Jonah 4:1-2

January 18, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster’” (Jonah 4:1-2).

Jonah wears his feelings openly. My first reaction is to criticize Jonah. In this story, He received mercy. Yet, he wants to deny such to the Assyrians. Who does he think he is?

How can I criticize him, though? Aren’t there people I prefer who would not be forgiven? I hate to admit it, but yes, there are. What about all those people whom I fail to share Christ with because I’m busy, or afraid, or I’m just not interested at the moment? I’m not actively saying, “they can go to hell.” However, my actions surely say, “I don’t care if they do.”

In the end, how am I different than Jonah? 

Father, forgive me for being so selfish. I have received so much mercy, yet I do not do much to see others have the same mercy. Please help me to grow out of this selfishness. Amen. 

Filed Under: Assyria, devotional thoughts, Evangelism, Jonah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Jonah 3:1-2

January 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.’” (Jonah 3:1-2‬).

These verses tell us much about God. First, we see his kindness toward Jonah. Though we should not demand that God give multiple opportunities to obey, we see that He has the capacity to do so. However, notice that God required Jonah to do what He told him to do the first time. God didn’t reduce the requirement the second time just to get Jonah’s cooperation. 

Second, we see God’s kindness toward Nineveh. God continued dealing with Jonah to deliver the message of repentance to Nineveh. I know he continued offering me the message of repentance before I believed. He still does. 

Father, thank you for your kindness toward me. Please help me not to waste or tread on your kindness. Amen. 

Filed Under: Assyria, devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Jonah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Jonah 1:1-3

January 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:1-3‬).

The introduction to Jonah is so relevant to me. 

1) The word of the Lord came to Jonah. There is no indication that Jonah was confused or had any doubt about who was directing him. 

2) Jonah was told to go to Nineveh to preach repentance. There is no indication that Jonah was confused or had any doubt about what He was told to do. 

3) But … Jonah didn’t want to do what God told him to do. It is that simple. 

In an effort not to do what God told him to do, he tried to run away from God. However, the Psalmist helps us see the futility of such a thought: 

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭12‬).

Like Jonah, I find myself refusing to do what God tells me to do OR doing what God tells me not to do. I may not actually say the words, but my actions scream, “I don’t care what you say, I’m going to do what I want to do.” 

Of course, this spirit never leads to good … even if it takes a while to realize it. I’m amazed at how easy it is to recognize Jonah’s obstinate spirit, but not my own. Yikes!

Father, forgive me for being sinfully stubborn against your directives. Please help me to become more mature in my faith. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jonah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Amos 9:1, 14-15

January 13, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said: ‘Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away; not one of them shall escape’” (Amos 9:1).

“’I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,’ says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:14‬-‭15‬).

This last chapter of Amos presents something of a contrast. First, Amos has a vision of the Lord pouring out his wrath on the evil doers (9:1-10). 

Then, Amos closes his book by telling of a time when the Lord will restore the “tabernacle of David,” which includes the land promise, “‘I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,’ says the Lord your God” (15‬).

I believe that modern Israel is the partial fulfillment of what Amos and the other prophets describe as the restoration of Israel. Clearly, the nation does not walk in righteousness. So, we wait for the Lord to bring that element of the restoration.

Father, please fulfill your promise to restore Israel in righteousness. Please defend them from those who seek to undermine your land promise by dividing the land. Amen.

Filed Under: Amos, devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel

Amos 8:11-12

January 12, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12).

This is a disturbing passage. First, the Lord warns the people of the day when He will send a famine of the word of the Lord, resulting in an inability to find the word.

In this case, there are clearly two actors. 1) The people have disregarded the Lord, chasing after idols and pleasure. 2) The Lord who will withhold his blessing. 

The result will be that the people will not be able to find the word of the Lord when they want it. I’m not sure if that means that all the clergy are corrupt and putting out anything but the truth. Or, the Lord has simply taken away his word. I think I lean toward the former because I don’t think the Lord will withhold His word from the remnant of faithful believers. 

Do we see anything similar in our country? There are lots of churches and lots of preachers. But are there lots of churches and preachers preaching the word of the Lord? Or are there more and more that are moving to the word of man? 

Father, please help me be faithful to you and your word. Help me accept what the Bible says, even when it is hard. Amen.

Filed Under: Amos, devotional thoughts, idolatry, Old Testament, Prophecy
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