You Can't Run from the Lord
Jonah 1
I pray blessings on you as you read.
(v. 3) "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."
My Thoughts
God gave Jonah a job to do, but instead of obeying God, Jonah tried to run away. He went in a completely different direction, taking a boat headed for Tarshish. God sent a storm against the boat and the sailors wound up asking Jonah why the storm was so bad. Jonah told them that he was running from God, and the sailors were terrified and asked him how to calm the storm. Jonah told them to throw him overboard. When they did so, and the storm calmed, they believed in God.
Through his disobedience to God, Jonah actually brought the sailors of the boat to Him. Isn't it amazing how God can turn anything around and make good of it? If Jonah hadn't tried to run from God, these men may never have come to know God. At the same time, this does not make it right that Jonah did try to run from God. He was disobedient, and that is sin. Jonah still had to suffer the consequences of his sin.
Remember that God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere present). It wouldn't be possible to run away from God or hide from Him, no matter how hard you tried. If God calls you to do something, it may be hard, but God knows that you can do it, that's why He called you. Be courageous and confident, and instead of saying 'no' or trying to run or pretend that nothing happened, or whatever it is you do, take a moment and pray. Ask God for guidance, whether the feeling, or call is from Him and what He wants you to do.
Through his disobedience to God, Jonah actually brought the sailors of the boat to Him. Isn't it amazing how God can turn anything around and make good of it? If Jonah hadn't tried to run from God, these men may never have come to know God. At the same time, this does not make it right that Jonah did try to run from God. He was disobedient, and that is sin. Jonah still had to suffer the consequences of his sin.
Remember that God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere present). It wouldn't be possible to run away from God or hide from Him, no matter how hard you tried. If God calls you to do something, it may be hard, but God knows that you can do it, that's why He called you. Be courageous and confident, and instead of saying 'no' or trying to run or pretend that nothing happened, or whatever it is you do, take a moment and pray. Ask God for guidance, whether the feeling, or call is from Him and what He wants you to do.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do. Godbless!
You definitely can't run from the Lord, we all seem to try to though don't we. But most of us come back to the place He wants us to be.
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