The books of Isaiah through Malachi contain messages from God’s prophets, who warned people to turn from wrongdoing and trust in Him. They also gave hope by promising that God would one day bring justice, peace, and a Savior to rescue His people.
Isaiah’s Call to Serve
In Isaiah 6:1-13, the prophet Isaiah has a powerful vision of God sitting on His throne, surrounded by angels. Overwhelmed by God’s holiness, Isaiah feels unworthy, but an angel touches his lips with a burning coal, symbolizing that God has made him clean. Then, God asks, “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah answers, “Here I am! Send me!” God tells him to deliver His message, even though many people will refuse to listen.
The Suffering Servant
In Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah describes someone who will suffer to take away the sins of others. This servant is rejected, beaten, and treated unfairly, yet he remains silent and does not fight back. He takes the punishment that others deserve, bringing them peace and healing. Though he dies like a criminal, God honors him because he gave his life for others. This prophecy points to Jesus, who suffered and died to save people from sin, showing God’s great love and mercy.
God Calls Jeremiah
In Jeremiah 1:1-9, God calls a young man named Jeremiah to be a prophet. At first, Jeremiah is afraid and says he is too young to speak for God. But God reassures him, telling him not to be afraid because He will be with him. Then, God touches Jeremiah’s mouth and gives him the words to say. This moment shows that when God calls someone, He also gives them the strength and guidance they need.
A King Rejects God’s Message
In Jeremiah 36:1-32, God tells Jeremiah to write down His words on a scroll so the people can hear and turn back to Him. Jeremiah’s helper, Baruch, writes the message and reads it to the leaders. When King Jehoiakim hears about it, he cuts the scroll into pieces and burns it in the fire, refusing to listen to God’s warning. But God tells Jeremiah to write the message again, showing that His word cannot be destroyed. This story reminds us that rejecting God’s truth does not make it go away.
Jeremiah Rescued from the Pit
In Jeremiah 38:1-13, the prophet Jeremiah warns the people that their city will be destroyed if they do not listen to God. The leaders become angry and throw him into a deep, muddy pit, leaving him to die. But a kind man named Ebed-Melech goes to the king and asks for permission to rescue Jeremiah. With ropes and old cloths, he gently pulls Jeremiah out of the pit.
The Valley of Dry Bones
In Ezekiel 37:1-14, God shows the prophet Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones and asks if they can live again. Ezekiel isn’t sure, but God tells him to speak to the bones. As he does, the bones come together, grow flesh, and come back to life! God explains that this vision represents His people, who feel hopeless and lost. Just as He brings the bones to life, He promises to restore His people and give them new hope.
Daniel Stands Firm
In Daniel 1:1-21, Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon to serve the king. They are offered rich food from the king’s table, but they choose to eat only vegetables and drink water to honor God’s laws. After ten days, they look healthier than everyone else. Because of their faithfulness, God gives them wisdom and understanding, and the king finds them ten times wiser than all his other advisors.
Daniel Trusts God for Wisdom
In Daniel 2:1-24, King Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream and demands that his wise men tell him both the dream and its meaning. When they fail, he orders them all to be killed, including Daniel and his friends. But Daniel prays to God, and that night, God reveals the dream to him. Daniel thanks God and tells the king’s officer to stop the execution because he now has the answer.
Daniel Explains the King’s Dream
In Daniel 2:25-49, Daniel is brought before King Nebuchadnezzar to explain his mysterious dream. He tells the king that his dream was about a giant statue made of different metals, representing future kingdoms. A stone from heaven smashes the statue, showing that God’s kingdom will last forever. The king is amazed and honors Daniel, making him a ruler in Babylon.
The Fiery Furnace
In Daniel 3:1-30, King Nebuchadnezzar builds a huge golden statue and orders everyone to worship it. But Daniel’s friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refuse because they only worship God. The king throws them into a blazing furnace, but they are not burned! A fourth figure, like an angel, appears with them. When they come out unharmed, the king praises their God and makes a new law to honor Him.
The Writing on the Wall
In Daniel 5:1-30, King Belshazzar throws a great feast and disrespects God by using sacred temple cups for drinking. Suddenly, a mysterious hand appears and writes words on the wall. The king is terrified, but no one can understand the message. Daniel is called to interpret it and explains that God is warning the king that his reign is about to end because of his pride and disobedience. That very night, the kingdom is taken over by the Medes and Persians.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
In Daniel 6:1-28, Daniel is a trusted leader, but jealous officials trick the king into making a law that forbids praying to anyone except the king. Daniel continues to pray to God, so he is thrown into a den of hungry lions. But God sends an angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and Daniel is unharmed. The next morning, the king is overjoyed and praises Daniel’s God. The officials who plotted against Daniel are punished, and the king honors God throughout the land.
Jonah and the Big Fish
In Jonah 1:1-2:10, God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people to change their ways, but Jonah runs in the opposite direction. He gets on a ship, and a great storm comes. Realizing he is the cause, Jonah tells the sailors to throw him into the sea, and the storm stops. A huge fish swallows him, and he spends three days inside, praying to God. Finally, God makes the fish spit Jonah out onto dry land.
Jonah and God’s Mercy
In Jonah 3:1-4:11, God tells Jonah again to go to Nineveh, and this time, he obeys. He warns the people that their city will be destroyed in forty days. To Jonah’s surprise, they listen, repent, and ask God for mercy. God forgives them, but Jonah is upset because he wanted them to be punished. God then teaches Jonah a lesson by making a plant grow to give him shade, then taking it away. Jonah is sad about the plant, and God explains that if Jonah cares for a plant, shouldn’t God care for the people of Nineveh? This story shows that God’s mercy is for everyone, even those we might not expect.