The answer is: Obadiah

The order of the minor prophets is always difficult to remember. The index in the front of your Bible should help.

The Book of Jonah is famous for its wild tale involving a big fish, but let’s not skip over the tiny book that comes before it—Obadiah! Obadiah packs a punch in just one chapter. It's crafted as a poetic prophetic oracle aimed primarily at Edom. This gives it a unique focus, critiquing a neighboring nation rather than Israel or Judah, which is often the main stage for prophetic literature.

When we think of Jonah, we might picture a reluctant prophet running from God, but the stories connect on several levels. Both prophets convey messages of judgment, mercy, and accountability, but while Obadiah is decidedly about divine justice against arrogance, Jonah brings a twist—showcasing God's compassion, even towards those perceived as enemies (hello, Nineveh!).

Fun fact: Jonah’s fleeing to Tarshish instead of following God's command explores deeper themes of avoidant behavior in our spiritual pursuits. Also, notice how Jonah ends with a open-ended question about God’s love for “the great city”? That's classic! Instead of supplying all the answers, it prompts the reader to reflect on their own attitudes towards mercy and judgment—just like Obadiah sends us to reflect on our views of whom we view as adversaries or unworthy.

The sequence of these two books invites readers on a fascinating theological journey—interrogating justice and compassion, showing us that even the most unassuming of texts can spark profound introspection!