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 2:1-2

January 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, ‘I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice’” (Jonah 2:1-2‬).

Jonah found himself in a fix. While he got himself into this one, what we see here is applicable whether our situation of distress is our fault or not. 

What we see is that Jonah cried out to the Lord for help, which is a pattern found in the Bible. 

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.” (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬)

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬)

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”
‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭5‬)

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me” (‭‭Psalm‬ ‭120‬:‭1‬).

Paul and Silas were praising the Lord around midnight while being unjustly jailed. (Acts 16)

If the pattern in Scripture is to cry out to the Lord in times of trouble, why is my first instinct to phone a friend? Why is venting to a friend, who usually can not help fix the problem, so tempting? Why isn’t first crying out to the Lord more natural for me? 

Father, please help me grow in my faith so that I will first turn to you when I’m in a pickle. Amen.

Filed Under: 2 Samuel, Acts, Assyria, devotional thoughts, Jonah, Old Testament, Psalms

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

Obadiah 1:1-4

January 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord” (Obadiah 1:1-4).

In these 4 verses, we can see several things. 1) The prophet is Obadiah, whose name means Servant (Slave) of Yahweh. 

2) This book of prophecy is directed to the land of Edom. This is the land where Esau, the angry brother of Jacob, settled. 

3) The people of Edom are proud and self-secure. “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’”

4) The LORD says He can and will reach Edom to bring them down. This is an important lesson for all nations, even today. Sometimes nations or people, in general, think that God has no relevance to them, even if He exists. The true and living God has claims on ALL people on the earth. 

5) Why was God angry with Edom? Because they made fun of Israel while the Babylonians were sacking Jerusalem. (See verses 10-14.)

This is a good reminder to me that the Lord measures the hearts and actions of people, including mine. 

Father, please help me remember that my heart is important, not just my actions. Help me to have a pure heart. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Israel, Obadiah, Old Testament

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
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