Sailing With Jonah

I just finished reading the Book of Jonah. Every time I read it—no matter how many times—I find myself saying, “Run, Jonah, run! Catch the next ship to Tarshish.”

I’ve had my own versions of that moment—times when God is nudging me to reach out to someone who has clearly wandered off the narrow path. Like Jonah, I’d rather run, find a quiet place, pull the covers over my head, and take a symbolic nap.

But God is persistent.

If He has a Divine Appointment that only you can keep, He will create an opportunity you can’t run from. It may not involve being swallowed by a great fish, but He will make His will unmistakably clear.

“No” doesn’t seem to be an acceptable response.

I’m not entirely sure how free will fits into that equation—unless the real choice is obedience or self-inflicted misery. Jonah’s options seemed to be: die or preach to a city full of wicked people.

And when the pressure finally mounts, I find myself crying out to God for mercy—over a pitiful condition largely created by my own poor choices.

Just like Jonah, God reaches out, restores me, tells me to get moving again down the narrow path, and—soon enough—I deliver the message.

Now, unlike Jonah, I’ve never seen a city of 120,000 people who couldn’t discern their right hand from their left suddenly repent. In fact, maybe none actually did.

But sailing with Jonah isn’t about how we feel about God’s mission.

As Jonah teaches us, the entire city repented, God spared them, and Jonah was so distressed over God’s mercy that he wanted to die.

That’s the lesson.

Obedience—not enthusiasm—is the call.
God alone is responsible for changing hearts.
We are simply responsible for obeying His instructions.

So from here on out, if I find myself sailing with Jonah, I’ll take it as a sign:
God must be sending me to Tarshish.

__________

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3 (NKJV)

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry… For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.” Jonah 4:1–2 (NKJV)