I wrote these reflections on the Book of Jonah for the Bible Society: published last October. I thought to share them here over the month of January. As I/we read the Bible my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will speak to me/us of life and love and so nurture my/our following of Jesus. Shalom, John

Jonah 1:1  ¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai.

*Read also, John 1:1-5, 10-18  ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

 ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

God continues to speak to us as He has throughout the ages. God spoke directly to people such as Deborah, Jeremiah, Hosea and Mary the mother of Jesus.

And in Jesus Christ, God has spoken to us in his beloved Son.  The Prologue to the Gospel according to John (1:1-18) refers to Jesus as the Word and affirms that the Word was God. This name for Jesus Christ, the Word, assures us of God’s heart to communicate with us. God’s desire extends to becoming a human being in order that we might understand more fully his heart for us. God speaks to his world.

God takes the initiative in our relationship. It is the word of the LORD that comes to Jonah. Similarly, the Word comes to us, taking the initiative. (The Word) came to that which was his own and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… (the Word) came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:11,14)

These two great truths: God speaks to us and God takes the initiative in our relationship, give me great comfort. Why? Because when I let my love for God drift, I know that the Lover of the universe patiently, ceaselessly seeks me out to re-engage me in a living relationship of respect and dignity.

Prayer: Speaking God, I thank you for your great love. Speak to me today and may my life speak of you and your love. Amen.

For a summary overview of the Book of Jonah from the NIV Study Bible, see here.