Story Time with Jesus
Bible Stories
Chapters 62-74 
62-Elisha is Called
63-A Heavenly Ride on a Fiery Chariot
64-Amazing Water and Oil
65-Elisha’s Room, and a Special Child
66-Food for Hungry Men
67-Humility and Healing
68-The Axe that Floated
69-The Fruit
70-Abundance and Obedience
71-Amos, Joel, and Hosea
72-Jonah’s Trip
73-Warnings and Forgiveness
74-Obadiah and Micah

Elisha is Called
When Elijah was staying in the cave on Mount Horeb he learned something interesting from his time talking with Me. I showed him that the most important thing that he, as God’s prophet, could do, was to stop and listen to the “still small voice” of My spirit.
Elijah had been used by Me to do some pretty amazing things—like calling down fire from heaven, and then praying down the rain that ended the time of famine. But after all that was done he felt disappointed and was discouraged. All that dramatic display hadn’t made him a hero, and here he was hiding out in a cave wondering what he was supposed to do next. 
The king and the queen and many of the people in the country didn’t stop over-night and start to believe and follow in God’s ways. There was still lots of work to be done to lead people in the right ways. People needed to hear what My Word said to do, and they needed time to learn that loving and respecting Me most of all would bring the best results. I needed Elijah to be My servant and go here and go there and do whatever needed to be done to continue to bring people back close to Me. 
I told Elijah to stand at a certain place on the mountain, and so he did. He saw then a dramatic display of My Spirit passing by. There was a great wind, so strong it cracked mountain rocks! Then there was an earthquake, and after that there was fire. But My voice wasn’t heard in the wind or the earthquake or the fire. It wasn’t until I made everything quiet again that Elijah heard My voice speaking very softly and in a peaceful way. 
Everyone likes to be able to do wonderful and amazing things for Me, Jesus, and to be able to call down fire from heaven to shock everyone might feel pretty cool! But there was more to being a prophet than that, and not everything was going to be wild and exciting. Most of the time those serving Me on Earth aren’t going to have so much excitement and far out thrills and see a tremendous impact on many others as they are choosing day-by-day to listen to My voice and follow in My footsteps. 
The best and most important job that anyone who wants to be My helper and follower  is to take the time to stop and listen. I’m not usually going to boom down from Heaven with big and loud instructions, but rather I’ll speak to you gently and in a soft voice right to your heart.
Do you know why you can’t hear from Me out loud most of the time? Well, it takes faith to hear My voice in prophecy, and when you are quiet and listening then I can talk to you. If I spoke out loud all the time to you, you might miss something, as you wouldn’t get as quiet and focused to hear My “still small voice” as Elijah did. 
Getting quiet before Me shows that you have faith that I am there and will speak to you. This faith pleases Me and is what helps you to grow strong in spirit as well. Faith brings on My blessings.
So anyway, Elijah was listening to the softly spoken voice of My Spirit. He talked with Me about the way he was feeling, and I encouraged him and gave him a new mission or job to do. He wasn’t meant to just stick around in the cave for the next long while. Elijah chose to obey and to get going doing what I had asked him.
One of his jobs would be to go and anoint two new men to be kings for two of the countries in that area—Syria and Israel. He also had one more commission, and it was one that would be a real help and encouragement to him. He would have a friend and companion to work together with. Elijah then wouldn’t feel so alone in doing his big job. He was to call a man named Elisha to come and travel with him, and learn from him about being a prophet. Elisha would be his helper then, as well as the next prophet after Elijah was to be taken to Heaven.
Prophet Elijah was encouraged and his heart was strengthened after his time talking with God, and he was ready to get going on his next job.  He travelled and anointed the new kings, and then found Elisha.
Elisha was in a field having a very tough time. He was trying to plough the field to plant crops, now that rain was falling normally again. The ground was still quite hardened and the oxen weren’t strong either after so long of not having much to eat. Rather than just a team of two or four oxen to work the plough, Elisha had 24 yoked and working. 
He wasn’t afraid to do some good old hard work, and he had faith that as he worked hard on the dry ground, that eventually the crops would grow. Elisha also knew and loved God, so he was just the kind of man who was needed to help Elijah, and to be a prophet too. Being a prophet and helping the country to get closer to Me would in some ways be like that field he was working on ploughing. 
Sometimes people’s hearts are hard and they are not so eager to hear what you have to say to them, even if what you are saying is good for them—just like the ground was hard to plough. And maybe you feel weak or like you aren’t in top condition or don’t have all the things you need either—just like the oxen who were being used for the job weren’t the best in the world, but it was the best Elisha could do. I can still use you to do the best job you can, and eventually good will come from your efforts. 
Isn’t it wonderful when you are going through a difficult time, and at first you think it will go on and on, but then something new happens and you are surprised? Something fun comes your way, and the troubles end? Well, Elisha was faithfully working hard and not giving up, no matter how hard it was. He had faith and courage. 
Then surprisingly, one day, without advance notice, he got a new and important job—something he would much rather do! He was going to get to not only hear God’s Words, but live and work together with a prophet of God. It seemed too good to be true! He was eager and excited to do it. 
Elijah called him by throwing his mantle (cloak) over Elisha shoulders, and then Elijah kept on walking while Elisha thought about it. He knew what it meant, but it didn’t take long to choose. He wanted to go with Elijah and be his helper and learn about hearing My voice. Elisha ran to Elijah and told him that he would do the job. 
It would mean saying goodbye to all his loved ones and relatives there, and moving out of his house, and to just live trusting Me to supply all that he needed. He wouldn’t be a flashy and amazing person, but just a servant of God’s prophet for years. He would need to be humble and do the little jobs to be a help.
Elisha told Elijah that he just wanted to say goodbye to his parents and tell them where he was going, and then he would come right after that. He was very quick to drop everything when I had a new job for him. 
Elisha cooked a farewell dinner for his parents and their team, and then was off on his new commission, following and helping, Elijah and learning to be God’s prophet too. 
***
A Heavenly Ride on a Fiery Chariot
After several years of travelling and working together, it was time for Elijah and Elisha to part ways. Elijah was to go on to be with Me in Heaven and to receive his reward for a job well done, and Elisha was to continue on as a prophet of God in Elijah’s place. He had received much training and was now ready to take over and do the job he had been called for.
As Elijah and Elisha walked together to various places for the last time, they met up with others who were in training to hear from God as prophets—the “sons of the prophets.” These young men knew also that Elijah wasn’t going to be around for too much longer and mentioned it to Elisha. 
“Did you know that Elijah is going to be taken from you today?” they said. 
“Yes, I know!” he responded, sadly. He didn’t need to be reminded as it was hard enough thinking about how he’d miss Elijah, and then would also have to take on the big job as God’s prophet, alone. He wasn’t alone, of course, and I would give him all the help that he needed!
