Lesson

God Sends Jonah

God uses Jonah to show grace to the
wicked people of Nineveh.

Lesson Focus
God commanded his prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn them of
coming judgment for their wickedness. But Jonah disobeyed and took a ship
in the opposite direction. God sent a storm to stop Jonah’s flight, and Jonah
was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented, and
God had the fish spit him out. Jonah then obeyed God and delivered his
message to the people of Nineveh. The people and the king repented and
humbled themselves before God, and God spared them.

Key Passages
Jonah 1–4; Matthew 12:38–42

Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Describe Jonah’s response to God’s call to preach to Nineveh.
• Describe how God showed his grace to Jonah and Nineveh.

Memory Verse
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.
 Prepare to Share
Scriptural Background
Prepare to teach by preparing your heart. Read Jonah cried out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall
the key passages for this lesson along with this be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4). God again demonstrated
background. his abundant grace and mercy—this time to the sinful,
Jonah was a prophet of God who was called to rebellious, and despicable Ninevites. The people of
prophesy to the 10 tribes of Israel. However, his Nineveh—from the greatest to the least—believed
acclaim doesn’t come from his association with God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth as a sign
Israel but rather from his encounter with God, a of their repentance. God saw that they turned from
great fish, and the Ninevites. The capital of Assyria, their evil ways, and he relented and did not bring the
Nineveh, was believed to have been one of the larg- destruction he had planned (Jonah 3:10).
est cities in the world at the time. The people there Jonah, however, did not rejoice at the Assyrians’
were known for godlessness, idolatry, and cruelty. repentance. In fact, he was so angry that he asked
The Jews despised these pagan Gentiles—and Jonah God to kill him. He told God that he fled to Tarshish
was no exception. because he knew God was gracious and merciful.
That seems to be why Jonah ran the other direction Jonah didn’t want to see the Ninevites forgiven. As
when God called him to warn the Ninevites of their he was sitting outside the city, waiting to see what
wickedness and of God’s impending punishment. He would become of them and hoping for the worst,
despised the Ninevites and did not want God to for- God caused a plant to grow to shade the prophet.
give them (Jonah 4:2). Jonah’s escape route led him to Jonah was grateful for the plant, but then God killed
a ship bound for Tarshish (modern-day Spain) (Jonah the plant by sending a worm to attack it. God caused
1:3). But could Jonah really outrun God? Of course the day to become extremely hot, and Jonah asked to
not. God’s purpose will never be subverted. die. God responded by contrasting Jonah’s pity for a
In fact, Jonah’s rebellion and flight led to a rev- mere plant he did nothing to cultivate with the com-
elation of God’s complete sovereignty and omnip- passion God had shown the city of Nineveh.
otence over every circumstance and over all of his Jonah had received a clear message from God and
creation. In pursuit of Jonah, the Lord sent a great knew that he should obey, but instead he chose to sin
wind on the sea. A great storm arose, and the ship by disregarding God’s command to go to Nineveh.
headed for Tarshish was about to be broken up God required his obedience, so Jonah went begrudg-
(Jonah 1:4). Not only that, but the Lord had prepared ingly. As a prophet, Jonah’s job was to call people to
a great fish to swallow Jonah when he was thrown repentance, but he was hostile toward sharing the
overboard (Jonah 1:17). Jonah was in the belly of the gospel with the pagan Gentiles of Nineveh and was
fish three days and three nights. This is a God that displeased that God would indeed save them (Jonah
cannot be outrun or outwitted! Finally, Jonah prayed 4:1–2). We see a great inconsistency in Jonah’s
to the Lord in humble submission, in sincere repen- thought process here. He understood enough about
tance, and with an earnest request for God’s mercy God to know that he was gracious and merciful, but
and grace. The Lord heard his prayer and spoke to he thought it would be possible to run from God.
the fish, which vomited the prophet out onto the Throughout the ages, God has used his people to
ground (Jonah 2). deliver the message of repentance and forgiveness
God faithfully answered Jonah’s prayer for mercy. in Christ, and he is still doing so today. He is sover-
God saved him from drowning, preserved him in the eign in his purposes. Jonah could not run from the
fish, and then offered him another opportunity to go job God had assigned him and was given a second
to the Ninevites and preach the message of judg- chance to obey. God disciplines those he loves and is
ment. This time, Jonah obeyed! merciful to those who repent.
Historical/Apologetics Background
Jonah was a prophet from the region of Galilee, the Scripture. Although some scholars claim Jonah was
city of Gath-hepher near Nazareth (2 Kings 14:25). not a real person, Jesus himself referred to Jonah.
We know that his father was a man named Amit- On at least two occasions (Matthew 12:39–41, 16:4),
tai, but nothing else about the family is recorded in Jesus used Jonah as an example of a call to repen-
tance and as a sign of Christ’s death, burial, and future generations. Later prophecies would be deliv-
resurrection. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees ered against the Ninevites from Nahum, and God
that “as Jonah was three days and three nights in would judge them for their wickedness.
the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be Under the leadership of Tiglath-Pileser III
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (2 Kings 16:7), Assyria began to influence Israel.
(Matthew 12:40). Undoubtedly, Jesus regarded Jonah Eventually, the Assyrians would conquer the north-
as a historical figure, and he regarded Jonah’s expe- ern tribes and take them into captivity. After the fall
riences in the fish and his preaching to Nineveh as of Samaria in 721 BC, the Israelites lost control of
real events. that region for many centuries. The Assyrian kings
The Assyrians were descendants of Shem’s son began to carry the Jews away from their land and
Asshur who settled in the North and occupied var- brought new leaders from their own culture to Israel.
ious places throughout the centuries. Around 1100 This advanced the practice of the Jews intermarry-
BC, Assyria rose to power in Mesopotamia and later ing with the Assyrians and other foreigners. Because
declined. During this period of decline, around 800 of this intermarrying, they were considered traitors
BC, God sent Jonah to Nineveh. The city was known by those who had remained in Judah, causing ten-
for its immorality and cruelty, and it is truly a mira- sion between the Samaritans and the Jews, which
cle of God’s grace that the people turned from their continued well past the time of Christ.
wickedness—but the repentance didn’t continue in
 AStudying God’s Word
Introduction
Before we get started with our lesson today, let’s review where we are in the biblical chronology. First, we
saw how God created the world and everything in it, including man. Then we learned about man’s fall into
sin and the curse that affected all creation because of a single act of disobedience. Next, we traced God’s
promise through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob’s family is fed and relocated to Egypt by Joseph. It is
during this time that the people multiply and become known as the Hebrew people. Then God delivered his
people from bondage in Egypt, provided the law, and delivered the promised land to his covenant nation,
Israel.
? After Joshua died, who led the people of Israel? God was their king, but he often used judges to lead.
? What was characteristic of the Israelites during the time of the judges?
“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
? Who was the last judge? Samuel.
? What did the people ask Samuel for? Why? A king. They wanted to be like all the other nations.
? God gave them their wish and anointed Saul as king. It didn’t take long for Saul to displease God. What two
major acts of disobedience led to his being rejected as king? First, he performed a sacrifice he should have waited
for Samuel to perform. Second, he left alive King Agag and the best of the livestock when God told him to destroy the
Amalekites, including their livestock.
? Who replaced Saul as king? David.
? What made David such a good king? He was a man after God’s own heart.
Next, Solomon ruled with wisdom and strength. He built the temple for God and accumulated great wealth
for Israel. However, he did not remain faithful to God, and when he died, the kingdom was divided.
The northern 10 tribes were known as Israel and the southern kingdom became known as Judah.
? What kind of kings ruled in Israel? The northern kings were all wicked.
? What kind of kings ruled in Judah? Most of the kings were wicked, though there were a few that followed God and
brought Judah to times of repentance.
For the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about prophets who delivered messages during this time of the
divided monarchy. Last week we talked about Amos and his prophecy against Israel.
? What was Amos’ message to Israel? He warned that Israel would be surrounded and plundered by their enemy,
and he called the people to repent and seek God.
Our lesson today takes place during the same time as Amos from last week. Instead of focusing on Israel
today, though, we’re going to step outside of Israel for a moment to focus on a neighboring nation. The
nation of Assyria was to the northeast of Israel, and its capital was Nineveh. Nineveh was a Gentile nation,
but salvation from sin was not only for the Jews, as we will see.

