Day 66: Amos 9:11-Nahum 3:19 - 90 Day Challenge

Acting on the Lord's Call 


The book of Amos today ends with a promise of restoration from the Lord (as most of the prophesies have ended so far). 

Obadiah is dedicated to the Lord's condemnation of the nation that arose from Esau (remember him? From way back in the beginning?) 

Then we move on to Jonah. Many people are familiar with this story--it's a Sunday School Classic. In case you're not, here's a brief synopsis: :

Jonah gets a message from God that he is to deliver the word of God to Nineveh, who is full of sinful and corrupt people, and God wants them to know it! But Jonah is having none of it, "No way, God!" So he goes back to his job as a fisherman, when all of a sudden, the waves get massive, and dangerous. The rest of the crew is like, "What in the world is going on?!" And then Jonah's like, "...Um. I should probably tell you something..." So he tells them about how he disobeyed the Lord and asks the crew to throw him overboard since everyone's being punished for Jonah (noble, no?). They hesitate at first, but eventually they ask for forgiveness from the Lord and do it. Then, a massive fish swallows Jonah for three days! 

Whilst Jonah was in the fish, he prayed. And he prayed. And he was delivered via fish vomit to dry land! The second he gets back to earth, he goes straight to Nineveh (who wouldn't?) and spreads the word of God. When he does, he realizes that God is extremely forgiving of the people, and Jonah's like, "Come on, God! That's it?!" And God provides a metaphor using a vine and basically asks, "What right do you have to be angry? You saw these people for one day. You were not involved with them." 

Morals of the story: 

  1. If you ignore the Lord's call. That's fine. He'll still get you there eventually, but it might be a small disaster first. 
  2. The Lord always has a plan.
  3. Do not be angry or jealous at other people's fortune, based on your own misfortune. Remember Jeremiah 29:11--God's plans are for good. 
Moving on to Micah--

Micah is a lot like Amos--calling out the rich for stealing the land of the poor. What's interesting is that in Micah 2:2, it says those who take other people's land lose their own inheritance. But at the end of the book, God's covenant is His people's inheritance (7:18). Coincidence? I think not. 

Then, he moves on to call out those lying prophet's we've been talking about. And we also see a prophesy of a leader, who will come from Bethlehem, to reunite the people. Sound like anyone who might be coming up soon? (A.K.A. Jesus). The book ends with a case against Israel and a promise of restoration. 

Our reading today finishes up with Nahum: 

Nahum is a sequel to Jonah, but this time, Nineveh does not repent. And the people of Assyria are condemned. But fear not!



Tomorrow's reading: Habakkuk 1:1-Zechariah 10:12
Have a wonderful day!
Jill Jafarace 
Director of Student Ministry
New Leaf UMC




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