Elisha wanted to spend every last second with Elijah, and certainly didn’t want to miss seeing the event when I took him up to be with Him. When Elijah would suggest to Elisha that he part ways and leave him alone, Elisha said he wanted to stay with him right up until the end. So they travelled on until they reached the River Jordan.
They were meant to cross over, but without a boat or bridge they needed a miracle to do it. I told Elijah what to do. He took his coat or mantel as it was called and hit the water with it. Immediately the water parted and there was a dry path through it to the other side. Problem solved! When they were across, the water returned its normal flow again.
They spent time walking and talking, and Elijah asked Elisha if he had any last requests before he was gone, something he could do for him, or give him. Well, Elisha had his mind on the job and responsibility that was about to be his, and he knew that Elijah could pray and ask Me for anything—and if it was good for him and would be good for others, it would be answered.
 What did he most need, as a prophet? Did he ask for a new set of clothes, or a house to live in, or perhaps a bag of gold coins to get all the food and things he’d need and not have to worry about how I would provide for him? Or perhaps a good wilderness survival kit with first aid supplies and water purification tablets and a tent, for all his travels? Would those have been the biggest help? 
After all those years of seeing God provide for them all that they needed, he knew he would be taken care of. All he really needed was the Spirit and power of God to do the job. That would be something that no one on Earth could ever give him. But he didn’t just want a bit of power from Heaven—he asked for double the amount that Elijah had! He had a tough job ahead of him, helping people in a country who were often choosing to go the wrong way, and prophets of God weren’t always listened to and respected. 
Elijah thought and prayed a minute and said, “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you’ll get your request granted. But if not, then you won’t get that.”
More than ever Elisha was determined to stick real close and continue talking and learning all that he could from Elijah and hear whatever it was that God wanted to pass on to him. Others wished they could have been there with Elijah too, but they were at the other side of the Jordan river, in Jericho, trying to peer over and see all that they could of Elijah and Elisha. They were waiting for their return.
All of a sudden, when they were in the middle of talking, a chariot of fire with fiery horses pulling it comes swiftly riding right where they are, galloping between them, separating them! Next, Elijah is taken up to Heaven in a whirlwind! That was one amazing way to catch a ride up to Heaven! How’d you like to go for a ride on a flying, bright and powerful chariot, and fly with the wind? Pretty wild! 
When Elijah disappeared, his earthly garment, his mantel, fell down to where Elisha was. He knew that Elijah was gone, and it was at first real hard for him. But he had a job to do, and couldn’t just sit around feeling sad and missing his friend and companion, and the one who had told him My Words. Elisha then picked up the mantel of Elijah bravely, and with My power now on him in a wonderful way, he began his mission as the new prophet, taking over where prophet Elijah left off.
The first challenge would be crossing over the Jordan River again. As he held the old prophet’s garment, he called out loudly for My help, and as the first sign that My Spirit was with him, the first miracle of his life as a prophet happened! 
“Where is the God of Elijah!” Elisha bellowed out with all his heart, while striking the river with Elijah’s mantel. 
Right away the river parted, and once again he was able to cross over it, to meet the sons of the prophet who were eagerly waiting to find out what was going on with Elijah. 
It’s not that the piece of clothing had something special in it, but it was necessary for Elisha to get back over the river in a safe way, and it was what his faith needed right then—a miracle sign to give him the faith he needed to start his new job. Also, Elijah’s followers, who were to then listen to and learn from Elisha, wanted and needed some sign of confirmation that God’s Spirit was now with Elisha. If someone had just picked up the nearest coat, or even Elijah’s coat, and began hitting the water with it, nothing would have happened, besides the coat getting very wet. It wasn’t “the clothes that made the man.” It was not the mantel that was special and made Elisha able to then be a prophet that could make miracles happen. No. It was all God’s love and will and His help and ability coming to help the helpless! 
Prophets knew more than ever that anything that worked out well, was all a work of God’s Spirit. They depended on My help and My provision and knew they could do nothing without Me. If they would have thought they were anything great on their own, without My Spirit, they would have truly been a nothing then! As long as they prayed desperately for My help, and as long as they found out what My will and plan was and then obeyed Me, then the miracles and the Words from heaven were there for them, and made their ministry possible.  
When the sons of the prophets saw Elisha coming towards them they could tell something was different. They exclaimed how it seemed the same power and Spirit of God that was on Elijah was also was on Elisha! They bowed down to the real presence of My Spirit being there.
It was real hard for them to understand however, that Elijah was completely gone! That had never happened before. Whenever people left this world, only their spirit was taken, while their body remained and was buried. It was a way to remember those that had lived and what they had done.
The young men begged Elisha to send them around to look carefully all over the area to see if somehow he had fallen off that chariot, while only his spirit went to be with God above. Elisha told them it would be a waste of time! He had gone on to his reward in a new way—all the way up. They wouldn’t find him down on Earth if they looked. However, it seemed it was so important to them to at least get to look and see, just in case, so at last Elisha let them go look around. 
When they came back they confirmed what Elisha had told them all along—I had taken Elijah, in his complete form, up to be with Me. Nothing of him remained to be seen on Earth.
 People were glad to have Elisha there with them, and could feel My encouragement and love, and hear My Words through Elisha now.
***
Amazing Water and Oil
Some of people’s biggest needs were for things like food, water, and money too. The prophet Elisha was there to bring God’s power into their lives. He helped to teach new prophets how to hear from Me, and he told people the Words I told him too. Also, he was there to bring the My solutions to practical everyday life problems and needs. He didn’t just sit around, but got involved and prayed down miracles to make people’s lives better—especially those that loved and wanted to obey Me, their Lord.
The city of Jericho had a problem. There was bad water coming to the city, and causing the plants to not grow well, and making things real unpleasant. It wasn’t good to drink, and wasn’t suitable for animals either. Water is a real important commodity, and if you don’t have good water in the place you live, it can be nearly impossible to live and get the things you need to survive.
God’s word is like water, and just as essential to happy living. My words give inspiration, faith and joy, as well as help you in our everyday life to know the best ways to do things. Just like there wasn’t a good water supply in Jericho, the people were in need of My refreshing and life-giving words. People chose the right solution—to go to the prophet who would bring My help and Words to them as well. 
The things I say to do can be simple or odd at times, but those who obey and follow My instructions are blessed with the results. 
“Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it,” Elisha instructed. 
He took the jar of salt to the source of the water, where the spring was, and poured the salt in. He told them what God said, “I have healed these waters!” 
From that moment on, the water springing out was fresh and clean and good to drink! It showed people how I, the Lord, cared about their everyday needs, and that when they pray for solutions and listen to My Words, I can and will make things better!