The Disobedient Prophet

? If God spoke to you directly and specifically, would you listen? Discuss answers. Note that God has spoken to
us in the Bible, yet we often disobey the things we know God has commanded for us.
We are going to see how Jonah responded to God’s direct and specific instructions.
Jonah 1
Let’s read Jonah 1 together. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? Who is the main character in this account? Jonah.
? Who was Jonah? He was a prophet and the son of Amittai.
The only other mention of Jonah in the Old Testament is in 2 Kings 14:25. Keep a finger in the book of
Jonah and turn back there.
? What do we learn about Jonah in this passage? He was a prophet from Gath-hepher. This is a city near
Nazareth in Israel.
? Who is the “he” in the beginning of verse 25? Looking back to verse 23, it is referring to Jeroboam II, who was a
king in Israel from 825 to 784 BC. This gives us a timeframe for when Jonah was sent to Nineveh since there are no
indicators within the book of Jonah to give us a date.
? What is ironic about Jonah saying that he feared the Lord in verse 9? Normally when someone feared the
Lord, it meant that he had a deep respect and awe of God. However, in Jonah’s case we get the impression that he
actually feared the Lord’s calling on his life and didn’t want to see the Ninevites given mercy. He was afraid to obey
and ran in the opposite direction.
? Jonah was living a normal life, probably doing good work, when God asked him to go somewhere else for
the sake of calling others to repent and turn to God. Jonah said no, fleeing to the opposite direction of where
God called him to. How does Jesus compare to this? Jesus was in the best place, doing the best work, ruling the
universe. From there, God asked him to go to earth, where he would be rejected, hated, and mocked, and then die for
sinthat he never committed, and rise again for the sake of those who had sinned and mocked him. Unlike Jonah, Jesus
said yes.
? After it was revealed that sacrificing Jonah by throwing him overboard would calm the sea, how did the
crew respond? They wanted to survive the storm without the sacrifice. They were relying on their own means to
save themselves.
? Verse 13 says that the crew tried harder to save themselves, “but they could not.” How do these four words
mark a turning point in the story? It is when the crew comes to the end of their own resources and strength that
they realize the need to humble themselves before God and trust what he says.
? Looking at verse 16, what would you say was the point of God allowing Jonah to run, hide in the boat, and go
through the storm? Even in Jonah’s disobedience, fear, and reluctance, God used this scenario to show himself to a
crew on a boat. God can even use our mistakes to further his kingdom.
? So, let’s think about chapter 1. What had God tell Jonah to do? Jonah was to go to Nineveh and cry out against
their wickedness.
? How did Jonah respond? He fled to journey to Tarshish, which is the opposite direction from Nineveh, thinking that he
could flee from the presence of the Lord.
? In what ways did God miraculously demonstrate his control over the events in this account? He sent a storm
(Jonah 1:4); he made the lot fall on Jonah (1:7; see Proverbs 16:33); he stopped the storm (1:15); he sent a fish to
swallow Jonah (1:17); he had the fish vomit Jonah onto the land (2:10).
? Is it possible for a man to survive inside a fish for three days? No, so this was a miracle we can infer from the
text. Some students may have heard of reports of a man being swallowed by a whale and being rescued, but it is
naturally impossible for a man to survive in this condition for three days. This was a supernatural act of God—he either
sustained Jonah alive or brought him back from death, a miracle in either case.

Jonah 2
Let’s continue to Jonah 2 together. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? What do you think about verse 8? How might we say this verse in more modern language? Discuss responses.
Another way of saying this verse is something along the lines of, “Those who follow false gods (whether comfort, power,
possessions, sexuality, or anything else) give up God’s grace that he willingly offers.”
? What do you think “Salvation belongs to the LoRd” means in verse 9? Discuss their responses. Salvation is
owned by, originated from, and defined by God. It is his to give, and he offers it freely. It is not something we can earn by
our good morality or something that we must work to get.
? How does this give us hope? Discuss what they think. If salvation is God’s to give, and if it isn’t based on anything
we do, then God can intervene even in the lives of those who, like Jonah, have determined to shut God out.
Discover the Truth
Jonah should have known better than to think he could flee from the presence of the Lord. As a prophet,
Jonah should have known that God was Lord over Tarshish and that he could not hide from God.
? What attributes of God do we see on display in the first two chapters of Jonah? His omniscience is seen in his
control over the events; his omnipresence is seen in how Jonah could not hide from him; his mercy is seen in sparing
the sailors and Jonah from death; his sovereignty is seen in directing the events of the account at the times he appointed
them.
Both Jonah and the sailors acknowledged God’s control over what was happening, and God was merciful—by
stopping the storm and sparing the sailors and by using a giant fish to swallow Jonah and spit him out on the
land.
The Reluctant Prophet
God showed patience and mercy in dealing with Jonah’s disobedience. In his grace, God offered Jonah a
second chance to be a part of his plan.
Jonah 3–4
Now that Jonah had tried to run from God, something he should have known he couldn’t do in the first place,
let’s see how Jonah responded in Jonah 3–4. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? How did Jonah respond to God’s second command to preach to Nineveh?
He went and preached to Nineveh.
? What was Jonah’s message to those in Nineveh? Nineveh would be overthrown in 40 days.
? How did the people respond to Jonah’s message? They believed God, fasted, and put on sackcloth as a sign of
their mourning for their condition.
? How did the king respond? He commanded everyone to fast, to cry out to God, and to stop being evil and violent,
hoping that God might spare them.
? How did God respond to their repentance? He relented of his plans to destroy Nineveh.
? What do verses 1 and 2 of chapter 3 say of God’s grace? Discuss what they think. We serve a God of second,
third, and fourth chances. He knows that we will mess up, and he shows us grace.
? What do you think about the message Jonah brought to Nineveh in verse 4? Keeping in mind that the Bible
does not always contain exact transcripts of conversations, and keeping in mind that God told Jonah to tell them a
message he would teach Jonah (verse 2), Jonah likely said more than the short message we have recorded in the text.

