Fleeing from God's Call

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God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Jonah 1:1-6 The Message

Running Away from God

1 1-2 One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.”
3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get.
4-6 But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.
The ship was about to break into pieces. The sailors were terrified. They called out in desperation to their gods. They threw everything they were carrying overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. He was sound asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What’s this? Sleeping! Get up! Pray to your god! Maybe your god will see we’re in trouble and rescue us.”

For Reflection

Was God punishing Jonah or did God have something more in mind? Certainly, Jonah suffered. However, God knew the hate in Jonah's heart. In the service to God, Jonah would grow in grace.  For his help, Jonah would be blessed. Reluctant Jonah would become a sign to the people of Nineveh because he had escaped death in the belly of a fish and that gave Jonah the credibility he needed to persuade Nineveh to repent.

How many of us reject God's call and need a similar experience?

Pray

Pray for the opportunity to serve God.  Pray that you will not avoid obedience and welcome the chance to grow into the grace God intends you to possess.