Here are important aspects of Jonah’s story and how they relate to false perspectives regarding God and mission work. Here are some thoughts on the key points:

1. Influences of the contemporary worldview: The commentary points out that Jonah was likely influenced by the traditional beliefs of his time, which viewed the seas as the realm of demons. This led to a misunderstanding of the nature of God and His sovereignty. It is important to recognize how cultural and religious backgrounds can influence our perception of God.

2. Realization of God’s sovereignty: Jonah learned in his own way that God rules sovereignly over all aspects of creation, including the sea and animals. This realization changed his worldview and led him to confess his guilt and acknowledge God’s providence. It reminds us that God’s sovereignty is not limited to a specific region or culture.

3. Misconceptions about mission and salvation: The commentary addresses significant misconceptions that people often have regarding missionary work and salvation. This includes the idea that success depends on us and that we can save people. It is crucial to understand that our role in mission is to bear witness, share God’s love, and sow seeds of truth. However, conversion and salvation are in God’s hands.

4. Collaborating with God: Lastly, it emphasizes that we are not in the role of the “savior” but rather that we collaborate with God in His work of salvation. We should fulfill our responsibility but also recognize that people’s hearts are ultimately touched and changed by God. Our task is to be tools in God’s hands and convey God’s love and message through our lives and testimony.

Jonah’s story provides valuable lessons about how false perspectives about God and mission can influence our decisions. We should strive to gain a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty and humbly collaborate with Him in His work on Earth.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-5-excuses-to-avoid-mission-5-2-our-excuses-false-views/

The passage from Nahum and the story of Nineveh, along with the conflict between Assyria and Israel, offer valuable insights into the possible reasons for Jonah’s decision not to go to Nineveh but to flee to Tarshish.

Nineveh was undoubtedly a powerful and magnificent city, but it was also seen as a symbol of corruption, cruelty, and sin. The relationship between Assyria and Israel was characterized by conflicts and threats. The Assyrians were feared enemies, and their brutality and cruelty towards their opponents are well-documented. These circumstances could have triggered significant fear in Jonah’s mind.

Jonah’s decision to flee to Tarshish might, therefore, have stemmed from a deep-rooted fear of the Assyrians and their capital, Nineveh. The idea of going to a city described as a “city of blood” and ruled by such a violent people could have filled Jonah’s heart with dread.

In today’s times, we can learn from Jonah’s experience that fear often hinders us from following God’s instructions. We may find ourselves in similar situations where we are afraid of challenges or tasks that God places before us. However, Jonah’s story reminds us that God is greater than our fears and that He can equip us with the strength and courage we need to fulfill His will.

When we look back on experiences in which we followed God’s call despite our fears, we can learn that God is faithful and strengthens us in our weaknesses. It reminds us that trust and obedience to God’s guidance often lead to amazing and blessed outcomes.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-5-excuses-to-avoid-mission-5-1-our-excuses-fear/

Lesson 4 emphasizes important spiritual principles and virtues that help us to further God’s mission in the world.

The text “The Gift of Hospitality” shows how Abraham practiced hospitality as a noble virtue through initiative, politeness, care, hospitality, generosity, and awareness of his mission. This teaches us how hospitality can bring about positive changes in the world.

In “Abraham Loved Everyone,” we recognize Abraham’s extraordinary love and compassion for all people, even those living in sin. This encourages us to cultivate charity and compassion and to believe in the possibility of repentance and redemption for all.

“Abraham’s Spirit of Prayer” highlights the power of intercessory prayer and the importance of love, compassion, humility, and persistence in our prayers for others. This reminds us that as Christians, we have a role as advocates before God.

In “Abraham’s Mission,” it is shown that our mission is to spread the Gospel, but not everyone will accept this message. This teaches us that we must respect the invitation to salvation while taking our role in proclaiming the faith seriously.

“Surrendering to God’s Will” underscores Abraham’s obedience and dedication to God’s will, even when the path is unclear. This challenges us to trust God in all life situations and submit to His will.

The challenge of reaching out to people in difficult situations and showing compassion illustrates how our faith and submission to God’s will can be translated into concrete actions.

Overall, this lesson highlights the importance of hospitality, love, prayer, mission, and obedience in our Christian life and how these principles can contribute to furthering God’s mission in the world.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-sharing-gods-mission-4-6-summary/