Another time where a solution was needed was for one of the wives of the men who were learning from Elisha how to listen to and obey God’s words—one of the “Sons of the prophets.” Well, he had passed away and his wife and children were in need of a miracle. The man had owed money to someone, but since he was no longer around he could not pay it back. 
Rather than forgiving the debt, the greedy person came to the wife and said she had to give him the money instead—or else there would be trouble, and he’d make her sons have to work hard to pay back the debt. She was so poor that all she and her children had left in the house was a jar of oil! She went to Elisha, who knew her late husband, and asked for his advice.
When Elisha found out the only thing that she had in her house—the small amount of oil--he prayed and told her what to do. 
“Have your sons collect many jars and pots from the neighbours around, and go into your house and shut the door. Then start to pour your little jar of oil to fill up all the jars and pots.”
These were the instructions passed on to her. It seemed like a very interesting thing to do, but she was willing to obey whatever was told her if it brought the miracle that she needed. It was her faith and obedience that brought God’s amazing power into her life and gave the solutions in what seemed like an impossible situation.
She poured and poured and kept on pouring, filling every container that her sons had collected. 
“Get me another jug please,” she called out. 
“That was the last one, mother, they are all filled!” her sons told her. There were so many jars and pots of oil filled using only one small little jar that had a bit of oil left in it.
The amazed woman went back to the prophet to receive her next instruction. She wanted to do just what I, her Lord and God had in mind. 
“Sell the oil now, and use the money to pay back the debt, and keep the rest of the money for your family to live on,” Elisha told her. 
She believed in God and in His prophet, and did whatever God said to do—no matter how new or amazing it seemed. It changed her situation from a sad and difficult one, to having the joy of seeing a supernatural miracle happen, as well as having all that she and her children needed.
What if she had just cried and thought there was no solution, rather than asking for My advice from the prophet? Or what if she hadn’t obeyed all that he said to do, or gone back to get the rest of the instructions? She wouldn’t have experienced the miracle and abundant supply. Yet, because she had faith, she went to the right person for help—to Me, through the voice of His prophet—and she was brave enough and willing to do whatever I asked her to do.
I see what you have and what you can do and will only ask you to do things that I knows you can, to show that you are willing to listen and obey. When I see that someone is ready and eager to follow what I tell them to do, then that brings on My blessings. It pleases Me! I didn’t say for her to do something that was impossible, but to do something that allowed Me to do the impossible for her.
Pray, obey, and then watch Me, Jesus, do the miracles for you—no matter what situation you are in. I love to work in your life and bring wonderful things your way. 
***
Elisha’s Room, and a Special Child
One day Elisha travelled to Shunem, where there was an important and wealthy woman. She invited him to eat a meal in their house. From then on as often as he passed that way, Elisha was always welcome at their table, to come and eat and be refreshed. 
The woman said unto her husband, “I think he is a special man, a holy man of God, which passes by us often on his travels.” She then told an idea she had. 
“Let’s make a little room on top of our house, and we can put a bed, a table and a stool, and a candlestick in it for Prophet Elisha. Then whenever he comes to visit us he will have a place to rest.” 
So that kind couple worked on their plan and at last a nice-looking room was built, and set up nicely for the prophet. The Shunamite woman didn’t just let it be a good idea, or something nice to do one day, but made sure it happened. 
Eagerly she looked out over the road from time to time to see if he was travelling that way again. She had a big surprise for him and could hardly wait to give it to him. At last one day she saw him coming down the road, and invited him in to eat with them as usual. Then with great joy she showed him his new room. 
Prophet Elisha was so very grateful. Now instead of just eating and needing to continue on their long walk, he could stop to rest and sleep. It felt so good to be out of the hot sun and to lie down and rest after walking all day.
As he was enjoying his rest in his new room, Elisha talked with his servant about ways to thank the woman for her kindness. He suggested that he mentioned to the king about this woman, and ask him something for her. But she wasn’t interested in that. She was happy with living there and didn’t need a big deal made of her to the king. She wasn’t into being famous and well thought of by many others. She was glad to live quietly with her family and relatives.
What could be done? Elisha was thinking and praying. Then his servant mentioned that she had no children, and her husband was old. Perhaps it had always been a desire for her to have a child. Good idea! She had wished for one for so long and been disappointed for years that it never happened. Now it was the right time for it to become a reality.
Elisha told his servant to call the woman to come. When she stood at the door of his room he said, “About this time next year you will be hugging a baby boy.”
She couldn’t believe it and didn’t want to get her hopes up for something that might not happen. 
“Are you serious? Please don’t tell me something that won’t really happen.”
But it was true. He wasn’t joking. And a year later the generous woman was holding her precious little baby boy. He was better than anything she could imagine receiving. It was really the best gift—her own child! She loved him very much and cared well for him.
One day when the boy had grown up a bit he was out in the fields with this father where the reapers were harvesting the crops. All of a sudden his head started to hurt real badly. His father asked a strong young man to carry him home to his mother. 
His mother held him and comforted him, but in a few hours he passed away. She took her son and put him on Elisha’s bed. She didn’t know what to do, but desperately needed God’s help. The woman got a servant to go with her and they saddled up some donkeys to go and find Elisha. 
Her husband wasn’t sure how they’d find Elisha or how this trip would work out, as it wasn’t a special time of gathering or a feast. But the woman had faith that it is what she needed to do and she told her husband that she was sure it would all work out well. 
“Ride fast! And don’t slow down just because I can’t keep up with you—unless I ask you to slow down,” she told the man travelling with her. 
Elisha was on Mt. Carmel and noticed a woman he recognized. “Look there! It’s that woman from Shunem,” he told his servant to go and greet her and find out if everything was alright.
“How are you? How is your husband? Is your child alright?” Gehazi, Elisha’s servant asked her.
She didn’t break down in tears and say that the saddest thing just happened. Instead she said, “It is well.”The woman knew that things would be better soon and she had faith that if she just talked to Elisha and he came to pray for her son, all would be well.
When she came to Elisha she held securely on to him, in desperation, pleaded for his help. At first Elisha sent his servant to go on ahead and place his own staff on the child, and to go swiftly, not stopping to chat with friends along the way. 
The woman wanted Elisha himself to go, as she knew a big miracle would be needed, and she wanted Elisha to pray for her son. It was more than the child just being very sick—I, the Lord, would need to give him life back again! Just having the staff of a prophet on him didn’t restore him.
Elisha went into his own room above the woman’s house where the boy was lying on his bed. He prayed for the child to be healed and alive again. Then he warmed him up, as he’d been lying there lifeless for awhile. It took awhile and lots of prayer, but at last the boy was warmed up and I gave him his life back! He sneezed seven times and opened his eyes, happy to be alive again!
The woman was called in and she gratefully took her child in her arms rejoicing! I had given her a child—twice, it seemed. She had faith that it wasn’t too hard for God to give life again. I am the creator of life, after all!
