Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-03-02

INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jonah's Missionary Adventure.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Missionary Teaching Of the Book
Of Jonah.
That the book Of Jonah is histori-
cal we believe for the following rea.
sons: First, its record and 8 In
the Scriptures. That the writer's Of
| the Bible intended the impression Of
Its historicity Is without the shadow
Of a doubt. The suggestion that 1t 10
q parable is absolutely gratuitous.
Second, the unbroken testimony Of
tradition among the Jews is that 1t is
historic. Third, the testimony Of Jesus
Christ Matt. IL :39-41). The words Of
Jesus Christ are final.
I. Jonah's Second Commission
wv. /, p.
When called the first time to 60 to
Nineveh, he found the task too great
for him. For his unfaithfulness, he
was chastised. He repeDted and God
restored his commission. The Lord
said to him, "Preach the preaching
that I bid thee" ". p. God knows
how he wants His work done. Happy
is the missionary, minister, Sunday
school teacher, who breaches Gods
Word just as He gave it.
II. Jonah's Preaching wv. 3, A..
l. His field ". 81. "Nlneveh was an
exceeding great city," Not only was
the city large, but Its inhabitants were
noted for their cruelty.
2. His message ". A.. yet forty
days and Nineveh shall be O~verthrown."
This means that forty days were given
by God for repentance ere the judg'
ment would fall. God is long-sufter'
ing, not willing that any should perish
but that all should repent Gil Pet. 10y
1 Though He is merciful, yet there II
a limitation to 1t. He says, "Yet forty
: days."
III. The Repentance Of NInsyeh wv
6-1O).
/. They believed God ". 81. The!
4 believed that God was speaking t
them through the prophet about thei
sins and impending Judgment.
2. They proclaimed a fast wv. $50
, The king and people Joined sincerel
IL In this movement. The call raj fo
them to turn away from their sin
I'll Their penitence was genuine, for the
not merely put on sackcloth, the vi
IN ible sign Of mourning, but they erie
no to God ". 81.
8. They reasoned that God won
repent ". o.. Though they had
:. assurance that God would have nero
yet they reasoned that the sending
u q prophet and the giving Of q tin
before the fall Of doom implied tn
God would be merciful II they roper
ed. They were wise in so doing. v
i'll today know that God will have mer,
at If we repent (Acts 3:19). What
l., ter folly to go on In sin In the ia
Of the assurance that God will jud&
5. Gods mercy shown ". II
u God saw their works that they turn
co from their evil way" Gods eye
OmniscieEt. Wherever there is a sc
eo who is turning from sin In peniten'
ill I'He sees. No n has ever wept oS
sin unnOticed by God. God rcioit
~, when IA sinner repents duke Is Il
In the Book of Jonah we have p
trayed the typical history Of Israel
81. Jonah was called to a We
mission, and so was Israel. (2l Jon
at first refused compliance with
at divine purpose and plan, and so
Israel. (3) Jonah vas punished
sse being cast into the sea, and so Y
to Israel by being dispersed among
nations. az Jonah was not lost,
the rather especially preserved during I
part Of his experience, and Israel
not being assimilated by the matte
=. but being kept for God. 90 Jon
Ane ~repentant and cast out by the fish
ar restored to life and action again.
urk Israel, repentant and cast out by
nations, shall be restored TO her forl
AXE national position. co. Jonah, obedi
has goes upon his mission to Uneven,
,ere Israel obedient, shall ultimately
gage In her original mission to
liz world. ~ Jonah is successful in
m his message is acted upon to
salvation of Nineveh, 80 Israel 8
per be blessed in that she shall be I
to the conversion Of the whole wOr
lsas DIR. Gray's Commentary.