…for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…

Joel 2:13

I’ve enjoyed reading through the Old Testament minor prophets. I wanted to focus on the circumstances in Israel’s history as well as the God’s message entrusted to them to proclaim. The twelve minor prophets were sometimes referred to as The Book of the Twelve since scrolls often combined them within one scroll: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Johan, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi. Importantly, though, they were called ‘minor’ prophets only because of the length of the books, not because of a lesser important message.  

Most lived before the Jews were taken to Babylon as slaves. Only three of the minor prophets, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, write during this time of exile. Young and old, shepherds and priests, contemporaries or generations apart, they all addressed hearts gone astray from the one true God and the dire need for repentance—a message relevant for us today. 

Another thing I’ve noticed as I read these short books is the sadness I felt over the wickedness, unfaithfulness and idolatry that existed to such a degree that God sent someone to warn them of the consequences. Yet within these warnings, I came across the same golden thread found elsewhere in the Old Testament. In two places “God described Himself” as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. It shows up first in Exodus 34:6-7, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Joel 2:13 provides a second example, “…for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love….”

Other prophets like Moses, Nehemiah, Micah and Jonah reiterate these same amazing descriptors of God. “For the Lord your God is a merciful God…” (Deuteronomy 4:31); “But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Nehemiah 9:17); “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abound in love….“ (Jonah 4:2); “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18).

The best news of all, though, is that God never changes. He’s the same yesterday and today. How humbling to know when I enter His presence through prayer, He is gracious and compassionate toward me, slow to anger and abounding in love—and to all who call upon His name in repentance! Hallelujah! 

Linda Les-