Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Jonah 1:3 "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." Today’s verse shows Jonah’s deliberate disobedience. Instead of heading east to Nineveh as God commanded, he travels west to Joppa, finds a ship bound for Tarshish (likely modern-day Spain), pays the fare, and sails away, exactly the opposite direction of God’s will. The text repeatedly stresses that Jonah fled “from the presence of the LORD.” Though he knew God is omnipresent, he tried to distance himself from Israel’s covenant center and avoid a mission he opposed. Jonah feared the Assyrians would actually repent and be spared, which would humiliate Israel (see Jonah 4:2). His actions highlight spiritual descent: he “rose up” in rebellion, then repeatedly “went down” to Joppa and into the ship. This contrasts sharply wi...

Jonah 1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." Jonah was an accomplished prophet of God. His first recorded prophecy (2 Kings 14:25) foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. The prophecy was fulfilled, bringing prosperity to the northern kingdom. In yesterday’s verse, the phrase “the word of the LORD came to Jonah” signals direct, supernatural communication. In Hebrew, dāḇar YHWH carries divine authority, God’s command, not Jonah’s opinion, likely delivered as an audible voice, vision, or compelling inner conviction. In today’s verse, God orders Jonah to leave home and travel roughly 500 miles to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was Israel’s powerful and brutal enemy. The command is urgent (“Arise”) and specific: Jonah must personally deliver a message of judgment to this pagan Gentile city. God declares that Nineveh’s extreme wickedness has...

Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying," In our study of God’s calls, a clear theme emerges: those He calls often begin with reluctance. This week we meet one of the most famous reluctant prophets; Jonah. Yet Jonah was not always reluctant. His first recorded prophecy, found in 2 Kings 14:25, foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. The prophecy came true, bringing prosperity to the northern kingdom. Though Jeroboam II “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 14:24), God used both the wicked king and His prophet to show mercy to Israel. This same mercy stands at the heart of the Book of Jonah. Jonah knew God’s character well, “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 4:2; cf. Exodus 34:6). He could even quote it. But he bitterly resisted the thought that this mercy might also extend to Israel’s hated enemy, Nineveh. Spe...

2 Kings 14:25 "He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher." We’re continuing our series on God’s calling of His people. Last week we saw how God transformed the Apostle Paul—from zealous enemy to greatest champion. A clear theme is emerging: those God calls often start with reluctance. This week we meet one of the most famous reluctant prophets, Jonah. Jonah’s first recorded prophecy appears in 2 Kings 14:25. He foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. This prophecy came true, bringing a season of prosperity to the northern kingdom. This historical note is important. It confirms Jonah was a real prophet whose words carried divine authority. By naming him “Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher,” Scripture anchors the he...

Acts 22:15&16 "15 For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." This shows that Paul’s transformation was never meant to be private. God appointed him as a witness to testify about his encounter with the risen Christ, especially to the Gentiles. The phrase “to all people” underscores the universal reach of his mission, which many Jews found scandalous. “Wash away your sins” symbolizes spiritual cleansing and public identification with Christ. Baptism came after Saul’s conversion as an outward sign of the inward change already wrought by faith. The command to call on the Lord’s name emphasizes sincere faith and prayer (see Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). Contrary to popular belief, Saul did not undergo a dramatic name change after conversion. He had carried both names from birth: Saul (his Hebrew name) and Paul (his Roman name, from Latin...

Acts 22:12-14 "12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth." These verses introduce Ananias, a devout and well-respected Jew. His credibility within the Jewish community validates Paul’s conversion as authentic, not the work of an outsider. Sent by God, Ananias stands before Paul and says, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” At once Paul regains his vision, confirming the divine nature of his encounter with Jesus. Ananias then declares that the God of their fathers has chosen Paul to know His will, see the Righteous One, and hear His voice. This affirms Paul’s calling as an apostle, appointed by God, not by men, to witness to the risen Chr...