? Why do you think Jonah got so angry that the Ninevites repented?
Discuss various responses. It seems, according to 4:2, that he was angry that God was gracious to Nineveh.
? The Hebrew of 4:1 gives us a clue as to why Jonah was mad. It could be translated, “It was exceedingly evil
to Jonah.” Keeping in mind that Nineveh was known to be a morally bankrupt city, why might Jonah have
thought it was evil of God to allow them to turn to him? Discuss what they think. The key is that Jonah did not
find it fair that God would have mercy on such an evil people. What is striking is that Jonah was perfectly fine with God
showing grace to him when he ran from God. But, he did not want to see that same grace extended to people he did
not like.
? How often do you struggle with praying that God would forgive people who do wrong to you? What about
when God is gracious to someone who you feel does not deserve it? Discuss what they think. We all struggle
with this, thinking that we deserve more than we do, and thinking that other people deserve God’s judgment.
? How can we show more grace to those who do not deserve it? Discuss what they think. We must always keep
in mind the cross of Jesus—that we deserved death, and yet the Son of God died for us. He has given us chance after
chance. As we focus our eyes on that, it makes it easier for us to forgive others and pray that God would work in their
lives.
? How did Jonah respond to God’s relenting? He was angry with God for saving the people of Nineveh and asked
God to end his life.
? What can we learn from the plant and worm scene in verses 6–10?
Discuss what they think. Here we see Jonah’s heart was more concerned about caring for his own comfort rather than the
eternal state of the Ninevites. He cared more about a plant than those who were his fellow image bearers.
? After God had given Jonah a plant for shade and then caused the plant to wither the next day, what do we
learn about God’s consideration for plants and people? God was much more concerned about the people in
Nineveh.
? Knowing that Jonah did not want to preach repentance to the Ninevites, what must have been his attitude
toward them? He must have disliked them so much that he did not want God to save them.

Discover the Truth

Jonah knew that God was merciful and gracious. Listen as I read verse 4:2 again. Read Jonah 4:2 aloud.
Jonah was a hypocrite in this moment. He had received and known God’s mercy and grace. God had shown
him patience and relented from allowing Jonah to be destroyed in the storm, in the sea, and in the fish! Here
is another of the moral failures we see recorded in the Scriptures. The book leaves us hanging as to the fate
of Jonah and whether or not he repented of his attitude. Within all of this, we see a merciful God who
was willing to send a prophet to preach to a pagan nation and call them to repentance. The Ninevites heard
the message, believed God, and repented of their wickedness. Here we have a picture of what the Bible
teaches about salvation. Jonah himself made it clear that “salvation is of the LoRd” (2:9). That same
forgiveness of sins is available to each of us when we repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ. The
same God who relented of destroying Nineveh will relent of giving us the punishment we deserve for
our sins. If we think we are in less need of salvation than the Assyrians, who were famous for their
wickedness, we have failed to recognize the sinfulness of our own sin when compared to the holiness of a
perfect God.

The Sign of Jonah

Some people say that Jonah wasn’t a real person, but that this story is just an allegory or a parable. We are
going to take a closer look at that claim when we get to our activity, but first, let’s jump to the New
Testament and see what it has to say about Jonah.
Matthew 12:38–42
Let’s read Matthew 12:38–42 together. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? Whom are the Pharisees questioning? Jesus.
? When they ask for a sign, what do you think they are hoping for? The Pharisees had seen Jesus perform
many miracles, but they obviously weren’t satisfied. They were probably hoping for some astronomical miracle.
? What kind of sign did Jesus give them? He pointed them to a sign already given in Scripture.
? What is the sign of Jonah? Why did Jesus point to this account? Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three
days and nights before being returned to land. In the same way, Jesus would spend three days in the grave before his
resurrection.
Jesus’ use of the sign of Jonah is also recorded in Luke 11:29–32. Let’s read that passage. Have someone read
the passage aloud.
? How does Luke record the sign differently than Matthew? Luke talks about Jonah being a sign to Nineveh, but
does not mention the three days in the fish. Matthew emphasizes the sign of the three days. Although Matthew doesn’t
specifically mention Jonah being a sign to Nineveh, both men record the same result.

? What does Jesus say about the men of Nineveh? He says they will rise up at the judgment and condemn the
generation Jesus was speaking to.
? How could you explain the fact that these two records are different? Allow discussion. Ultimately, we know
that all Scripture is inspired by God and the Bible is inerrant. Although these passages are worded somewhat differently
and emphasize different points, there is no contradiction here. In both cases, Jesus declines to show a sign, points to
Jonah as an illustration of the Son of Man, and emphasizes the repentance of Nineveh in contrast to the lack of repentance
among the Jewish leaders.
Discover the Truth
There are two points of significance in this allusion. Jonah was sent to Nineveh to deliver a warning of
judgment and a call to repentance. The Son of Man delivered that same message to the first-century Jews.
Jonah was a prophet to Israel, but he is known for his ministry to a pagan nation. Jesus was the Jewish
Messiah, but he extended the gospel to the Gentiles as well. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the
fish, just as Jesus would spend three days in the heart of the earth.
The second significance is not in Jonah himself, but in the response of the Ninevite people. Upon hearing
the word of the Lord, the people of Nineveh repented. Jesus used the humble response of a pagan people to
shame the evil and adulterous Jews. God’s chosen people were hearing from the Messiah himself and
refusing to repent.

Making Accommodations Activity

Do you really believe that Jonah was swallowed by a giant fish, stayed there for three days and nights,
and was then spit up on the beach to head off to Nineveh? If you do, people are going to call you a fool.
They are going to tell you that you accept what intelligent people know to be a myth. Those claims will even
be leveled against you by scholars and teachers who claim to be Christians.
So how would you answer these claims? Is the account of Jonah and the great fish a reasonable thing to
believe? Can it be set aside as a myth without harming the gospel?
In your Student Guide, you will find an activity called Making Accommodations. There are several questions
for you to answer about the validity of the account of Jonah. Try to answer the questions with answers that
are as simple as possible, and we will talk about this idea in a few minutes. Engage students and help them with
any answers they cannot find.
Connect to the Truth
? How many of you have ever heard of this idea of Jesus accommodating the misunderstandings of the
people of his day? Get a sense of how many students have encountered this idea.
1. Can God lie or deceive people (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2)? No.
2. Is Jesus God? Yes.
3. Can Jesus lie? No.
4. Did Jesus present Jonah as a real person (Matthew 12:38–41, 16:1–4)? Yes.
5. Did Jesus say that Jonah was in a fish for three days and nights? Yes.
6. Did Jesus say that Jonah preached to Nineveh? Yes.
7. Some people would claim that Jesus knew that the account of Jonah was not real history
but just a myth intended to teach a truth, but he used Jonah as an example anyway. He was just
accommodating the people’s understanding without correcting their misunderstanding. If this were the case,
would Jesus be deceiving the people into believing Jonah was a real person who was really swallowed by a
fish? Yes.
If we allow these claims of people to be set in authority over the clear truths of the Bible, we call Jesus a liar.
If we call Jesus a liar, we undermine the gospel by accounting sin to the sinless Lamb who came to take away
the sins of the world.
It all comes down to the authority we place our trust in—will it be the Bible or the work of scholars who turn
Jesus into a liar?

