Almost everyone is familiar with the man who was swallowed by the whale. But Jonah is much more than a childhood Bible lesson, at its core, it’s a story about a stubborn man and a gracious God. Over the next 7 days, you will read Jonah’s story twice along with some other companion verses.
Daily Faith + Life
Day 1
Scriptures: Jonah 1, Matthew 12:39-40, 2 Kings 14:23-25
I’m almost certain you’ve heard the story of Jonah before. Regardless of your church involvement, almost everyone is familiar with the man who was swallowed by the whale. But Jonah is much more than a childhood Bible lesson. At its core, it’s a story about a stubborn man and a gracious God.
Jonah was a prophet during the reign of King Jeroboam II, between 786 and 746 BC, but unlike other prophets in the Old Testament, he’s not as heroic, and certainly not as likable. He is stubborn, rebellious, and some could argue even racist, which makes him the perfect teacher for you and me. Even though it’s only 4 short chapters, his story is filled with valuable lessons. Lessons like:
- How to obey God when He asks you to do something you don’t want to do
- How to love people who act and look different than you
- How God’s grace can change the heart of someone you’re sure won’t change
- How we become blind to our own need for grace
But most importantly, we can learn that God is more loving, gracious, and in control than we can imagine.
Over the next 7 days, you will read Jonah’s story twice, along with other companion verses. As you read, ask God to show you the truth you need to see.
Day 2
Scriptures: Jonah 2, Jonah 1:1-2
Jonah’s story begins similarly to many other Old Testament stories, with a message from God. But this message was unexpected and unwelcome.
While we prefer God’s messages to be safe and manageable, He rarely communicates with us that way. His leading and prompting is usually disorienting because we can’t understand the complete plan of what He’s up to.
God’s voice rarely tells you to play it safe, stay comfortable, or get more of what you want. More often it forces you to face your fears and demons and take an action you would rather ignore.
What is something you feel like God has been saying to you lately? How have you responded? Are you in denial, thinking, “It can’t be God?” Are you ignoring him because you don’t like what he’s saying? Are you obeying?
God is speaking. Are you listening?
Day 3
Scriptures: Job 33:14-17, Jonah 1
After receiving a message from God and clearly understanding what God wanted Jonah to do, Jonah decided he didn’t want to obey God. Instead, he decided to run.
Why would Jonah run from God? Why would a prophet defy the Lord’s command? We’ll get an answer from Jonah himself later in chapter 4, but for now, it’s worth examining our own heart and asking, why do we ignore God? Why do we refuse to obey what we know he is telling us to do?
There will always be a ship in the harbor ready to take you away from what God has called you to, but it only leads to a storm. God gives you and me the chance to either do it his way or the hard way. He lets us choose. So what choice will you make today?
Is there something God has been speaking to you? Something that has been convicting you or pressing on your heart and mind so strongly that you know it’s God, but you’ve been running, trying to hide, or fighting Him? Have you been trying to take the hard way instead of His way? You have a chance right now to turn around and take a step in the direction He is calling you to. Obey. Do whatever you know He’s calling you to do. You can trust Him.
Day 4
Scriptures: Jonah 1:4-17, 2 Samuel 14:14
We’ve only covered 4 verses of Jonah’s story, but so much has already happened. God has spoken, Jonah has decided to run away from what he knows God wants him to do, and it puts him on a boat headed in the opposite direction of where God wants him to be. We learned yesterday, you can’t outrun God.
Today’s reading is a great reminder of something we forget: sin causes storms.
Make no mistake, there is always a storm connected to sin. In the words of Tim Keller, “The Bible doesn’t say that every difficulty is a result of sin, but it does teach that every sin will bring you difficulty.”
Day 5
Scriptures: Jonah 2, Psalms 107
We learned yesterday that God sent a storm to stop Jonah, not as punishment, but as grace. He does the same thing for you and me. Unfortunately, most people don’t come to Christ at the highest moments of their life. Usually, we come crawling back to God when we need him the most. We need a storm to remind us how badly we need God.
CS Lewis said it like this, “God whispers to us in our pleasures.. but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world..” That’s what happened to Jonah.
Have you ever made a promise to God when you were desperate, but after things got better, went back on your end of the deal? Of course, you have! We all have. We should know by now that God cannot teach us our most important spiritual lessons in prosperity; we’re not very teachable. It takes failure, consequences, pain, and misery to soften our stubborn hearts.
Take a few minutes to make a list of some of your dumbest, most painful, decisions, and failures. As you look at the list don’t feel bad or ashamed, instead, take some time to worship and thank God for His faithful love.
Day 6
Scripture: Jonah 3
The 3rd chapter of Jonah is a chapter of remarkable grace; and remarkable repentance.
God spoke to Jonah a second time. I’m thankful that God is willing to speak a second time and a third time… a hundred times if necessary. This time, Jonah obeyed the Lord, went to Ninevah, and miraculously the entire town repented.
The Hebrew word for repent is shub, and it means to turn. When we repent for our sin, we’re not just admitting we were wrong or feeling guilty for our error. Unless we turn from our sin, it’s not repentance. It’s just remorse. That’s what Jonah did. He changed directions and turned towards Ninevah. That’s what the Ninevites did when they “put a stop to their evil ways.”
Is there anything in your life you need to repent of today? Is there something you’ve felt bad for, or even asked for forgiveness for, but you haven’t turned from it yet? Ask God to help you turn from those things that are keeping you from Him. He will help you.
Day 7
Scriptures: Jonah 4, 2 Kings 14:25
The final chapter of Jonah’s story is strange and often overlooked. Most people know Jonah was spit out of a fish. Most childhood versions of the story celebrate the repentance of Ninevah but we rarely talk about chapter 4. It’s for a good reason. It is incredibly bizarre.
You would think that a prophet who saved an entire city would be ecstatic. God wasn’t going to destroy the city after all. But Jonah wasn’t happy.
It’s ironic really. Jonah needed God’s grace over and over again. When it came to God offering that same grace to the people Jonah hated, Jonah didn’t think they deserved it. Sadly, he wanted 120,000 people to die, simply because he loved his country and his reputation more than he loved God’s grace.
We do the same thing. We forget about all the times our disobedience threw us overboard and we feel superior to people who are just as in need of a savior as we are.
Thankfully, God was patient with Jonah, even in his outburst and pouting. He does the same for you and me. Understanding and being changed by God’s grace is a long journey that happens in stages.
Is there a person or people in your life that you believe deserve God’s grace less than you? Have you become hard-hearted towards people that God love. Take a moment and ask God to soften your heart and help you share the grace you so graciously need yourself.