Jonah the Son of Amittai Jonah 1:1

Although we are not certain of the authorship of the book of Jonah as to whether it was by Jonah himself or another writer, we will discover that it's inspiration is by none other than God Almighty. As we begin our study, we begin with “the word of the LORD” and how it “came” to “Jonah the son of Amittai” where we read:

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

The verse begins, “Now the word of the LORD...” The writer began with the words, “Now the word” or “speech, utterance and saying” “of the LORD” which is the Hebrew word “Yehovah or Jehovah” and refers to “the existing One and the proper name of the one true God”. From the very beginning of this book, the “word of the LORD” is the focal point and origin of the directions given to Jonah.

The verse goes on to say, “...came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,” The writer continued, “came unto Jonah” whose name means “dove” and was “son of Amittai and a native of Gath-hepher; fifth of the minor prophets who prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II and whom God sent also to prophecy to Nineveh” “the son” or “male child” “of Amittai” whose name means “my truth” and was “the father of Jonah the prophet” “saying” or “uttering, being told, avowing and avouching”. The words that “Jonah the son of Amattai” was to hear were directly spoken or conveyed by “the One true God”.

When we think through these words, we understand that we are in the presence of “Almighty God's” words as we read through this prophetic book. Let us remember, as we study them, they are directly from “Yehovah”, and whenever He speaks to man, man should pay close attention. God Almighty would later speak to us about His Son Jesus and the sacrifice He would pay to redeem us from our sinful natures. As we study this book, may He through His Holy Spirit help us to recognize the precedence set by His “words” to Jonah and the precursor they are to His words concerning Jesus.

Next time we see God's commission to “Jonah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.