First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: Jonah 2:1-10

Today’s passage: Jonah 2:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

  • Jonah cried out to God in his distress and God answered him. Our God is merciful to us!
  • When our eyes are off of God, they fail to see steadfast love.  Grace can only be found in the one true God.
  • Jonah thanks God and vows to God.
  • He acknowledged that salvation belongs to the LORD and is glad for his own salvation.

Questions to consider:

  1. How does Jonah view God in this prayer?  What is he so thankful for?
  2. How could verses 8-9 sound like true repentance?  How might they instead sound like hopeful expectations of the near future?
  3. Does the end of a crisis automatically mean you have fully learned your lesson?

Devotional: Jonah 1:7-17

Today’s passage: Jonah 1:7-17

Helpful thoughts:

  • The crew was searching for the source of “evil” that had come upon them…the same word God used to refer to the sin of Ninevah in verse 2.
  • Jonah displays a lack of repentance:
    • Jonah watched silently as the men cast lots.
    • Nobody told Jonah he needed to be thrown into the sea.  At this point, Jonah is choosing death over repentance.
    • The crew even tries to turn the boat around (Repentance means to turn, to change) for Jonah, to no avail.  They have compassion on Jonah in contrast to Jonah’s lack of compassion for the Ninevites or the crew.
  • Jonah identified as one who feared the Lord, but his actions said otherwise.  The crew identified as men who feared other gods, but their actions displayed a newfound fear of Yahweh.  They feared God more than the self-proclaimed God-fearer in these moments.
  • Without the second half of verse 17, we might think that the great fish was an act of judgment for Jonah’s sinful disobedience.
  • Matthew 12:40

Questions to consider:

  1. In what ways could Jonah have been humbled by the actions and words of the ship’s crew?
  2. Was it right for Jonah and the crew to fear the Lord?  Are you a God-fearing person?  How is that evidenced in your life?  Where might your fear/reverence be lacking or misplaced?
  3. Was it good or bad for Jonah to be thrown into the sea and swallowed by that great fish?  How can God use consequences for sin as great mercies and grace in our lives?

Devotional: Jonah 1:1-6

Today’s passage: Jonah 1:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

  • Jonah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel in the 700’s B.C
  • Ninevah was a city in Assyria (Close to modern day Mosul, Iraq).  They were Israel’s enemy.
  • Tarshish was believed to be the western most part of the world at the time.  So, Jonah was probably fleeing toward Spain.
  • There is a lot of hurling or throwing going on in this chapter. God hurled the wind, the crew hurled their goods.  And soon, they would hurl Jonah.
  • The crew most likely consisted of multiple nationalities since they were all praying to different god’s of their own.
  • The pagan crew already starts rebuking Jonah:
    • They rebuke him for not caring for their well-being.
    • They rebuke him for not thinking his God might save them.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why did God tell Jonah that He wanted him to go to Ninevah (Don’t think ahead yet!)?  Why would Jonah run away from speaking condemnation on his enemy (This will be answered later)?
  2. In what ways were the rebukes from the crew legitimate?
  3. Is there a command from Scripture that you have “fled from God” over?  What is it about that command that you do not like?

Devotional: Obadiah 19-21

Today’s passage: Obadiah 19-21

Helpful thoughts:

  • The Negeb (Or Negev) region in Judah was the area closest to Edom and therefore most often fought over and disputed.
  • The people of Israel will dwell in the land they had lost and the lands of those who surround them.  The expansion in this passage spreads north, south, east and west.
  • The kingdom will be the LORD’s.
    • Yahweh will rule as king. (Read Revelation 19-20:6)
    • The gods (And the people) of the other nations will have failed to thwart Him.
    • Israel will no longer reject His reign as they did when asking for a king like the other nations.

Questions to consider:

  1. How does this prophecy point to Jesus Christ?
  2. How can the fact of Christ’s victory and coming reign give you confidence to follow Him today?

Devotional: Obadiah 15-18

Today’s passage: Obadiah 15-18

Helpful thoughts:

  • God is going to bring judgment on all the nations (Edom will not escape).
  • The drinking going on in these verses is like that of Jeremiah 25:15-29.  What the people are drinking is the wrath of God.
  • In comparing the houses of Jacob and Joseph to fire and Esau to stubble, God is promising that Israel itself will be who He uses to destroy Edom.

Questions to consider:

  1. How was this bad news for Edom (and the nations) good news for Israel?
  2. Are the people of Israel the ones whom Edom should fear?
  3. Why is there good news for Israel?  What (Or Who) made Mount Zion holy and the land their possession?
  4. How should this prophecy encourage and also humble the people of God?

Devotional: Obadiah 10-14

Today’s passage: Obadiah 10-14

Helpful thoughts:

  • After nine verses of prophesied judgment, God gives the reason for Edom’s future demise.
  • Edom should have treated Judah as a brother.  Instead they were an enemy.
  • There are eight “Do not” rebukes in this passage.

Questions to consider:

  1. What are the different sinful actions and attitudes that Edom committed?  What should they have done?
  2. In Luke 10:29-37, Jesus answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the good Samaritan.  The Jews did not like the Samaritans and the Samaritans didn’t like the Jews.  How can this parable help us to rightly apply this passage today in Obadiah?
  3. Is there someone you know who is presently suffering?  How could you be a help and show the love of Christ to them today? And, for the children: If you see someone being bullied or made fun of at school today, how can you apply today’s passage?

Devotional: Obadiah 1-9

Today’s passage: Obadiah 1-9

Helpful thoughts:

  • General info:
    • Obadiah’s name means, “The Lord’s servant”.
    • This book of prophecy was written after the Babylonian conquest of Judah and Jerusalem.  The Edomites (Descendants of Esau the brother of Jacob) had helped Babylon to round up those who were fleeing and even went so far as to take up residence in some of the abandoned villages.
    • The first 14 verses will consist of messages to the people of Edom.
    • The final 7 verses will be addressed to the nations and to Israel.
  • The Edomites lived south and east of the dead sea, high above sea level and in rocky and mountainous terrain.  They felt well protected, but their natural surroundings would not be too great for God to overcome.
  • God promises to Edom:
    • Their produce will be plundered.
    • Their wealth will be taken.
    • Their allies will turn against them.
    • Their wise men and warriors alike will be slaughtered.

Questions to consider:

  1. What were the Edomites trusting in for their safety?  Did they seem to be worried about any outside threats?
  2. Who did God say was going to bring Edom down?
  3. What can we learn about God from this passage that we don’t often hear people talk or sing about?

Devotional: Galatians 6:11-18

Today’s passage: Galatians 6:11-18

Helpful thoughts:

  • Paul confirms that those who are teaching legalism and requiring circumcision are “sowing to the flesh”.
  • People can take credit for convincing someone to be religious.  Only God can be honored for a new creation.
  • Paul specifically blesses those who have believed in Jesus Christ by faith.

Questions to consider:

  1. From the content of this letter, who is “The Israel of God”? (See Galatians 3:7-9)
  2. Would people be prone to see Paul’s scars suffered through persecution as marks of faithfulness and fullness of life, or would they likely see them as unwanted and a curse?  How did he see them?
  3. What compels you to follow Jesus?  Do not answer this from experience!  What does this passage say?  Are we following Jesus because God did a miracle or because we want something this world has to offer that is wrapped up and labeled as “Christianity”?