiritual abuse in a former church and I cross paths with some of them occasionally and I will avoid interaction with them if possible. But God!😊
Over the years God consistently reminds of the need to practice grace regardless of what I “feel”. And amazingly he gives me that opportunity occasionally. Just recently my husband and I were in a social setting where we engaged a woman in conversation from that past and she had a very needy heart that day. Her husband was in a care home with dementia and we were able to speak our regrets to her for her situation and offered to pray for her. She was very soft compared to the hard woman of 40 years ago. I walked away amazed by what God had done in that situation.
But gotta be honest here. There is still a man who I still struggle with encountering because his history has not improved or given any evidence of real change. I work at being civil toward him but Paige’s word superiority is true for me. Grace comes much harder towards him. So that is still a challenge before me in application of this teaching from Paige on Jonah.
Thanks for your honesty. This study is already so challenging in application — but so good.
Bev, my struggle these days is being able to acknowledge why I feel the way I feel about certain people. What Paige said about feelings of superiority is very true of me. “They don’t deserve grace. They should be doing this and that.” Help me. Lord, see your grace to ALL and not hoard it for myself.
She said something about grace being the leveler among us all. No one is better than the brother or sister next to them. All have equal grace at the foot of the cross.
Weekend:
7. Do you have a God Hunt to share? A prayer request?
I’m not sure what God is doing but I am finding the need to trust and be content with his leading anyway. Twice this summer we have had major plans to travel and they have been changed or cancelled. We were to have been in the Colorado mountains this week with close friends from Arizona but about a week ago those plans fell through and are now postponed indefinitely. I struggled with disappointment because it was the kind of trip I most enjoy. But yet we all agreed that God obviously had other plans and we needed to trust him and his timing. I guess I’d say it is kind of a backwards God Hunt in that it isn’t about what happened but about what didn’t happen and we all are choosing to trust Him anyway.
I can’t seem to settle on a specific prayer requests to ask of this group but I do want to offer God praise and thanksgiving for how he uses Dee to lead this blog and the wonderful teaching we consistently receive here from God’s Word. It is a place to grow in love and trust for our God and Savior. And to receive encouragement to follow Him.
Aw — thanks Bev.
Agree, Bev. I’m thankful for this blog.
Bev, I agree with you-thank you, Dee! I think of a section of Acts 17:26 that says, “he determines the times set for them…” I like, you, have had some disappointments lately. I also need to trust God and His timing.
My “in-person” Jonah study starts tomorrow — have at least one unbeliever coming, Lord willing, and need His presence and wisdom to work in all our hearts. Thank you!
8. What particularly stood out to you and why?
Made me cry with the Runaway Bunny. He will chase me far and wide to have me. Thank You Lord Jesus.
8. What particularly stood out to you and why? Her explanation of that the storm reveals God’s mind blowing grace. But God in His love and Grace goes after Jonah whose disobedient because of God’s Grace The reason God can do this is because of Jesus God told Jesus to come to us and He came running in our flesh and said Yes After His perfect life Jesus went to the cross to pay for my and Jonah’s no What’s left for me is the love, embrace and grace. Christ was destroyed in my place God has more love than I have sin I love how her lectures point to Jesus The Author and Finisher of our faith
9. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here? Can’t think of anything in this section.
Monday: Part IV.
Listen to the end and take notes in a separate notebook. Then come back here and share:
8. What particularly stood out to you and why?
Often we think we experience a storm as a logical consequence of our sins. “BUT”, God does a countermove of his mind-blowing grace. The Jonah storm is not the end because this storm drives us to the New Testament where Jesus heard the Father say to His son, Arise, and go to them. He took the storm for us (more grace and more!). He said Yes to our “No’s” and went to the cross. The storm has already been borne by Jesus. God is in the storm chasing after Jonah. He chases after him, after us. He has more grace than I have sin.
9. Do you have any questions about the text, anything Paige said, or a challenge you are facing in application that you’d like to share here?
I can look back to the storms of my life brought about by my sins and see it as God chasing after me and bringing me to a place of returning to Him. Instead of “punitive justice”, He extended “restorative justice”. (words used by the non-profit organization that my daughter, Ruth works for as their guiding directive).
A special prayer request: A regular attendee of our church and a good friend of ours, is in a hard situation right now. Her dad is terminally ill after an untreated lymphoma. He and his wife live in a small town and was attended by 2 doctors who did not know what they were doing, it sounded like. When they went to a specialist, it was too late. He is home and in his final days. This friend of mine is very angry. She is a young mom with 2 children. Her husband is a teacher at our local school. Her parents live in a different state.
Heartbreaking. Prayers for all of them
I will be praying for this dear family, Bing. Such a difficult thing.
Will pray for her — for that can eat a person up. Pray she can trust God’s sovereignty.