***
Food for Hungry Men
Prophet Elisha travelled with his team to a placed called Gilgal. However, they discovered that due to a lack of rain there, food was scarce and hard to grow. The sons of the prophets that he taught were sitting down and needed food. Prophet Elisha said to his servant, “Put the big pot on to boil, so we can cook some food for the sons of the prophets.”
What should they add to the pot to make a good meal? Some people looked around in the fields to see what kinds of herbs and food were growing in that area that they could eat. Someone found a wild vine and there were many gourds growing on it. He was so glad, as it would be plenty for everyone and could be added to the soup. This man had never seen this kind of plant and gourd before, but it looked like it was a good type of vegetable to eat. They cut it up and added it all to the pot and cooked it.  
The food started to get served for the hungry men, but to their dismay and surprise it was discovered that it was bad. The gourd they found ended up not being an edible type that had been added to the soup. It would be poisonous to eat! Oh dear! What could they do? Everyone was very eager to eat, but the only thing they had was a big pot of food that would make them terribly sick! 
Prophet Elisha prayed about what to do. They needed a miracle! I told him to ask for a handful of flour. He took that and threw it into the pot. 
I, the Lord, said the food was then good to eat! They served it up and it was just great! Nothing was harmful about it anymore. The happy men praised God for their miracle soup.
Another time Elisha and his big team of men needed something to eat. There was a man who had a farm and had harvested his first crops. He loved Me and wanted to give a gift to Me. He took some of his freshly picked barley and made it into flour. From that he baked 20 small loaves of bread. He took the loaves along with some of his recently harvested corn and travelled to where Prophet Elisha was.
God had led his heart to give this special gift, of the first food that had grown, to Prophet Elisha and his team. Rather than making a feast for his own household and selling anything extra, he gave it for free to those who were serving God every day, and who were in need of food.
There were one hundred men on Elisha’s team, and they all needed to eat. Now it doesn’t take long to realise that 20 small buns of bread won’t be enough for one hundred hungry people to eat and all get enough.
“What should we do?” someone asked Prophet Elisha. “Should I set out this small amount of food for them to eat?” He was imagining the problem that only some people would have food, and the rest would be left hungry.
Elisha listened to My instructions and amazing promise. I told him that they should set the food out for all the men to eat, and not only would they all have enough, but there would be extra left over in the end.
Prophet Elisha’s helper obeyed those instructions, and by faith set out the food for the men to eat. Eagerly they ate until each one had eaten enough and left. When everyone had finished, the servant was happy to see it was just like I, the Lord, had said. There was still food left over! 
It’s good they chose to pray and to have faith. I took that kind and generous gift from that godly man and made it enough for everyone. If that man had had much more he probably would have been able to bring enough for everyone to eat. But he did the best he could, sharing all that he was able to and then I blessed him for it, and blessed the food and multiplied it!
I’m glad that he didn’t think it wasn’t worth sharing his food with them, seeing that it wouldn’t be enough for everyone. He just gave what he could, and then prayer, faith and obedience brought on the miracle that was needed for everyone to have not just enough, but plenty!
I loved them and would do whatever needed to be done to care for them. I was glad that these men were learning to follow Me and do things in My way. It made their faith grow strong to have situations where they didn’t have all that they needed right away, but then were rewarded with getting to see amazing gifts of My love in the form of miracles and abundant supply. 
When things are always easy, and you always have everything you need, whenever you need it, you won’t get to see miracles! If you were always totally safe, and never had anything hurting you, you wouldn’t experience the joy of receiving healing and protection through some miraculous ways. 
If you trust Me and believe My word, I will help you through all the things that happen in your life. Follow Me and live your life doing My will. I, Jesus, will bless those that serve and love Me, with gifts of My special care. 
***
Humility and Healing

Naaman was one of the most important men in Syria. The king depended on him. He was strong and successful. However, not all was well with him. He didn’t have too long left to live, and the time he had left would be difficult and painful—because he had a disease called leprosy. His skin was filled with sores and was a terrible sight. There was nothing anyone could do to cure him. It was sad for him and for his family. 
His wife had a servant who had grown up in the land of Israel. This young servant girl loved God and knew about Prophet Elisha. One day when she saw Naaman’s wife despondent and feeling hopeless about her husband’s health condition, she offered a solution.
“I wish Naaman were with the prophet that is in Samaria! He would help him to recover!” she said.
With this ray of hope and new idea that Naaman’s wife told him about he was interested to find out about this prophet that could bring God’s power and healing to him. 
Naaman talked with the king about it, and the king wrote a letter for him to take to the king of Israel, explaining the purpose of Naaman’s visit to his country. But somehow the wording in the letter wasn’t quite right, and didn’t explain things properly. When Naaman visited the king of Israel to get permission to be there, so he could find the prophet and get healing, and handed him the letter, what it said only made the king of Israel very upset. It sounded like the king of Syria was asking the king of Israel to heal Naaman! Of course, that was completely impossible. 
The king was very distressed and thought that the king of Syria was trying to stir up trouble. He did what people did sometimes back then when something was very emotional and upsetting for them and that they were desperate about. The king rent his clothes! He tore his garment! He felt like he was in a very difficult situation, that if he didn’t heal Naaman that the king of Syria would give him and his country a hard time and would be very upset with them.
Word got to Elisha about the situation and the reason for the king’s distress. 
“Send him to me,” Elisha said in a message to the king.
So, big and proud, powerful and brave Naaman showed up at Elisha’s door with his team of helpers, riding in his fancy chariot. He had brought with him silver and gold, and 10 brand new sets of clothes to give as a gift to Elisha in return for getting healed. He had faith that it would happen, and already had his “Thank you” present ready.
Did Elisha walk out and talk with him respectfully and in awe at this great man from the land of Syria, and then call with a loud voice and touch Naaman’s skin and suddenly he was healed? Well, that’s what Naaman was imagining might happen and he was looking forward to it. It would be powerful and dramatic and make him feel great!
However, the servant of Prophet Elisha came out to talk with Naaman and told him the instructions that Elisha had received from God.
“Go wash in the Jordan River seven times, and you will be healed,” the servant said to Naaman.
That was it? There was to be no great amazing demonstration—not even a chat with Elisha? Nothing but to go and have a wash-up? That was just a bit too much. He couldn’t handle the humiliation. Off he rode in his chariot with his team going with him. The trip hadn’t been easy, and being so sick was very tough, too. He was upset and felt so disappointed. Not only was it not what he was hoping for, but the Jordan River wasn’t the nicest one around. If he was going to bathe in a river he would much prefer to go to the nice ones in his country. He’d just ride on home, sad, mad, sick and discouraged.
But our story doesn’t end there, as one of Naaman’s servants got an idea. He wanted Naaman to be healed and they had faith that miracles happen when people did what Prophet Elisha told them to do—because it was an instruction from Me to them. 
