Revival Stories
Revival at Nineveh in 759 B.C. (Jonah 1-4)
There have been many dominant empires in history that have wielded control over the region of today’s Middle East. One such empire was the Assyrian empire that was infamous for its extreme violence and cruelty in war.Its kings were arrogant, and its cities were full of idolatry. During the 8th century B.C, one of Assyria’s grandest cities was Nineveh, known as a great city with tremendous walls and boasting a population of at least 120,000 people.
In 759 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel was all too familiar with this rogue nation. Israel’s king Jereboam II was able to expand his nation’s territory for a time, but many Jews still despised Assyria for its violent and pagan ways. One day, a prophet of the Lord, named Jonah, heard God’s command to go from Israel to Nineveh to preach God’s judgment over them. God had seen the great evil in that city and was planning to overturn it. Strangely, Jonah decided to disobey God. Nineveh was located 500 miles east from where Jonah was. He opted to board a ship destined for Tarshish, a port that lay more than 2000 miles west. Jonah was doing all he could to get as far away from Nineveh as possible.
While traveling to Tarshish, the Lord sent a furious storm to assail the ship. The ship’s captain and its sailors were desperate and they cried out to their gods. The storm stopped only after the sailors reluctantly did as Jonah instructed them and tossed him overboard, since Jonah knew that he was the reason for the storm. God then sent a large fish to swallow Jonah and rescue him from drowning. After Jonah repented of his disobedience, God had the fish spit up Jonah on the shores of Israel. Jonah then made the month-long journey to Nineveh as God commanded.
When he arrived an Nineveh, Jonah preached to a potentially very hostile crowd that in 40 days God would completely destroy this city. Uncharacteristically, the city’s residents put on sackcloth and began to fast and to humble themselves. The King of Nineveh himself issued a call for everyone to grieve over their sins, to urgently call out to God, and to stop doing evil. God responded with compassion by withholding His judgment on the city. The city of Nineveh was spared.
In a very short span of time, all the Ninevites from the king all the way down to the least of its citizens repented and ended up humbly calling on God to show them mercy. Looking back, what caused this unusual revival to take place? What caused this cruel and evil population to repent of their sins and to call upon the one true God? It turns out God had already been giving them warnings. In the 5 or 6 years before Jonah’s arrival, God had allowed 2 significant plagues to hit the population. And there had been a total eclipse of the sun. Before Jonah ever set foot in the city, Nineveh was already paying close attention. Jonah likely shared with them how God used a mighty storm and a huge fish to miraculously send him to proclaim this message.God, in His compassion and love for all people, was giving this evil city an opportunity to turn to Him. He was also hoping that Israel would learn a pointed lesson: that they should also have compassion on their enemies and desire to see them saved. In the end, God turned around and sent out a reluctant selfish prophet to revive the hearts of an entire generation of lost people.
QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:
- Jonah was one of God’s chosen people and a prophet as well. Why do you think he disobeyed the Lord and took extreme measures to get away from doing his assigned mission? What truth about God’s nature caused him to refuse to warn the Ninevites about the coming judgment?
- How did the Ninevites respond to Jonah’s message? What do you think are key elements that caught God’s attention and moved Him to compassion?
- How did God supernaturally prepare the way for revival in Nineveh? In what ways is God today supernaturally preparing the way for people to listen to Him more carefully? Is the church responding like Nineveh? Are lost people responding like Nineveh? Why or why not?