As regards this earth scripture declares the work of

“As regards this earth, Scripture declares the work of creation to
have been completed. ‘The works were finished from the foundation
of the world.’ Hebrews 4:3. But the power of God is still exercised in
upholding the objects of His creation. It is not because the mechanism
once set in motion continues to act by its own inherent energy that the
pulse beats, and breath follows breath. Every breath, every pulsation
of the heart, is an evidence of the care of Him in whom we live and
move and have our being. From the smallest insect to man, every
living creature is daily dependent upon His providence.”
—Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 130, 131.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
The modern philosophical movement of “Atheistic Existen-
tialism” says that there is no God and no ultimate purpose
to life. There is NOTHING outside ourselves. We are alone
in the universe. Those who believe this worldview are called
“Atheistic existentialists.” They insist human life is mean-
ingless, pointless, and absurd. How does what we’ve read
this week show not only how wrong that view is but why the
biblical worldview offers us something so much more hope-
ful?
SUMMARY: The first few verses of the book of Jonah exemplify a
truth found all through the Bible: There is a God who not only knows
each of us personally but is interested in our affairs. The story of
Jonah is, simply, one example of God’s work in our lives.

29
*October 11-17
Jonah and Judgment
Lesson 3
Sabbath Afternoon
A
S THE FIRST VERSES OF JONAH reveal, this book is set
against the background of judgment, God’s judgment. Of
course, that’s nothing particularly unique or novel, not for the
Bible, which is filled with different examples, warnings, and promises
of God’s judgment in the Old Testament and in the New.
God, we know, is a God of love; nothing proves that better than
Jesus on the cross, the greatest example of God’s judgment. We can
trust that God’s judgment will be fair and righteous. We don’t have to
worry about jury tampering; we don’t have to worry about judges
being bribed; we don’t have to worry about being given an unfair trial.
This week we’ll continue to look at the concept of judgment in Jonah,
for it reveals that God is concerned about the evil that has brought so
much pain, suffering, and havoc to this world.
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE: Why is God concerned about the
wickedness of Nineveh? Or of any place? What examples can we
find in the Bible regarding God’s divine judgment? What evi-
dence exists that the Ten Commandments were known before
Sinai? How can God judge people who never have been given a
clear presentation of Bible truth?
MEMORY TEXT: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of
a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in
every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him” (Acts 10:34, 35).