“If Prophet Elisha had told you to do something very difficult, in order to be healed, wouldn’t you have done it? Why don’t you do this easy thing he’s asked you to do? Just give it a try.” Naaman’s servant urged him.
Thankfully, Naaman listened and decided to follow that advice. Off they then rode to the Jordan river. Naaman took of all his clothes and armour, got in the water and washed, not really enjoying himself to be sure. But anything would be better than being sick with leprosy. Again he dunked down and washed. And yet again and again, until he’d washed seven times. 
Out of the water he came, but something was very different about him. He was filled with joy and wonder! The miracle had happened. He was healed! His skin was so smooth and clear and spotless, it was like when he was a young child. I looked like baby skin! His skin was beautiful and felt so good. There wasn’t a sore left on him. With a heart full of gratitude he rode with his team and a load of gifts to offer to Prophet Elisha, to thank him for the gift of healing.
Naaman stood before Prophet Elisha with all his team and said, “Now I know that your God is the only real God. I will only pray to God now, and will not worship anything false. The God you serve is the true God!”  
Then he offered his gifts to Prophet Elisha—a whole lot of silver and gold and fancy clothes. It was worth a whole lot! But Prophet Elisha said he would not take a single thing, no matter how much Naaman urged him to, for it wasn’t he that healed Naaman, but it was only My doing. 
You thank people who do things for you. So for Prophet Elisha to take the gifts was the same as saying to Naaman and everyone else who heard about it, that Elisha was taking the credit to himself. Of course, he couldn’t heal people. All he could do was pray and tell others what I said, and obey My instructions. If a human took the credit for a supernatural healing and miracle, I wouldn’t be pleased at all. I wanted the miracle to turn many more people’s hearts to Me, the Lord, and if I was given all the credit that I deserved, then it would have a good effect not only on the land of Israel, but also on Syria, helping more people to learn about Me and My love. 
So with a very happy heart and healthy body Naaman rode on home, very eager to tell his family and the king of his country the good news of how I, the true God, had healed him! It was a victorious day after all. Humility and obedience to My simple instructions had brought positive, life-changing results!
***
The Axe that Floated
Have you ever had to borrow something? It’s not as easy as using your own things, is it? You have to take very good care of it and make sure it is returned to the person or place you borrowed it from. Some things, like books from a library have a time limit on them, and you have to return them by a certain day, or else you have to pay money as a consequence of being late in returning them.
The sons of the prophets had a need, and it was an axe that needed to be borrowed. They didn’t own one, but they needed a bigger place to live in as they learned from Elisha about being prophets of God. There were many of them, and it was too tight to all fit comfortably in the place they already had. 
To make a building they needed trees, and there wasn’t a big shop to go to and buy nice cut boards of wood to build with. Everything had to be done from start to finish by them. First they needed to come up an axe—and had to borrow it from someone. Next, they needed to find a place that had trees they could cut down and use to make their new building. 
There were trees down near the edge of the Jordan river, and the men asked Elisha if they could go and cut down trees there, and they asked him to please come with them. So together they went and started the big job. 
Part way through cutting down one of the trees, something happened that made the man’s heart sink in dismay. The heavy iron axe head flew off and landed right in the river! It wasn’t a crystal clear river and it would have been impossible for them to find it. 
“My Father, My Father,” the young man called out to Prophet Elisha. He was desperate for help. “It was a borrowed axe! What can I do?”  He felt so worried. If he didn’t return it then the man would be upset, and unable to do his jobs that he also needed it for. Perhaps it was used to make a living for his family. It was something that the owner depended on and it wasn’t easy to come up with another one. It would cost lots of money for those poor men to try to buy a new one to replace it. They couldn’t have afforded it. So it was a problem. But what’s great about impossible problems? They are the perfect opportunities for God to do miracles. 
“Where did the axe head fall?” Prophet Elisha asked, and the man pointed the place out to him.
Prophet Elisha prayed and asked God what to do. God said he was to cut a stick off a tree and float it on the river in that spot. When he did, the most amazing thing happened. To the pleasant surprise of all who were watching, that heavy, iron axe head began to also float! It was floating like a light stick on the surface of the water! 
The man quickly grabbed it out of the water and was so very relieved and overjoyed! It feels so good when you are able to recover something that you think you have lost forever. This was a time when it was really needed. They weren’t being silly and acting unwise, but were working real hard and doing something important. If they had a big enough house to be in they would be more comfortable and able to learn things better. Maybe there would be room for others to join them as well, others who also wanted to learn how to hear from God.
They were doing all that they could to do what I wanted them to, and when there were problems and there was something that nearly stopped them from finishing their project, then I was there to take the delay and hindrance out of the way. 
If you are doing your best, then you can trust Me to help you and do what you can’t do. No matter how good your project is, and no matter how much I want you to do it, there will nearly always be problems that come your way and that make it hard for you to make progress. But with Me on your side—and you on My side—you can be victorious. You can be a winner. Things won’t always go smoothly and just be a bucket of joy. There will be hard times and things that disappoint or trouble you. But as you ask Me to help you, I can do the impossible and move away what is making things tough and help you to succeed and accomplish the goals that you have for Me—the things I want you to do. 
So if things are a bit rough, take heart and have courage. Things might look hard or impossible at the time, but nothing is too hard for Me. And just like they called Prophet Elisha their father, so am I your heavenly Father and am eager to help you as you stop to pray and talk to Me about the solutions to the troubles you face. 
Sometimes when something hard to handle happens it can feel like your heart sinks down about as low as the axe did, down to the bottom of the muddy river. But I’m right nearby to lift you up and help you to feel at peace as your heart and feelings are floating above the sadness and worry of the problems, super-naturally, and you won’t feel too low and down about things. I’ll work things out for the best, and make you so glad that you are working together with Me as a team. I love you and together we’ll be a winning team. 
Are you feeling down about something, or very worried about something you did or an accident you caused accidentally, or a mistake you made, or did you do something that you regret? I know about it anyway, but as you talk it through with Me you’ll feel better and I’ll be able to bring solutions and joy your way again. I can smooth out the rough things and give you and others peace. The things I tell you to do might be simple or unusual, like when Elisha was instructed to throw a stick on the water. But as he did it, then the answer came. What little thing do you feel Me speaking to your heart, telling you to do? Do you want to give it a try? Just a little step of obedience can bring a big load of blessings your way. I love to make things better for you!
***
The Fruit
There was to be a time of famine for seven years and God had told Prophet Elisha about it in advance. Elisha went to talk with the kind woman who had given him a room to rest in whenever he visited, and whose son he’d prayed for.
Prophet Elisha told her that it would be better for her to move somewhere else for the next seven years, so that she and all who lived with her would have what they needed. The famine would make things very difficult. She was a woman who I wanted to bless and care for, since she had helped My prophet many times. 
