Tuesday, November 24
Read Jonah 1-2
Think About It:
- The book of Jonah gives a vivid image of God’s mercy – toward the city of Ninevah (representing unbelievers), to the mariners on the boat, and to His prophet, Jonah. Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, was extremely wicked and despised the Jews. Jonah may have tried to escape from God’s presence because he wanted to see the city’s doom – or because he feared they would kill him, being a Jew preaching in a Gentile city. Psalms 139:7-12 tells us we cannot flee from God’s presence, which Jonah learned through this experience. I love that the crew on the ship first prayed to their gods, but after Jonah confessed who he was and told them to throw him overboard and they saw the winds cease when they obeyed, they believed in the God of Jonah and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD and made vows. Even though Jonah would rather face death than repent for running away, his story resulted in glorifying God, the maker of heaven and earth, and transforming those unbelieving mariners. Consider the power of your testimony and give God thanks for the blessings in your life and the power to transform hearts who hear how God has worked in your life! (Revelation 12:11)
- The LORD always provides for us, even in the middle of the trials and troubles we face! The LORD prepared a whale to preserve and protect Jonah’s body after he drowned and faced the gates of Sheol (verses 1:17, 2:6). Later in this book, God provides a gourd for shade, a worm to destroy the gourd and a heat wave to motivate Jonah to action! As we look back over our life, we see the same provisions, many times as “life lessons”. God compared the vine that Jonah loved with the love that God had for the people of Ninevah and desired to save. Think back over your life and thank God for the life lessons He has provided.
Family Time:
Do you find it strange that the one man on board the ship who had a relationship with the true God, who knew His Word and promises and had even heard His voice, was asleep?
Parents! Don’t fall asleep. Know what is going on in your home. Don’t let evil in through media, music or by any means. Talk openly about the temptations of this world. Don’t be blinded by the rhetoric of the age. Hold fast to what the Bible says and wake up! Don’t run like Jonah did. Hallelujah, we have the victory!
