Nahum is about Jesus

NAHUM 1: REFUGE IN JESUS

Nahum 1 paints a vivid picture of God’s wrath.  His power to destroy is limitless and He is rightfully wrathful at a sinful creation.  Nahum tells us that God is just, and that no sin, great or small, will go unpunished.  Yet in verse 7, there is a glimmer of hope for mankind: “the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him…”  Finally, in verse 15, we see Jesus.  Nahum foresees the coming of the Messiah and the good news He will bring: salvation.

NAHUM 2: THE RESURRECTION

Nahum 2 is the story of the resurrection of Jesus.  It shows how He defeated evil.  Ninevah, the city that God moves against in Nahum, was very evil.  In Nahum, it is the symbol of sin, Satan, death, and all things evil.  Ninevah was also very well established in its ways, believing it could remain forever.  Ninevah had won.  They had come out of a culture that worshipped a god who said no to idolatry and adultery, two of Ninevah’s specialties.  But they had beaten that god… or so they thought.  Just as the enemies of Jesus thought they had won their fight against Him and His followers, so too had the Ninevites assumed their victory.  But just as God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat sin and death, so too did He destroy Ninevah to declare His victory.

NAHUM 3: THE END

Nahum 3 is a foreshadowing of what it will be like for those who choose to have faith in themselves over faith in Jesus.  In the end, whether through initial faith or through hindsight, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Many of these people will be in places that, like Ninevah, God is bringing righteous destruction upon.

SUMMARY OF NAHUM

The book of Nahum tells of God’s anger against Ninevah and against sinfulness.  Though the book as a powerful feel of destruction and death, we must realize that it is a just destruction and death.  The good news, as chapter 1 reveals, is that for those who are in Christ, there will be shelter from the storm because He has taken our punishment for us.

Micah is about Jesus

MICAH 1: THE INCARNATE CHRIST

Micah 1 is about Jesus.  It speaks of the Lord coming to earth and physically walking upon its ground. “Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth.”  Micah 1 is about Jesus’s first coming.

MICAH 2: WRATH FOR JESUS

Here the prophet Micah speaks out against the people, warning them of the coming wrath of God, a wrath that Jesus would later take upon Himself.  At the end of Micah 2, Micah prophesies about a coming king, a leader of the remnant of Israel.  He says He will be one who goes first to the Lord, breaking open the way and leading His people to salvation.  Micah speaks of Jesus.

MICAH 3: JESUS IS FINAL TRUTH

Micah 3 is a big precursor to Jesus.  The so-called “prophets” were not prophesying to please God, but to please people.  The prophet Micah points out the extreme need for Jesus at this time and place.  The nation of Israel had turned its back on God, and he declares that God would put an end to the prophets.  He would do this by sending the last prophet, His Son, Jesus Christ.

MICAH 4: THE CHIEF MOUNTAIN

The beginning of Micah 4 talks about God’s holy mountain.  In the last days, the mountain will be established as “chief among the mountains,” and people will flow to it.  Many nations will come to the mountain to see God.  Jesus is that mountain.  He is the chief among the mountains, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

MICAH 5: FROM THE CITY OF DAVID

Micah 5 is about Jesus.  Here, Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is clearly prophesied.  Micah 5 also speaks of Jesus superiority over other people and idols.  Micah 5 is about Jesus.

MICAH 6: THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE

Micah 6 shows the merciful act of Jesus sacrifice.  Israel has turned its back on God, many times.  It is apparent how angry God is with His people.  We see the story play out of how they have sinned, and how God has continued to have mercy and send prophets of truth, yet Israel continues to sin.  Because of all this, God has absolutely every right to punish, even kill, the people who have disobeyed Him.  But instead of destroying Israel, God has so much love and compassion that He chose to send Jesus to die for the sins of the people, that they may once again be reunited with Him.

MICAH 7: THE GOSPEL

Man is sinful.  It says that they are skilled in it.  It is not blind evil, but intentional acts at which they have become skilled.  Micah prophesies about the day that God would visit. He even says that he will wait for God the Savior, using the language of salvation.  He admits he has sinned and will deservedly get the wrath of God until the Savior pleads his case and covers him in His righteousness.  Micah describes God as one who pardons sin and forgives transgressions.  He sees that God likes to be merciful more than He likes to be angry, and he further prophesies the coming of Jesus, saying that God will again have mercy on man and hurl their sins into the sea.

SUMMARY OF MICAH

The book of Micah is a vibrant “pre-telling” of the story of Christ, covering subjects from Christ’s birth, to His’ teaching, to His crucifixion.  Micah also speaks of the doctrine of grace and gives a clear presentation of the gospel.  Jesus is portrayed as the incarnate Savior and a coming King; One who is compassionate and loving, while remaining just.  Micah prophesies that all nations would gather to seek the glory of God, through the coming Messiah, the Christ.

Jonah is about Jesus.

Jonah 1 is about Jesus. Just as Jesus was in the grave for 3 days, so too was Jonah in the belly of the fish for 3 days. After 3 days, the fish spit Jonah back out, just as after 3 days, Jesus left the grave.

In chapter 2, verse 4, Jonah mentions that he is out of God’s sight. On the cross, Jesus says that God has forsaken Him. Jonah goes on to say that he was dead, but the God brought him back from the “pit.” Jesus died, and was raised back to life on the third day.

In chapter 3, after Jonah escaped the fish, he declared his mission in Nineveh would take 40 days. After Jesus was raised from the dead, it would be about 40 days before he ascended into heaven.

Jonah 4 is all about Jesus. Here God grows a vine, tends to it, and sees that it is healthy. He then lets it be devoured by a worm. In this he teaches Jonah about His sovereignty, and that Jonah has no right to be angry about what God does with the things He created and tended to. Just as it is true in Jonah, it is true with Jesus, especially when concerning the doctrine of grace. Grace is extended to all people in some measure, but saving grace is extended to only the ones that God selects, not because they deserve it, but only because He has selected them. Jonah 4 is about Jesus’ work on the cross.

Jonah is the story of Jesus, beginning with Jesus’ death on the cross. It then follows the resurrection and Jesus’ last 40 days on earth. Finally, the last chapter in Jonah summarizes God’s salvation gift to man, speaking of His sovereignty, grace, and His divine selection.