Application
We have no reason to doubt the miracles recorded in the book of Jonah. God’s Word is true. The biggest of all
of those miracles was the salvation of this truly pagan, wicked nation. Despite Jonah’s initial rebellion, God
used him to preach a message of coming judgment that was heeded by the repentant people. In this, God was
pleased to demonstrate his mercy and grace to sinful people.
If we have Jonah’s attitude and are not willing to proclaim the message of repentance and faith to some
group or person we don’t think is worthy of salvation, we need to set our eyes on God’s grace towards all
people in the Bible. Jonah received God’s grace in being spared from the destruction he deserved for his
rebellion.
? In what ways do you identify with Jonah in this section of Scripture?
Discuss various answers.
? When the gospel is proclaimed, it must be proclaimed through imperfect people. How can recognizing
your limitations actually help you in proclaiming the gospel to those around you? Recognizing our limitations
should drive us to our knees in prayer, begging God for wisdom and a desire to share the gospel with others. We need to
guard our hearts against thinking that certain people are not worthy of receiving the good news of the gospel, or are too far
gone for God to reach.
? Jonah knew that God was merciful and gracious (4:1–2), but his correct understanding didn’t
automatically lead him to right actions. How can we help one another to obey God’s commands and trust in
his character? Sin leads us to do things we know we shouldn’t. As we interact within the body of Christ, we can
encourage one another and stir up one another to love and good deeds that are in line with God’s character.
? Let’s do a little heart checkup. If you really stopped and examined your heart, who do you
believe is unworthy of receiving grace and mercy from the gracious and merciful God who saved you from
your sin? Most people harbor some resistance to sharing the gospel with a certain type of person or group of people.
This may stem from past experience and bitterness. Whether it is a certain ethnic group or a certain class of criminals, or
people with a certain sin pattern (i.e., homosexuality, witchcraft) or religion, we need to see our own sin as just as wicked in
the eyes of a perfectly holy God and repent of any ungodly attitudes.
? If you have received God’s mercy and grace in Christ, whom do you need to intentionally share
that truth with? Whom have you been hesitant to go to with the hope of the gospel? Discuss various answers,
encouraging the students to share the wonderful news of the forgiveness of sins.

GGroup Prayer Time

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.
• Praise God for using imperfect people for his glory.
• Ask God for hearts that long to bring the gospel to everyone we can.
• Thank God for his mercy and grace in offering salvation through Christ.
 Lesson

God Loves Israel

Hosea and Gomer illustrate God’s
relationship with Israel.

Lesson Focus
The book of Hosea is a unique account of the prophet Hosea, his wife Gomer,
and her unfaithfulness. This love story of Gomer and Hosea is compared to
God’s faithful love for Israel. In spite of Israel’s rebellion and turning to false
gods, God loved them and was willing to forgive them. God’s love for his
people will not end, but he will not share his glory with another.

Key Passages
Hosea 1:1–2:1, 3:1–4:3, 11:1–11; Romans 5:6–8

Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Describe God’s love for Israel despite their rebellion.
• Explain how God used Hosea to illustrate his love for Israel.

Memory Verse
Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor
depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 Prepare to Share
Scriptural Background
Prepare to teach by preparing your heart. Read restored them in spite of their sin and their rejection
the key passages for this lesson along with this of his authority.
background. God spoke of Israel as a child he had raised (Hosea
Hosea described one of the most shocking por- 11:1), lovingly guiding Israel from their bondage in
trayals of God’s relationship with his children. God Egypt into the promised land. As a loving father, God
compared his relationship with his people to a mar- would administer discipline to his child as Assyria
riage with a prostitute who would not remain faith- brought destruction and captivity, but it grieved God
ful. These are strong and bitter words through the to have to do it (Hosea 11:5–8). However, God would
mouth and actions of a prophet. They must have not utterly destroy Israel forever, and he promised
rung sharply in the ears of the people of Israel. And as his people the hope of restoration in the future.
the people witnessed Hosea take Gomer as his wife, If they would again walk after the Lord, the Lord
they observed Gomer leave Hosea for other men, would take them back and let them dwell again in
and then watched as Hosea tenderly took Gomer their houses (Hosea 11:9–11).
back in love and forgiveness, the message that God God offered a call of repentance from seeking
meant to convey to his people became even clearer. after idols and trusting in the gods and kings of
Just as Gomer had abandoned her husband for other other nations. However, Israel did not respond to his
lovers, so had Israel turned from the one true God call. He promised to heal their backsliding and love
to false gods and idols (Hosea 2:2–13). And just as them freely. He wanted them to turn from their gods
Gomer’s husband bought her back from slavery, so and trust in his mercy (Hosea 14:1–4). In the end,
God brings his people back in mercy and love. if his children would return, they would be revived
The mercy and love of God is put on display in and grow in the Lord (Hosea 14:8). The wise would
the book of Hosea. It is easy to love the lovable or recognize that he is a merciful God and the only God
to offer gifts to those who will return the favor, but worthy of their worship. The future restoration of
it can be difficult to offer forgiveness to those who Israel would demonstrate God’s love for those who
have stolen from you or violated your trust. That are truly his children.
is the very thing God called Hosea to do when he The parallels between the book of Hosea and the
was told to buy Gomer back (probably from a slave lives of Christians today are not difficult to see. We
market) and to love her (Hosea 3:1–3). In this act, are born in sin, and God is dishonored by our dis-
God portrayed his relationship with the adulterous obedience, rebellion, and idolatry. Yet God has pur-
Israelites. God was willing to show mercy; God was chased us with the price of his Son from the slave
willing to take them back again. market of sin to make us the Bride of Christ (Ephe-
Israel surely deserved God’s wrath for their con- sians 2:1–10). We have been brought from pursu-
stant violations of his commands. God would have ing our own selfish interests to pursuing the righ-
been just in wiping out the nation for their sins, teousness of Christ. And when we backslide, God
but he had made promises to Abraham and David uses discipline to bring us back to himself (Hebrews
to bring the Messiah from the nation of Israel. His 12:5–14). This book demonstrates God’s uncon-
mercy was shown in withholding punishment—he ditional mercy and love to his children as Hosea
didn’t give them what they deserved (though later reunites with his wife and reconciliation occurs.
he would). In fact, his love was demonstrated as he

Historical/Apologetics Background
Hosea was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, writing, Hosea refers to Israel as Ephraim and Jacob
Jonah, and Micah. He prophesied in the northern interchangeably. Ephraim was one of the larger
kingdom of Israel through the reigns of four kings of tribes that had settled in the north after the con-
Judah (Hosea 1:1). Though he prophesied for more quest. When the northern tribes had wholly aban-
than 60 years, Hosea is still considered one of the doned the worship of the true God, they fell under
minor prophets for his relatively short book. In his the control of the Assyrians. This was what God
warned his people of through Hosea (Hosea 11:5).
And it was only about 75 years after Hosea began
prophesying that Samaria (the capital of Israel) fell
to the Assyrian king and God’s chastening began for
the northern kingdom.
Within Hosea’s prophecies are clear references
to the future restoration of Israel. Exactly when that
restoration will occur is a point of debate among
sincere believers.
 AStudying God’s Word
Introduction
We have been looking at the northern kingdom of Israel. Two weeks ago we saw how the prophet Amos
brought a message of repentance and judgment to the Israelites.
We talked about how there is an incomplete understanding of God’s attribute of love in the minds of many
people in our culture. Many people believe that God’s love will override his justice and that he will let
everyone into heaven . . . except maybe Hitler. But people who think that way are not looking to Scripture for
truth; rather, they are looking to the ideas of people who twist God’s truth to make God a more comfortable
pillow to rest on. We have the opportunity and responsibility to call those people to the truth that we have
received in the Bible.
Last week we read about Jonah, who in spite of his disobedience became a sign of the coming Messiah.
We saw God graciously send one of his prophets to a pagan people and mercifully relent from judgment
when they repented. God also dealt graciously with Jonah when he rebelled against God’s command and then
displayed a bad attitude when he finally did obey. It is also significant to point out that God offered salvation
to a foreign people.
Today we are going to continue looking at the events that took place in Israel and more about God’s love for
his children, in spite of their rebellion against him.