Sometimes I helped to give those who loved and obeyed Me food in miraculous ways during the times of no rain. Other times, I provided for them in different ways. This time My way of caring for this woman was for her and all her household to make a big move for several years. 
Did she look around at her nice property and the abundant food that they usually had, and all her fruit trees growing and think, “I’ll be fine here! I don’t want to move. It will take too much work and effort. It’s comfortable here. And what will happen to my house and my fruit trees while I’m gone?” 
No, she didn’t react with worry and choose to hold onto all that she had, hoping things would be alright. She instead was wise and listened to what I had told Elisha. Even though it wasn’t a famine yet, she knew if God said there would be one, that it was going to happen. So she got packing—her and her family and everyone that lived and worked with her. 
They travelled to a different country where things were a bit better—at least there would be food to eat. It wasn’t their most favourite place however, as it was the land of the Philistines. Thankfully, people there didn’t give them too much trouble, but it wasn’t the most inspiring place to be, since the people of the country didn’t believe in and follow God’s ways. Even though the woman would have rather been in her house and have her nice orchard with fresh fruit growing, she obeyed and moved, and as a result she and her son and all those with her survived through the time of famine.
When the seven years passed and the famine was over she was eager to move back again. 
“We’ll be home soon!” She felt happy to be travelling home at last. However, when she arrived she was greatly disappointed. 
“What’s happening here?” she thought. What was she to do? Other people had moved into her house and were farming on her property and eating and selling the fruit from her trees. Where could she live now? And how would she provide for her family and all that were with her?
She had been gone for so long that people didn’t know if she’d ever return, so they moved in and were glad to have fruit and food to eat. But she was ready to live there now. She decided to go tell the king about it and see if he could help them.
The king was having a talk with Gehazi, Prophet Elisha’s servant. The king was interested in hearing about the miracles God had done, and the amazing events that happened for Elisha the prophet. Gehazi told the king about the boy that Prophet Elisha prayed for, whose life was restored. 
As he was in the middle of telling this very miracle, a terrific, God-planned coincidence happened! Right at that moment the woman—the mother of the boy who was raised and brought back to life again—came in to the room to present her situation to the king.
Gehazi knew her well, and said to the king, as surprising as it was, that this woman who just walked in was the mother of that very child he was mentioning! It was a wonderful encouragement to the king to hear of the great things God had done, and to see the proof of it right in front of his eyes—at that very moment. 
The woman then explained what happened to her house and property and farm and all her fruit trees. The king, feeling filled with faith and inspiration at the miracle that had happened for this woman, appointed one of his men to go with her and help her get all set up again in her house, and to work out the situation. And not just that, but he said that the amount of fruit that grew on the trees while she was gone should be given to her also! 
In the end she gained so much more than she would have if she had chosen to stay in her house and not move like Prophet Elisha suggested to her. As a result of her obedience and faith she and her team survived through the famine, and gained back anything that had been taken while she was gone. They got to have both—supply during the famine, as well as get back all that she lost while living elsewhere.
The difficult time of her son being so sick and then passing away for little while, ending up being the key to unlock new rewards later on also. I can bring good out of any difficult situations. Hearing about that miracle at just the right time was what touched the kings’ heart and made him want to help her all that he could. It seemed like such a terrible situation with nothing good about it at all when it was happening, but because of the woman’s faith and continuing to obey My word and My prophet, and her generosity to those serving Me, she was given back to many more times over in return. Everything worked out so well in the end.
***

Abundance and Obedience
 King Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah and he did all he could to teach the people of the land My ways. He knew that reading God’s Word is what would help to change people’s hearts, and inspire them to want to do things right. He knew it took more than just making rules or telling people once what to do. He knew that no matter how good he, as the king, tried to be, it wouldn’t have as great an effect on the country as the Word of God that was passed on to them and was written down for them to follow. 
The king thought of a plan. People didn’t have Bibles in their homes like people do nowadays, nor could they even all read like many people can today. So how could he help people to know what My Word said in the books that were recorded for them to learn and follow and obey? He gathered a trustworthy team of princes and priests that knew My Word well and knew how to read and teach. They were commissioned to be travelling teachers! Their job was to teach My Word to people all over the country. That was the king’s most important commission to them! They read God’s Word aloud to people, they talked about it, they explained it, and they helped everyone to have a chance to know what My Word said to do.
Jehoshaphat was a good king. He was the son of King Asa and was the next ruler after his father. The people of the land of Judah were glad he was their king, and they showed their respect by bringing him gifts. I blessed this king for making My Word known and obeyed, even though all the other places around weren’t doing that. He was bold and strong and respected Me and wanted to please Me. His heart wanted to be filled with God’s love and word and ways. As a result he had abundant riches given to him and was honoured by all. 
The land of Judah was peaceful then, because they were praying for My help and obeying what I wanted them to do. Other countries around didn’t stir up trouble or try to take things from their land, in fact other rulers brought gifts to King Jehoshaphat instead. Some of the Philistines brought him presents and silver, and the Arabians brought him many thousands of sheep and goats.
King Jehoshaphat had castles built and cities built and set up to keep all the extra supplies in, as it was a time of abundance and plenty. This was one of the ways I rewarded them for loving and respecting Him and My Word.
One time a miracle was needed, and Prophet Elisha was called on to pray and ask God what to do. There were three kings meeting together with their big teams of helpers and all their animals, too. King Jehoshaphat was one of them. They discovered then that the area they were meeting in didn’t have water—no river or wells or streams. What were they to do? 
When Prophet Elisha came and saw who was there, he wasn’t too happy to talk with the other two kings that were at the get-together, as they weren’t followers of God. He said he wouldn’t even have looked at them or spoken to them at all, no matter how great and fancy they thought they were—if it weren’t for King Jehoshaphat who was also there. 
To Prophet Elisha, anyone who loved Me and wanted to do things My way was worth his time—whether it was a poor woman or a child, or a young man building a house, or whoever it was. They were more respected in his eyes, than a rich king that didn’t want to obey God’s Word. 
Since King Jehoshaphat was there, and he was a Godly man, then Prophet Elisha talked with them and found out what the problem was. 
“Bring me a musician,” Prophet Elisha said. He wanted some songs of praise and prayer and good music to listen to. Good music can help you to hear from Heaven. It can help you to stop thinking so much about what is going on around you that you can hear God’s voice in your heart more clearly, sometimes. So as the musician played, My Spirit spoke to Prophet Elisha and told him what to say.
“Make this valley full of ditches. Dig big holes in it. God said that without a rain storm coming, the ditches you dig will be filled with water. You and your animals will be able to have water to drink.”
These were My instructions. It was something they could do. Would they choose to obey and then get the blessing of miracle water? It wouldn’t be an easy job to dig and dig in the hot sun. But they chose to do it anyway. 
