At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a spike in Bible sales.
In April 2020, online bookstore Eden saw physical sales rise by 55%.
In the previous month, Bible apps were installed on smart phones more than two million times.

I sometimes wonder what many of those purchasers discovered.
I suspect many were searching for tales of plagues or some kind of reassurance. Perhaps many simply wanted to tick the ‘good book’ off their bucket list. In truth, many of these hastily acquired copies probably remain unopened and unread, like so many paperback classics.

Holy Scripture is a restless thing. The Bible encourages and challenges us.
We evolve and grow with it, recognising new meanings and depths with each reading.

I would like to think that those that picked up a copy of the Bible during lockdown will have started their journey at the Book of Jonah.
It is, after all, a deceptively simple tale that provides a vivid illustration as to how Scripture can transform us.

Walk with the prophet. Ride the whale. Meet God anew.
Richard Jobes

#6: How are you?
#7: Darkness over the deep
#8: Seaweed around our heads
#9: What would Jonah do?
#10: Wrestling with God