The Fear of God

Sometime in the ninth century B.C. a man by the name of Amittai had a son whom he named after the animal prescribed by God in the sacrificial service for the poor and needy, the commoner ( יוֹנָה (yônâ)/Jonah) which is the Hebrew for “dove.” Perhaps that is why this prophetic book is so down to earth and applicable to where you and I live, Jonah was intended for the common man!

Upon a first glance at this prophecy, it is tempting to conclude that Jonah was a silly, selfish man. He had a problem with any race or religion outside of Judaism. He seems petty, argumentative, and childish, running from God and the responsibility given to him. But then we look in the mirror and realize that if our inner-most thoughts were recorded as were Jonah’s, we too might appear to be petty, childish, and foolish, as we…

• Argue with God.
• Struggle with loving those different from ourselves.
• At times, forsake the calling and so the ministry given us by God.
• Truly, this prophecy was written with us in mind!