The next morning when people met to pray, they looked down to the valley where they’d worked hard and dug ditches, and there was water pouring into it, like a river overflowing on to that part of the land. The ditches were all filled up with water, like little pools in that valley. With wonder and rejoicing they went to drink the refreshing miracle water. 
No matter where you are and in what situation you find yourself in, or how impossible it looks, miracles can happen for those who pray and obey My Word.
Maybe you feel sometimes like you are working real hard doing what you know I want you to do, but you are lacking the inspiration and it doesn’t seem to do much good—like the men digging holes in the dry ground in the hot sun. But if they hadn’t done their part to prepare the way, the miracle couldn’t have benefited them. The refreshing water that was sent would have just washed over the land and they wouldn’t have had pools to drink from. 
You have to do your part and dig, or whatever it is that I’ve asked you to do. Then afterwards you see the reason for it, and you have made the way to receive the blessings. Maybe you are learning a tough new language and you don’t see what good it will do. But you believe that I want you to learn it anyway. Then one day, because you know how to speak that language something happens that makes you glad you worked hard and learned it. Maybe a free ticket to a new country on a mission trip is offered, and because you can speak that language you are given the chance to go first.
A lot of times in your life for Me you may not see immediate results and it may seem pointless to tirelessly labour. But because of your obedience I can then amaze you and bring things into your life that wouldn’t be possible if you hadn’t done the work you did, and first did your part. 
I have so many things to give you and to bless you with, but first I want to see if you are willing to do what I show you to do. When you take the step of faith and do what you can, then I do what you can’t do and will make you so glad you did!
***
Amos, Joel, and Hosea
I asked Hosea to demonstrate to the people that I, the Lord, loved them. I told Hosea to marry someone that others didn’t like very much, as she was often doing things wrong. But through it I wanted to show how I loved them anyway. Just like Hosea showed love to that woman anyway, I loved My people even though they had often disobeyed Me. I wanted them to be sorry for their past mistakes and to ask for My forgiveness, and I would show My love to them and take care of them. 
Hosea named his three children the names I, the Lord, told him to, as even the names of his children spoke a message to people. He not only received the words of God and told them to the people, but was willing to make his life an example of the message God wanted the people to remember.

A prophet by the name of Joel gave wonderful message that promised of My spirit being given to those who love and follow Me. I promised that later on it would not just be certain prophets that would be able to hear Me speaking to them, but anyone could receive the gift of prophecy. It didn’t matter who they were or what age they were, if they loved and believed in Me and wanted Me to speak to them, they could receive My words.
That time of the outpouring of God’s spirit that Joel’s prophecy spoke of has already happened! Anyone can stop and pray and listen to Me. I want to talk to you no matter who you are or where you are living. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, weak or strong, sick or well, struggling or living in luxury, fast or slow, great or small, I want to be near to you and I want to talk with you. 
There are many ways I can speak to you! Sometimes a dream will help to give you the answer that you are praying for. Sometimes a vision or picture in your mind will help to direct you or teach you something I want you to know or to show you something that answers your question or brings a solution to a puzzling situation. Other times I can whisper to your heart and your mind with words and thoughts and ideas. 
The more you take time to stop and hear from Me in prophecy, the more chances I get to encourage you and guide you to the best things for your life. I want to be a part of your life and to make things easy for you. It may not seem as easy to you to talk with Me and to hear what I have to say as it is when you are talking with your brothers or sisters, friends or parents. But the good thing is that I know all that you are feeling and thinking and I can give you answers to your problems and solutions that make you really happy. Just knowing how well I know you and that I love you so much anyway, will make all the difference in the world to you. 
The need for the words of God was spoken of by the Prophet Amos. He said people not being able to read and hear God’s Word was like having a famine in the country. People get hungry if they don’t have food to eat. But when people don’t have the encouragement and joy and faith that My Word gives them, as well as the direction and guidance, they can get very weak and sick in heart and mind and spirit. That is what it is like in much of the world today. 
Many people have come to know Me, Jesus, and the Bible has been translated in many different languages. People can access the Bible easier than people of old could back then. So why is there a “famine” for God’s word nowadays? It seems odd, doesn’t it? Well, there are also so many other distractions and rules and religions and rulers that hinder people from receiving, believing and benefiting from My Word. There are so many lies being told, and children aren’t permitted in many places, to be taught God’s Word anymore in schools. 
Will you be someone, like Amos, who will bring the food and water of My Word to the hungry people? Will you find ways to feed people with what they most need? There are lots of ways for My Word and thoughts and love to be passed on. Maybe you’ll get an idea of a new way that you can be a part of the solution and being God’s messenger. 
Amos wasn’t a rich man, and he wasn’t a son of a prophet. He was a herdsman and cared for the flocks and cattle on the hill sides. He also picked fruit from sycomore trees as part of his job. Then one day he was called by God to be a prophet. It was a very new job for him, but he was willing to obey, and helped to warn people of the troubles that would come if they didn’t follow and serve Me. 
One time someone asked him to stop saying those words of warning, but he said he wouldn’t stop. I had called him and asked him to do it, and he was going to be faithful and do what I wanted him to do. It wasn’t a fun and easy job, but I loved the people and wanted them to know how to make things right so they could once again receive My blessings and help. Amos was willing to be God’s messenger and to pass on My Words to the people.

Jonah’s Trip
I had a job for Jonah to do, and it wasn’t something he was eager to do. First of all he was meant to go and take a visit to one of the worst and most corrupt and terrible cities around. –Not a good place to spend a vacation or any type of trip. These people had gone on way too long doing things that were very displeasing to Me. They needed to be stopped and were due for trouble. However, before punishing them, I, in My love, wanted to give them all one last warning—a chance to change, and to be forewarned that trouble was on its way.
Jonah knew it would be a tough job, and nothing seemed easy about it at all. He pondered possible scenarios. He could go there and warn them of God’s coming punishment, and if they didn’t listen to him, they might not treat him well. Or he could warn them, and they could be real sorry and want to change, and then God might forgive them and not punish them after all—after all he did to take the trip there and warn them of coming trouble, and then what he said wouldn’t even happen.
Either way didn’t seem very appealing, and made Jonah feel real uncomfortable. 
 “Maybe if I was somewhere else, doing something else, I might not need to do that job after all.” Jonah pondered and proceeded to make preparations for a trip in a ship to go off to a place called Tarshish. I knew where he was and still needed him for the job. But a lesson was to be learned first of all. 
Even your mistakes and wrong turns in the journey of life can bring about good things, as you’ll see. When Jonah got in the ship he knew pretty much right away that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he was stuck out in a ship on a very rough and tempestuous sea. What could be done then to get back to where he was meant to be?