Hosea Loves Gomer

The book of Hosea is an interesting account that serves as an incredible representation of God’s
interactions with Israel. Its message illustrates the theme of the gospel and the entire Bible.
Hosea 1:1–2:1
Our text today has an interesting twist, so we will have to examine things carefully. Let’s read Hosea 1:1–2:1
together. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? What clue are we given in 1:2 as to why God would call Hosea to take a wife of whoredom (i.e., a
prostitute)? The word “for” in 1:2 is significant. It points to the fact that Hosea’s marriage relationship with a
prostitute is meant to be representative of God’s relationship with Israel (the spiritual prostitute). God’s relationship with
Israel was often talked about in terms of a covenant, just like marriage was.
? Read Exodus 6:6–7 and Deuteronomy 14:2. Knowing that this was the identity that Israel had, what would
be striking to God’s people as they heard the name of Hosea’s second son, “Not My People”? They likely would
have been in disbelief, mixed with terror, at the fact that God was claiming that they were no longer his people. This would
have felt like a hopeless situation for them.
? What is the significance of the first word of 1:10? “Yet” is a word of God’s mercy, and it recalls his covenant
with Abraham to make a people that could not be numbered. In their context, this would have provided hope that God
would continue to grow them as a people after the collapse of the northern kingdom.
? After talking about coming judgment, what happens to the tone of the message in 1:10–2:1? It shifts to a
message of hope of a day when there will be restoration of Israel and Judah under one head.
? The rest of chapter two describes how God would send Israel into exile for their sin, but it ends with a
note of hope, as he promised to restore them. In light of the judgments symbolized by the names of Hosea’s
children, how should we understand verse 23 where the judgments are reversed? Let them think on this for a
minute and discuss what they think. It seems that the judgments symbolized by the names of Hosea’s children will be
outstripped by the restoration that God is going to bring. God’s healing power and teaching always outshines the
discipline that he brings to his children.
Hosea 3:1–4:3
Let’s jump ahead to Hosea 3:1–4:3. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? How did Hosea respond to Gomer’s adultery? He bought her back and was faithful to her. She may have
wound up in a slave market, having been sold by one of her lovers (though the text is not distinct on how she came to
such a position).
? What does 3:4 hint that his response signifies? Verse 3:4 starts with a “for” statement to make the connection.
Just as Hosea was willing to buy the adulterous Gomer back and take her into his household, God would buy back his
people and bring them into his household and care for them.
? What shift happens at the beginning of chapter 4? God delivered the charges against Israel for their lack of
truth, lack of compassion, murder, adultery, and other things.
Discover the Truth
God showed his love for Israel in giving them an object lesson in the marriage and household of Hosea
and Gomer.
God showed his love for Israel by reminding them of how he had chosen them and cared for them despite
their adulterous relationships with false gods.
God showed his love for Israel by offering them hope of a coming King and Messiah who would unite them
together again.
In all of these things, Hosea’s message from God was abundantly clear. God had lovingly chosen to call the
children of Israel his own bride, but they had rejected his love. He had given them everything, but they
rejected his provision. God had not made these promises to other nations and peoples—he had given them
to his children.
Ultimately, God’s love was demonstrated in the illustration of Hosea buying back Gomer from her sin and its
consequences. In this we see a clear picture of what the Father would do in sending the Son to earth to die on
the cross. The price to buy back fallen men and women was much more than 15 shekels of silver and a pot of
barley—it was the death of God the Son.
Our sin, like the sins of the Israelites, was so great that God’s Son had to die to buy his bride back from her
rebellion against himself. We see this idea clearly connected to God’s love in Romans 5:6–8: “For while we
were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous
person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
But this incredible demonstration of love is directed specifically to the “we” and the “us” mentioned. Our
activity today is going to challenge another popular misconception in our culture—the idea that we are all
God’s children—and help us identify who the “us” is referring to.
Children of God Activity
A couple weeks ago, we discussed that many people have a misconception about the nature of God’s love.
Well, there is another popular misconception. Many people believe that everyone is a child of God. I want
you to examine that idea from a biblical perspective. In your Student Guide you will find the Children of God
activity. Alternatively, you can print out Children of God worksheets from the Teacher Digital Resources.
Look at the questions there, examine the scriptures, and we will discuss the ideas in a few minutes. Have the
students work in pairs or small groups to complete the activity.

Connect to the Truth

Let’s quickly review what you found in God’s Word about being a child of God.
1. John 1:10–13—What makes someone a child of God? Those who have received Christ and believed in him are
children of God.
2. Romans 8:16–17—Who is the “we” pointing to as being children of God? Looking back to verse 15, “we”
refers to those who have been adopted by God through the Holy Spirit. Verse 14 points to those who are led by the Spirit,
so those who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit are in mind.
3. Hebrews 12:5–8—What marks a legitimate child (son) of God? A legitimate son is one who is receiving
discipline from God the Father—he is purifying us from our sinful habits.
4. Who is contrasted with the children of God in the following passages?
• John 8:39–44—Jesus himself says that these religious leaders who rejected him were children of Satan.
• Philippians 2:14–15—A crooked and twisted generation.
• 1 John 3:1–3—The world.
• 1 John 3:8–10—The children of the devil.
In Colossians 1:13–14, Paul reminded the Colossian church that they were transferred into “the kingdom of
his beloved Son” from the kingdom of darkness. The Colossian believers were once members of the
kingdom of darkness before they were adopted as children of God.
Listen to the language Paul used in describing this idea to the Ephesian church. Read Ephesians 1:3–6.
Paul is filled with exalted praise to God the Father for choosing to adopt believers into his family through
Jesus Christ.
Each of us who is now a child of God by Jesus Christ was once part of the kingdom of darkness. Anyone
who has not trusted in Christ is not a child of God, but a child of the devil.
? Now, this is a hard saying, but what other conclusion can we come to in light of these clear passages of
Scripture? That is the very nature of our sin—it has separated us from God. Until we are cleansed of our sin in Christ,
we are not part of God’s happy family, but enemies of God (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 1:21–23). Those
who are not adopted are actually enemies of God.
That is why we must proclaim the gospel to everyone who has not been adopted by God. Right now, they are
outside of the family and are enemies of God. We who have received that adoption have received grace and
mercy for our rebellion, and we can offer that awesome news to others.
God Loves Israel
As we look back to Hosea, language similar to the passages we just looked at is used as God talks about
Israel.

Hosea 11:1–11

Let’s read Hosea 11:1–11 and look for that language. Have someone read the passage aloud.

