January 13th, 2021

Jonah 1:1-3a “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Ninevah, 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.”

The Big Picture

The prophet Jonah lived in a Galilean city about 4 miles north of Nazareth during the reign of King Jereboam II.  Jereboam II was northern Israel’s most powerful king, and during his administration, the borders of the nation were expanded to their greatest extent since the time of King David and King Solomon.

The incredible story of Jonah has often suffered criticism because of the “incident” of Jonah being swallowed up by a great fish.  Many modern scholars contend that the docu-series called, “Jonah” is actually pure fiction.  Jesus, however, validates the story of Jonah as genuine history.  Read Matthew 12:39-41.  Aside from the fact that this event doubtless involved a miracle, the circumstances are not beyond the realm of possibility.  The story of Jonah proves the providential operation of God in the world He created.

How To Pray

• Pray that God would lead us into a perfectly obedient heart and mind to follow after His Word in this world.

• Pray that we would catch God’s vision to be interested in all people hearing the gospel of Jesus

• Pray and thank God for his sovereignty and providence as He works this world to His good pleasure and for His glory.