Well, even though he went the wrong way, I had something in mind. All those men on the ship didn’t know and believe in Me like Jonah did, but they were all going to get a chance. When they wondered why the sea was so rough and the trip was dangerous, they played a type of game that would select someone’s name as being the reason for the storm. 
At first Jonah was sleeping in the ship, but the frightened sailors woke him up to pray and to find solutions to the wild storm. When it seemed that the storm had come as a result of Jonah’s wrong choices it taught the sailors something important—that the God in Heaven, the one that Jonah followed and obeyed, was powerful and real and each person mattered to Him.—And that disobedience to God made a difference in people’s lives and made things hard for them.
The sailors learned about Me and prayed and were changed. Especially when they saw what happened as soon as they did what Jonah suggested. At first they very much did not want to do what Jonah said was the only solution—to let him swim, and to not be in the ship at all. But as soon as Jonah was in the sea, the waves were calm once again. All those on the ship realised that the God that Jonah told them about was real and powerful and worth listening to and obeying.
I knew all this would happen, and I was glad that it gave a chance to all those on the ship to learn about Me. But there was the challenge of how to get Jonah back to the land to give him another chance to do what he was called to do. 
There were no rescue helicopters or lifeboats back then, so it was animal transportation time—this time with a sea animal! A fish so big that it could hold a person inside of it was sent to give Jonah a ride. The trip took three days, and what days of prayer those where. Jonah prayed and praised Me, and I heard him and took care of him. 
At last when the time was right it was time to exit and on to the dry land he was spit out by this massive creature sent by Me to help come to the rescue in an impossible situation. But when I want a job done, I can do whatever needs to be done to bring it to pass, especially if someone is praying as much as Jonah was. 
When Jonah was ready, I gave him his second chance to go and warn the city of Nineveh that trouble was on its way, for all the wrong things they were doing. When thinking about the difficult job it would be, and remembering the last time he tried to get out of it, and the rough journey it was, he realised that doing what I said to do was the best and easiest option.
Off on his journey to Nineveh Jonah went, and began to tell everyone what I said for him to say. He was brave and stuck with the job, not giving up. He made sure that everyone heard the message.
***
Warnings and Forgiveness
When Jonah told the people of the city of Nineveh God’s message—that because of their wrong doings there was going to be trouble and hard times for their country—people had a different reaction than expected. The message was that in 40 days God would punish their city and make things very difficult for them.
 When the king heard what the prophet Jonah was saying he took it seriously. He proclaimed to all in his country that everyone, no matter who they were, should have a few days of desperation and prayer. The king said that everyone needed to show they were very sad and sorry for the wrongs that they did. He said there might be a chance that if everyone was real repentant and asked Me for forgiveness, that perhaps the trouble that Jonah warned them of wouldn’t happen. 
Everyone responded and took off all their fancy clothes and put on sackcloth. They chose not to eat or drink for three days and only pray for Me to forgive and save them. As a result of everyone’s prayers and repentance I said that I would give them all another chance. Everyone was glad for that, and very relieved. 
It was a wonderful thing, and I was happy. But surprisingly enough Jonah wasn’t feeling too great about it. He’d been through so much to bring this message to everyone. To have the punishment just not happen after all, made him wonder if it was worth it. To help Jonah understand things a bit better, and to be glad that they were given another chance, I did something special for him. This mission had been one filled with many lessons for Jonah—and good lessons that many others have been able to benefit from, as it’s written down in his book.
Jonah had been sitting in the hot sun with not much to shade him, only a little booth he’d made that gave him a tiny bit of shade. But then in the night I, the Lord, made a vine to grow real fast and to make a better shade for him. He was so glad for it and felt My love and care for him. However, that next night a wormy creature came nibbling on the vine’s stem and made it wither away by the morning. When Jonah woke up and the sun was burning down with its heat, he missed his miracle plant and was upset about it getting eaten by a bug! But it was all for a reason, to help Jonah understand a bit what God felt like. 
I explained that if Jonah could feel bad for the vine getting withered and ruined, and not having something that he liked, for him to imagine what I, the Lord, felt like about people that I made and loved and wanted to have as My friends. 
I didn’t want to cause them a whole lot of trouble and sadness with all the punishments that would have needed to come to their city. I was much happier that they all chose to change and to be sorry and to do things the right way. I loved each one in Nineveh, from the oldest to the youngest, and even cared about the animals too! I was glad that I could give them all another chance.
***
Obadiah and Micah
The prophet Obadiah prophesied about the troubles that were to come to a certain team of people. It warned of the dangers of pride that caused them to go the wrong way. The people that the message from Me was talking about lived in rocky homes, many of their houses were carved out of the rocks in the mountains. They had strong homes and felt they could get along just fine on their own. They weren’t desperate for My help, and they didn’t choose to do things My way. They thought proudly of themselves and how great they must be. 
But the only rock house that makes people lasts for a long time is the one built on the rock of My word. If you do things that are in obedience to My words and you stay close to Me by listening to Me, then you will be safe and strong. 
Are those people still here today, all wise and strong, living where they used to be? Can you go and see them? No, time and history has moved things along. The ruins of some of the places they lived can be visited, perhaps as reminder that nothing lasts forever—no matter how great you think your accomplishments are and how wonderful your buildings are. Everything eventually passes away. However, the words spoken from Me to the prophet Obadiah are still around. God’s words last forever. Millions today have read those words written down thousands of years ago. 
Walk in humility, using God’s words as your guide to know what to do and how to live. The things you do and the words you pass on to others from Me, Jesus, will be repeated and remembered for many years to come. Those who seem to be strong in their own self today, and those who are famous and seem to have all that they need, will be long forgotten. 
Obadiah was remembered by countless people, because he chose to listen to My voice and was faithful to tell others My Words. He wasn’t rich and famous and thought of as the most important man around when he was on Earth doing the humble job of a prophet. But now he’s the famous one, as people all over the world hear about him when they read the words in the Bible that he was faithful to write down. The others who put their own pride first are long forgotten and the memory of anything they did that they thought was great has passed away too, as time went on. 

Another prophet who was faithful to write down the messages God gave to him was Micah. The book of the prophet Micah contained an important verse—it told of the place that I, Jesus, would be born when I came to Earth. It told of Me, the Saviour, being born in Bethlehem.
There are some other wonderful and hopeful verses and promises written in his book. In the prophecies of the book of Micah there little was a little peek into what the coming world of God’s Kingdom reigning would be like. 
People would live in peace. Countries would help and support each others. Everyone would have all that they needed. When I am fully in charge one day, and the Earth is filled with the knowledge of My love and everyone is motivated to do things My way, things are going to be so wonderful! 
I know it seems to be taking a long time for it to happen, but when the time is right, those promises written down by the prophet Micah, will come to pass. You can be encouraged that great things will come one day, and the world will be beautiful and at peace, when I return to make things right again.