? What event in the past is called to mind in the first verses of this chapter? The exodus is in mind as God
called them out of Egypt.
? In verse 1, how is Israel referred to? The nation is called God’s child and son.
? Does anyone know who Ephraim is? Encourage them to look it up on their phones if they don’t know. This is
another name for the northern kingdom since the tribe of Ephraim, one of Joseph’s sons, received a portion of land in the
north, where the capital of Israel was before it moved to Samaria.
? In verse 8 there is a shift, and it almost seems to contradict what has just been said. What shift happens in
the text? God stops speaking of judgment and instead speaks of relenting from his wrath and destruction.
? How can verses 8 and 9 be used to challenge the view that the Old Testament God is harsh, vindictive, and
judgmental? These are two of the most emotionally moving verses in the Old Testament that speak to God’s tender
care for his people.
Discover the Truth
God had adopted the people of Israel as his children and cared for them in many ways. But they rebelled.
Just like any good father, God brought discipline to them for their rebellion, hoping to bring correction to
them. They did not respond, so God gave them over to the Assyrians, but we will discuss that more in
another lesson.

Application
As we think about the idea of being adopted as children of God, we have great reason to praise God. He has
revealed the nature of his love toward his children in the pages of Scripture, so we can know the truth about
God’s love. We are not left to guess and make up our own ideas about God’s love, as so many try to do
today. We can know the character of God and share that truth with others.
It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4), and God, in his love, was patient with the
Israelites, offering them many opportunities to repent. In the hardness of their hearts, they continued to
rebel. God was willing to take them in and love them, knowing that they would commit adulterous idolatry
with the Baals and other false gods, just as we see pictured in the marriage of Hosea and Gomer.
But even in our rebellion today, we see God’s love in his willingness to buy us back from our slavery to sin,
just as Hosea bought Gomer. That price for our freedom was paid for with Christ’s blood, and we should fall
at his feet with thankful hearts for buying us back, even while we were in rebellion to him.
? Hosea’s name means “salvation.” How does this account foreshadow salvation as we understand it from
the New Testament? Just as Hosea demonstrated unconditional love and forgiveness in buying back his adulterous wife,
God is faithful to redeem his children through the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:8).
? What imagery in the book of Hosea has helped you to understand God’s love in a fuller way or
corrected a misconception you had? Discuss various answers.
? How could you use this concept of being a child of God to encourage a fellow believer who is suffering
as a result of clear sin in his life? We know that God desires to discipline his children so that they will grow to
become more like Christ. While sin can have temporal consequences for the believer, there is no fear of judgment because
Christ has already paid the penalty for the sin on the cross. Receiving discipline is a mark of a true child of God (Hebrews
12:5–8).
? While there is a sense in which all people are “children” of God—he has created everyone—how has this
idea become distorted in our culture, and how can we help to correct the misunderstanding? By using the
clear passages of Scripture that contrast the true children of God with those who have not been adopted, we can proclaim
this truth and call people to accept it as truth from God. By the work of the Holy Spirit, their hearts can be changed, and
this truth can become clear to them. It is the good news of the gospel that can call them to be a part of God’s true
family—adopted in Christ.
? How can you use the truths you have heard today from Scripture to share the hope of Christ with
someone? Discuss various answers.

GGroup Prayer Time

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.
• Praise God for adopting us as children in Christ.
• Ask God for grateful hearts in knowing that we are adopted as his children.
• Thank God for his love in buying us out of our slavery to sin and making us the Bride of Christ.
 Lesson

God Protects Joash

Joash became king and repaired the temple.

Lesson Focus
Athaliah killed the royal family so she could be queen, but Joash was rescued
by his aunt and hidden in the temple. After six years, Jehoiada the priest
crowned Joash as king and had Athaliah executed. King Joash repaired the
temple and did what was right, as long as Jehoiada lived. When Jehoiada died,
Joash turned to idolatry and was judged for his unrepentance.

Key Passages
2 Kings 11–12; 2 Chronicles 22:10–24:27

Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Understand how God preserved David’s line.
• Explain how Joash repaired the temple.
• Evaluate the godliness of Joash’s reign.

Memory Verse
Philippians 4:6-7 ”Don’t be anxious about anything but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”
 Prepare to Share
Scriptural Background
Prepare to teach by preparing your heart. Read the house of Ahab, approached Jezreel, and the two
the key passages for this lesson along with this kings came out to meet him. He killed both kings and
background. assumed the throne in Israel (2 Kings 9:21–27).
During the time of the divided kingdom, the When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, heard that her
northern kingdom of Israel and the southern king- son was dead, she usurped the throne by killing the
dom of Judah were characterized by their kings. All royal family. Jehosheba (or Jehoshabeath), Ahaziah’s
the kings of Israel rejected the ways of God, wor- sister, took young Joash and hid him from Queen
shipping idols and doing what was evil in the sight Athaliah. She and her husband, Jehoiada the priest, hid
of the Lord. The people followed the example of their the young prince in the house of God (2 Kings 11:2–3).
kings, and after many years of patience, God sent After six years, Jehoiada gathered the royal guards,
judgment on the northern kingdom. In 721 BC, the the Levites, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of
Assyrians captured Israel and scattered the people Israel. On a selected Sabbath, they enacted the plan
throughout the Assyrian territory. Meanwhile, Judah to instate Joash as king. One shift would report for
was on a similar path. duty at the palace as usual. Their task would be to
The people of Judah followed their kings in obe- make sure the queen did not know what was going
dience to God or idolatry. In contrast to Israel, Judah on. The other two shifts reported to the temple
was more responsive to God’s warnings. Several to protect the heir to the throne. Then Jehoiada
notable kings did what was right in the sight of the anointed the king, giving him the crown and a copy
Lord, abolished idolatry, and turned the people’s of the law. When Athaliah came out to see what the
hearts toward God. Other kings started their reigns commotion was, she was seized, carried out of the
by honoring God but turned away from him later in temple, and executed.
life. Ultimately, Judah suffered the same judgment as Joash became king when he was seven years old,
Israel. Just as Israel had rejected God, so did Judah. and he did what was right in the sight of the Lord
And just as God sent judgment on Israel, he judged for as long as Jehoiada lived. He restored the temple,
Judah for their idolatry. which had been ransacked and its furnishings stolen
Joash was one of the kings of Judah who started to use in worship of the Baals. The people gladly fol-
off faithfully but failed in the end. He was the son of lowed Joash’s lead, the temple was repaired, and the
Ahaziah, who reigned in Judah for one year and did burnt offerings were performed regularly in the house
what was evil in the sight of the Lord. In fact, Aha- of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:14). But when Jehoiada
ziah walked in the ways of Ahab (2 Kings 8:27), the died, Joash began to listen to the princes of Judah, and
wicked king of Israel. Ahaziah ruled in Judah while he abandoned the temple and the God worshipped
Jehoram (or Joram) was ruling in Israel. Ahaziah there. He even ordered Jehoiada’s son to be stoned
went with Jehoram to battle against the Syrians. in the temple complex for confronting the king’s sin.
After being wounded, Jehoram returned to Jezreel to Joash began as a godly king, but he was assassinated
recover, and Ahaziah visited him there. Jehu, who had by his own servants and buried in dishonor after God
been anointed as king and appointed to strike down delivered his army into the hands of the Syrians.

