MINOR PROPHETS

The 12 books known as the Minor Prophets are full of instruction and encouragement. They are called minor because they are short books but they pack a major message! With great spiritual depth they reveal humanity’s tendency to wander from God and make clear His displeasure with our sin.

Reading the Minor Prophets gives us a glimpse into the lives of the Israelites, the chosen people of God. Their story reveals a repetitive cycle of sin, exile and redemption. Chasing other gods, slipping into idolatry and rebelling against God’s law, they compromised their identity to blend with the people around them.

Don’t we do the same? In the face of God’s extravagant love and endless grace, we seek more! We become restless. Dissatisfied. We look around to see things that look better. And we drift. We immerse in our culture and begin to look like the world rather than citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Each of the prophets were God’s messengers delivering His message to His people during specific times in Israel’s history. While the time and location have changed, our tendency to drift from God is the same. Their story is our story! Their message of repentance and restoration are relevant.

Reading these small but truth filled books, we see the wandering Israelites from God’s perspective. More sobering, we see God’s perspective on sin. We come face to face with the danger of choosing our way rather than God’s because sin always brings consequences.