Joel, Obadiah and Jonah

Teacher: Ed Reifsnyder

Joel

Listen to the book of Joel from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV

The first two chapters of Joel are dedicated on a swarm of locusts. It's very topical for two reasons, first because Africa in the last 60 days has been experiencing a very severe swarm of locusts. Second, I suppose a swarm of locusts could be likened to a pandemic and we find a bit of conversation in Joel about "Where is God in all this?" "Who knows maybe God will intervene?" And that's exactly where we are. Was God in this in the first place? Is He in getting us out of this? Where is God? People are asking the same questions about the Coronavirus.

Short Outline of the Book of Joel from Today's English Version:

• The plague of locusts (1:1 – 2:17)
• Promises of restoration (2:18-27)
• The day of the Lord (2:28 – 3:21)

Obadiah

Listen to the book of Obadiah from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV

Short Outline of the Book of Obadiah from Today's English Version:

• The punishment of Edom (1:1-14)
• The day of the Lord (1:15-21)

Jonah

Listen to the book of Jonah from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV

How did this weary traveler show up after travelling 500 miles from Israel to Nineveh, the capital of the greatest empire the world had known up until that time, and walk around a little while and talk, and how everybody repents. What credibility did he have? The god of the Assyrians was Ashur. How did Jonah come across in an effective way this wanderer from 500 miles away in a place that was subject to the Assyrian Kingdom?

Short Outline of the Book of Jonah from Today's English Version:

• Jonah’s call and disobedience (1:1-17)
• Jonah’s repentance and deliverance (2:1-10)
• Jonah’s message against Nineveh (3:1-10)
• God’s mercy on Nineveh (4:1-11)