Historical/Apologetics Background
The preservation of Joash was a significant event ceeded in killing all of Ahaziah’s sons, there would be
in the history of Judah and all of Israel. The royal line no heir to the Davidic throne. Thankfully, our God is
of David had been preserved through the kingship of sovereign over all things and faithful to his promises.
Judah and was a part of God’s much bigger plan. At He had promised an eternal throne to David’s descen-
this point in time, though, that line was almost com- dant, and it was through this lineage that the Savior
pletely eliminated. Ahaziah’s father had killed all his would be born. God’s plan cannot be thwarted, and
brothers when he ascended the throne (2 Chronicles we see his sovereign hand in the protection of Joash.
21:4). Ahaziah’s brothers had been killed by the Phi- Joash’s lineage is also interesting on his grand-
listines (2 Chronicles 21:16–17). If Athaliah had suc- mother’s side, and not just because she tried to
kill him. Athaliah was the daughter of the wicked of Jehoiada, restored the temple and reinstated regu-
King Ahab. Ahab ruled in Israel during the time of lar burnt offerings. Ironically, this effort was undone
Elijah. It was Ahab’s queen’s prophets of Baal that at the end of his life. When King Hazael of Syria
Elijah defeated at Mount Carmel. The Bible tells us came against Judah, God delivered Joash’s army into
that “There was none who sold himself to do what their enemy’s hands. In order to pacify the Syrian
was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab” (1 Kings king, Joash stripped the temple of the sacred gifts
21:25). Joram, king of Judah, married Athaliah, daugh- and all the gold he could find and sent it to Hazael as
ter of Ahab, and walked in the ways of his father-in- tribute. Then Joash’s servants killed him on his bed.
law (2 Kings 8:18). Their son, Ahaziah, walked in the So Joash’s reign ended as it began: with conspiracy
ways of Ahab (2 Kings 8:27). Athaliah killed her own against the throne and the temple of God in disre-
grandsons in order to rule. Finally, Joash broke the pair. Confidence that God is sitting on his throne
cycle by following the godly influence of Jehoiada, at with Jesus at his right hand offers us great comfort
least while the priest was alive. and hope. We can rejoice in his goodness, knowing
During the reign of Athaliah, the temple was that he is patient to call sinners to repentance as
neglected, and dedicated articles had been taken for they look to Christ for forgiveness.
use in the temple of Baal. Joash, under the influence
 AStudying God’s Word
Introduction
In the previous unit, we focused on the northern kingdom of Israel. The kings of Israel did not walk in the
way of David, and the people followed their kings into idolatry. We saw how God judged them by sending
the Assyrians to conquer Israel.
Unlike the north, there were a few faithful kings in the southern kingdom, and these few combined with the
repentance of the people during these times are major reasons that Judah was not judged along with Israel,
though they were judged later. We will spend the next few weeks focusing on the southern kingdom of
Judah.
Refer to the History of Israel timeline. Today, we are going to look at Joash. Notice that we’re stepping
backwards in time. Joash was king of Judah before Israel’s judgment. We focused on the history of Israel to
make it easier to understand the progression of idolatry and judgment. Now we will do the same with Judah.

Historical Orienteering Activity

When we read an account in the Bible, it is important to understand the context. When looking at literary
context, we look at the passages before and after the verse or verses that we are reading. This helps us to
interpret what we are reading in the way that the author intended.
When we’re dealing with historical narrative, there is another type of context we should consider. The
historical context helps us to understand what is going on in the world at the time of the account we’re
reading. Especially during this complicated time in the history of the divided kingdom, it is wise to
familiarize ourselves with the history.
Orienteering is the act of navigating an unfamiliar course by using tools, such as a map and compass. The
key to successful navigation of the course is knowing where you are in relation to the beginning, the
end, and each checkpoint along the way.
You will find the Historical Orienteering activity in your Student Guides. To figure out where we are in
history, complete the activity using your Bible. You may remember taking notes about some of these people
in previous lessons. Have the students work in small groups to complete the activity. Offer help and guidance as
necessary.
Connect to the Truth
Let’s use what you’ve found to get a better picture of where our lesson occurs in the timeline of the Bible. Note
that the king of Israel is known as Jehoram in 2 Chronicles, but Joram in 2 Kings. Also, Jehosheba (2 Kings) is the
same person as Jehoshabeath (2 Chronicles). Also note that there were two kings named Jehoram (Joram), one in Judah
and one in Israel, with overlapping reigns.
1. Read 2 Chronicles 22:10–12. In the space provided, sketch a family tree showing the relationships
among each of the people mentioned. Discuss the lineage of Joash (see Joash Family Tree). Jehoram (king of Judah) married
Athaliah (daughter of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel). Their son was Ahaziah. Ahaziah’s youngest son was Joash. Jehosheba
(Jehoshabeath) was also daughter of Jehoram, meaning that she was Ahaziah’s sister, and Joash was her nephew. She married Jehoiada
the priest. We will focus on Joash and Jehoiada in this lesson.
2. Summarize the events leading to Ahaziah’s death (2 Chronicles 22:2–9).
Ahaziah went to visit Jehoram in Jezreel after he had been wounded at Ramoth-gilead by Hazael and the Syrians. While
they were there together, Jehu came to kill Jehoram. Ahaziah rode out with Jehoram to meet Jehu. Both kings were killed
by Jehu and his men.
3. Explain the connection between Ahaziah and Jehoram (2 Kings 9:29; 2 Chronicles 22:6). Jehoram was king
of Israel when Ahaziah began to reign in Judah. Jehoram was Ahab’s son; Ahaziah’s mother was Ahab’s daughter. Jehoram was
Ahaziah’s uncle.
4. Explain the connection between Jehoram and Jehu (2 Kings 9:14, 24). Jehu was selected by God to be king of
Israel and to judge the house of Ahab. Jehoram was son of Ahab and king of Israel, so Jehu killed him.
5. Explain the connection between Jehu and Elisha (2 Kings 9:1–3). God told Elijah to anoint Jehu (1 Kings 19:16).
When the time came, Elisha completed the task by sending one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu as king.

God Protects Joash

Now that we know where we are in the history of Israel and Judah, let’s turn our attention to what happens
going forward.
2 Chronicles 22:10–12
Let’s read 2 Chronicles 22:10–12 together. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? Who was Athaliah? She was mother of Ahaziah, the assassinated king.
? Why would Athaliah want to kill all the royal family? She wanted to rule. Verse 9 tells us that Ahaziah had no
one able to rule. We know from 2 Chronicles 21:4 that all Jehoram’s brothers had been killed (Ahaziah’s uncles), and in verse
17, all Ahaziah’s brothers were killed. Athaliah saw an opportunity to rule as queen, so she set about killing all Ahaziah’s
sons that may have grown up and deposed her.
? How can that same desire to have power and control affect our lives today? Discuss what they think. Make sure
they understand that we tend to be just as power hungry today as Athaliah was then, even if we don’t murder people to
achieve what we want. We struggle with manipulation, deceit, gossip, and other forms of character assault that shed people
we do not like in a bad light in order to get others to perceive us as better than we may be. We do this to gain status, job
promotions, academic and athletic achievements, friend circles, and other earthly things.
2 Chronicles 23:12–21
The next chapter shows us how Joash became king. In verses 1–11, a secret plan was initiated to commission
Joash as king. Let’s read the rest of the passage together. Have someone read 23:12–21.
? How did Athaliah respond? She heard the noise of the people celebrating the newly crowned king, so she went to
the temple. When she saw that they had anointed Joash as king, she cried, “Treason!” Then the army captains escorted her
out of the temple and put her to death.
? How can we relate to Athaliah’s response? When the power and control we have fought and slandered others for
gives way, our response is usually defensive, arrogant, and mixed with a feeling of “That’s not fair!” similar to how
Athaliah screamed, “Treason!”
Discover the Truth
There’s a lot going on here, but it can be summarized simply. Queen Athaliah had usurped the throne by
killing her own grandchildren, but Jehoiada hid Joash until he could rightfully assume the throne.
This coup provides for an exciting read, but it also holds great significance. Through this mess, God was
preserving the line of David and holding to his promise that David would have a descendant on the
throne forever. If Joash would be been killed, the royal Davidic line would have ended, making the promise
impossible to fulfill. God moves in history to preserve his people and fulfill his promises.
God’s provision here goes way beyond David, Joash, or even Judah. God had a bigger plan in mind. Jesus
would be from the line of David, and God’s sovereign plan could not be thwarted by a power-hungry usurper.

