But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 1:3
Jonah had a call on his life. The only problem was that he fled in the other direction. Geographically speaking, Tarshish was in the complete opposite direction from which God had sent Jonah. But I believe it is what the passage says about Jonah’s fleeing that is the most profound. Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord.
We have already seen “eternal life” defined by Christ as knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. This is intimate, personal, and relational knowledge. And for those who possess this relationship with the Almighty, salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life are theirs in which to enjoy and rest. But Jonah chose the opposite. Instead of abiding in and enjoying the presence of the Lord, he fled from the presence of God.
When we chose to flee from the presence of God it usually means that we have our own agenda. Whatever it is that God wants, fleeing indicates that we desire to move in a different direction. The reason for Jonah’s running was also a result of his own desires. He had his reasons but we will have to forgo that discussion until later. Suffice it to say, he didn’t want what God did.
When we run from God it always brings sorrow into our lives. I believe there are three reasons why this is the case.
- God created us.
Consider this passage concerning creation:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John 1:1-3
Everything that we see and know in this life is a direct result of God’s creative handiwork. To attempt to live our lives outside of the design that He has built into this world puts us on a collision course with difficulty and despair. Just like miss using a power tool or ignoring a warning label, running from God’s design for our lives places us in harms way. It doesn’t means that He desires to see us go through such calamity merely that it is the byproduct of running. We will see this reality played out in Jonah’s life.
- God is eternal, knowing the beginning and the end.
Consider this passage concerning the eternality of God:
He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17
Because God is eternal, He is not bound by time or space. He knows when we will be born, when we will leave this earth, and everything in between. Nothing surprises God. Because of His eternal, creative, and loving nature, running from God is to reject any divine assistance as we journey down life’s road. Much like ignoring our GPS device when traveling, disregarding God’s eternal power and wisdom is shortsighted and foolish. Jonah had no idea what was in store for him when he decided to run from God’s calling.
- God has our best interest at heart.
Consider this passage on God’s desire for our lives:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11
Finally, it is vital that we understand that God does not place limitations on us to keep us from enjoying life rather so that we can. Abundant life is available but only for those who choose to do things God’s way. Jesus tells us that much like good parents take care of their children, so God takes care of us. In fact, He is perfectly willing to give us good things. The word “good” in this passage can be defined as things that are useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, and happy. They are things that promote or are conducive to some beneficial purpose. God is not withholding from us rather, when we run, we are the ones that are withholding from Him. Jonah would have been wise to yield to God’s calling. It certainly would have saved him a lot of heartache and grief.
Running from God is the worst thing that any of us could do. What I have observed over the years is that when people are at their worst (having sinned in the most egregious ways), this is the time in which they often avoid prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers. The exact opposite is what we should do. We should talk to God about our attitudes, actions, and circumstances (He already knows them anyway). We should continue to worship Him and give Him thanks for who He is and what He continues to do in our lives. And we should surround ourselves with other believers who understand that we all fail from time to time and that the failure doesn’t define us as Christians.
Jonah ran from God’s calling. What about you?
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