Jonah 1-4: Day 279: Journey Through the Bible in a Year

October 7, 2022

Jonah 1-4
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Day 279: Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Focus Verses for Today: Jonah 1:3-4

Ask the Lord for His understanding of Jonah 1-4. Read Jonah 1-4. Let’s journey!

Commentary: The story of Jonah is familiar to many. Jonah does not want to do as the Lord instructs and flees in the opposite direction by boat. But the Lord sends a terrible storm. Jonah, knowing the storm is from the Lord, instructions the crew on the ship to throw him overboard. Jonah is then swallowed by a great fish and delivered safely to his destination, Nineveh where he delivers God’s message. The people repent and the Lord turns away his anger. This, however, makes Jonah angry. One reason for his anger (and a reason for why he did not want to come to the city in the first place), is that Jonah does not like the Ninevites and wanted to see them destroyed.

The Assyrian army (Nineveh was part of the Assyrian Empire) was known as an extremely brutal army. Perhaps Jonah thought that their destructions would save the lives of others. Jonah also did not believe that the Ninevites’ repentance was genuine. Jonah went outside of the city to wait and watch for the city to fall back into sin. He wanted to witness their destruction. God, however, loves the lost. God rejoices when those who are lost turn to Him. No matter how much we dislike someone, God wants us to learn to love them. Jonah knew and understood that the Lord God is a God full of compassion and love, yet it took a physical example for Jonah to learn that he too must come to show compassion and love to those who are lost.

Focus Verses: Jonah 1:3-4 – Sometimes God allows us to say no to His requests. Other times, He places obstacles in our path, to bring us back to Him and His way. Where are you on your journey with the Lord?

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