Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR NOVEMBER 18, 2017

SHABBAT SHALOM

11/19/2017 Jonah 1:1-3 The word of Yahweh came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from [Yahweh] and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from Yahweh.

We are all quite familiar with the story of Jonah. Many of us wonder how he could have thought he could so easily turn away from a task Yahweh wanted him to perform. We think “If Yahweh were to ask anything of me, I would do it without hesitation. I would never be like Jonah.” And yet, every day, Yahweh may be placing small tasks before us that we reject. We may not hear a voice speaking to us from the heavens. We may not have a vision showing us exactly what to do. But Yahweh is constantly communicating His will to us in many ways. Sometimes He places a person or family before you with needs that you can address. At other times, a family member or friend is going astray and though they do not ask for advice, you know that your thoughts, as based on the sound counsel of the sacred text, would give the type of guidance and advice that could prevent certain harm or injury to the individual. Perhaps someone you do not ‘like’ or think too much of needs comfort or consoling. The list is long of ways that Yahweh calls us into action. However, we too often reject His call just as did Jonah. As you go about your life, beginning today and every day that follows, look for ways that Yahweh is speaking directly to you. Look for ways that He is asking you to intervene. Look for ways that He is placing some mission before you. And then respond by performing His will.