We conclude the Old Testament with Jonah, Nahum, and Obadiah, books that reaffirm God’s control over history. While we’ve seen his guidance over his covenant people, these prophets show that his influence extends to nations and the wider universe. The Bible consistently reminds us that life is best lived with reference to God, both individually and collectively.

Most people are familiar with Jonah’s story, but its message is profound. God commanded Jonah to warn Nineveh, the Persian capital, of impending judgment. Fearing his enemy’s reaction, Jonah fled, only to learn that one cannot escape God. His journey, marked by emptiness and struggle, illustrates that a life without God is void of purpose. Eventually, he obeyed, and to his surprise, Nineveh repented, even its king. This teaches us that God’s grace extends to all.

Nahum follows with a warning: nations must not grow arrogant and think they can live without God. He reminds them that all power originates from God and must be exercised humbly. Those who ignore him will ultimately realise his strength. Obadiah reinforces this by condemning Israel’s enemies, particularly Edom, stressing that evil doesn’t go unpunished.

As the NLT Study Bible notes, nations and individuals alike must heed what they sow, for the time of harvest comes swiftly. God is just and will bring justice for the oppressed.

With this, we reach the end of our Old Testament journey. Though it offers only a partial revelation of God’s nature, it provides glimpses of his character and foreshadows Jesus. Before moving to the New Testament, we must first explore the period between these two great sections.

This is one of a series of posts outlining all the books of the Bible. Previous Next