The Bible in a Monthಮಾದರಿ

Day 21: Mercy in the Middle of the Mess

Reading: Amos 1–9 + Obadiah 1 + Jonah 1–4 + Micah 1–7 + Nahum 1–3

Welcome to a day with five different prophets, each holding a microphone in a world that doesn’t really want to hear from God. These aren't feel-good devotionals. They’re calls to wake up. Each one delivers hard truth, but all of them remind us that mercy still runs deeper than judgment.

Amos: The Justice Prophet

Amos wasn’t a career prophet. He was a shepherd and fig farmer. God pulled him out of obscurity to confront a nation high on prosperity but low on integrity. Israel was thriving economically, but behind the scenes, the poor were being trampled, bribes ruled the courts, and worship had become performance.

Amos doesn’t hold back:

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”

God doesn’t care about their songs or sacrifices if they ignore suffering. But even after nine chapters of judgment, God says, “I will restore David’s fallen shelter…” There’s always a thread of hope.

Obadiah: The Fall of Pride

Shortest book in the Old Testament. One chapter. One message: Edom, descendants of Esau, stood by while Israel suffered, and even gloated. Obadiah reminds them: Pride goes before a fall. God takes injustice personally, especially when it’s done to His people.

Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet

This one reads like satire. Jonah is told to preach to Nineveh, and instead, he books it in the opposite direction. A storm, a fish, and three days later, he’s vomited onto dry land. He finally preaches, the people actually repent, and Jonah is mad about it.

Because the real tension of Jonah isn’t whether Nineveh will listen, it’s whether Jonah will let God be merciful to people he doesn’t like.

“I knew You were gracious and compassionate… slow to anger… abounding in love.”

That was Jonah’s complaint. Imagine that. But it reveals something big: God’s love doesn’t stop at your borders.

Micah: The Justice and Hope Combo

Micah brings both fire and comfort. He calls out corrupt leaders, dishonest scales, and fake religion. But he also drops one of the most hope-filled prophecies in the Bible:

“Bethlehem… out of you will come One who will be ruler over Israel.”

And what does God actually require from His people?

“To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Micah ends not with despair, but with a picture of a God who pardons sin and delights in mercy.

Nahum: God Still Sees Evil

Nahum is essentially the sequel to Jonah. Remember Nineveh? They repented, for a minute. Then they went back to their brutal ways. Nahum declares: “Enough.” Judgment is coming. But this isn’t God being moody, it’s God defending the oppressed.

What does all this tell us about the story of God?

That He cares deeply about justice, and He doesn’t turn a blind eye to evil. But He’s also slow to anger, quick to forgive, and relentless in mercy. Whether it’s a city like Nineveh, a person like Jonah, or a nation like Israel, God keeps inviting people back.

Takeaway: If you’ve messed up, run away, judged others, or been overwhelmed by the injustice around you, these prophets remind you: There is still time to return. God’s heart beats for justice and mercy. And He’s more committed to restoration than you are to resistance.