BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusનમૂનો

So far in the Book of the Twelve, Yahweh has delighted in showing mercy, even to people who make themselves his enemies. When Israel abandoned their covenant relationship with Yahweh for adulterous affairs with idols, Yahweh promised through Hosea to chase them down and love them back to life.

When Israel’s sin brought judgment as devastating as a locust swarm, Yahweh promised through Joel to transform their ravaged wilderness into a rich garden. When Israel smothered their own poor with injustice and exploitation, Yahweh promised through Amos to send them a righteous king. When Israel experienced exile because of their relentless rebellion, getting thrashed by their brother Edom along the way, Yahweh promised through Obadiah to bring them home.

But what happens when Yahweh extends this extravagant mercy to Israel’s enemy?

Today’s reading confronts us with that very question through the story of an Israelite prophet named Jonah. In the video, you’ll learn about Jonah’s mission to Nineveh. How will he respond when Yahweh shows mercy to his enemies? Which raises another, more important question: How will you respond when God shows mercy to your enemies?

Reflection Questions

• Can you think of any other examples from the Hebrew Bible where non-Israelite outsiders were more faithful to Yahweh than Israelite insiders? What might these stories suggest about the sailors, the Ninevites, and Jonah in today’s reading?
• In the ancient TaNaK order of the Hebrew Bible, the 12 short prophetic works from Hosea to Malachi were designed as a single scroll called The Twelve. This means Jonah originally appeared in the same scroll as Joel. Notice: These two books contain a nearly identical quotation of the description of Yahweh’s character from Exodus 34:6-7: gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13, Jon. 4:2). Compare the contexts of these two quotations. Who benefits from Yahweh’s mercy in Joel? What does this show you about Jonah’s complaint in today’s reading?