Joash Reigns
God protected Joash, preserving the line of David for the sake of David and the sake of God’s redemptive
plan. Now that Joash is king, let’s see what kind of king he was.
2 Chronicles 24:1–14
Let’s look in 2 Chronicles to see how he ruled. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? How would you describe the beginning of Joash’s kingship? Allow answers. Verse 2 says that he did what was
right in the sight of the Lord, so it was starting off strong and pleasing to God.
In this passage, we see that Joash served Judah well. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, he
repaired the temple, and he dealt honestly with the people and the money he collected. The people followed
him gladly, and his dealings regarding the temple repairs were characterized by integrity.
The last sentence in verse 14 shows us the culmination of Joash’s faithful rule. The nation returned to God,
restoring the temple and reinstating regular worship. Under the direction of Jehoiada the priest, the burnt
offerings were conducted regularly. It seems that Joash was a good king.
As with any passage, though, we need to look at the context of the account. If we stop at verse 14, we only
get part of the picture.
2 Chronicles 24:15–19
Let’s continue reading. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? What changed about the circumstances in Judah? Jehoiada the priest, and Joash’s uncle, died.
? Who became Joash’s new advisors? The princes of Judah.
? Why do you think this resulted in the nation abandoning the house of the Lord? There seems to be some
indication that Joash was very impressionable and that he tended to follow the lead of those whom he trusted around
him. With his uncle gone, it doesn’t seem like it took long for his opinion about many things to be swayed.
? How can you relate to this situation? Many of us are highly inffuenced by people we trust or look up to.
? What should you do if you realize that the people who influence you are determining your beliefs about
the world more than God’s Word? If one good role model were to be taken from your life, would your sense of
morality collapse? We should take the initiative to make sure we believe what we do because we have internalized it
ourselves, and not because we’re being coerced to. Then we can openly approach the Bible and allow it to shape and
influence the way we see the world, ourselves, God, and others.
Discover the Truth
Although it appeared, at first, that Joash was a good king, he was quickly drawn away to idol worship.
? What can we conclude about Joash’s devotion to God? His devotion to God was predicated on the influence of
Jehoiada, who was fully devoted to God.
? This would be very similar to if your faith in God was true only because your parents believed. How can
you begin to make your faith your own, and not that of your parents? Discuss various answers.
As soon as his godly advisor was out of the picture, ungodly advisors influenced Joash to follow after false
gods. Although he did what was right in the sight of the Lord at the beginning of his reign, and his
crowning achievement was restoring God’s temple, the end of his reign shows that he failed to remain
faithful to the God that protected him from Athaliah.
We see a pattern in this account that recurs throughout the history of Israel and Judah. The nation followed
their king, a mere man, rather than following God. When the king was faithful, the people were faithful.
When the king turned to idolatry, the people turned to idolatry. The problem, as we have seen, is that there
were few kings in Israel or Judah who truly followed God. Even good kings failed to lead the people perfectly
toward God. Joash relied on the advice of others to determine whether he would follow God or not. When he
surrounded himself with godly wisdom, he served the Lord. Rather than follow God himself, and seek godly
counsel, he chose to rely on the wisdom of man.

? Joash Is Assassinated
So, Joash allowed wicked counsel to draw him away from the God he had served from childhood, and he led
the people into idolatry. As we often see in Scripture, Joash’s sin had major consequences.
2 Chronicles 24:20–27
Let’s finish the chapter to see Joash’s response to a rebuke. Have someone read the passage aloud.
? Who was Zechariah? He was the son of Jehoiada; therefore, he was Joash’s cousin. It is also significant that
Zechariah was the son of the man who protected and raised Joash, crowned him as king, and served as his most trusted
advisor for more than half of his reign.
God spoke to Joash and Judah through Zechariah. Rather than humbly repent, Joash ignored all that his uncle
had done for him, what the Lord commanded, and the fact that Zechariah was just doing what he had been
called to do. He ordered the people to stone him.
? In light of the fact that Joash had spent his earlier years restoring the house of God, what attitudes
are revealed by him killing Zechariah there (see verse 21)? It shows how little regard Joash and the people held for
the house of God, despite all the effort they had given for its repairs. Clearly, Joash had very little concern for God
himself.
 Discover the Truth
In the conclusion of this account, we see the failings of man contrasted with the faithfulness of God. Notice
how the chapter ends.
? What is significant about the final sentence? Assign a student to read the last statement. Discuss answers.

The chapter ends just as the account began. God is faithful to fulfill his promises, and his sovereign plan
cannot be thwarted. This last statement gives us historical context, showing us that Amaziah is the next
king of Judah, but it holds a deeper significance. Athaliah had all but destroyed the royal line of David; Joash
alone had been preserved.
At the end of this chapter, we see that even though Joash failed God and was punished for it, God
continued to preserve the line of David for the sake of David and for the sake of his redemptive plan.

Application
The account of Joash is interesting for several reasons. It is an exciting event of conspiracy and treason,
complete with a hidden baby prince. It is another link in the chain of Israel’s history and propels us forward in
the overall storyline of the Bible. These are the passages that are easy to speed-read past, pausing just long
enough to pick out an interesting detail in an otherwise monotonous succession of historical figures.
It is important to approach Scripture with intent, looking for the significance each account plays in the
bigger picture of history. In this case, we can find an interesting historical event, significance for the
lineage of Christ, patterns of human behavior, and characteristics of God on display. Not only does this
make the account more interesting, but also it helps us to draw application from the text.
? Joash was given a copy of the testimony when he became king, and the Mosaic law instructed him to
make his own copy, but he still chose to rebel against God. Considering this, what can we infer about Joash’s
attitude towards God’s Word? Joash was given everything he needed to succeed. He had the law, the temple, and
godly counsel. He may have even completed the command to copy the law, but we can assume that it was done out of duty
rather than devotion. He played the part of a godly king at first, but he did not take it to heart. When the time came to
think for himself, he chose idolatry over God and refused to repent of his sin. He may have known Scripture, but he did
not apply it to his actions.
? Compared with Joash, how do we react when God confronts our sin? How should we react? When God
confronted Joash’s sin and the sins of the people, Joash was unrepentant and tried to use his authority to silence God’s
condemnation. In contrast, our response should be humble repentance. Discuss how we often fail to respond appropriately,
using honest examples.
? How can we be sure to remain faithful to God? Be wise in listening to godly advice (Proverbs 12:15) and rejecting
the ways of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1). The only way to truly evaluate advice is to compare it to the infallible Word of God.
Notice that this also means we must know what the Bible teaches.

G GroupPrayerTime

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.

• Praise God for his faithfulness to his sovereign plan.
• Ask God to help us humbly respond to his chastisement.
• Thank God for giving us examples in Scripture that we can learn from.