What Are You Running From?

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
— Jonah 1:2–3 (ESV)

The story of Jonah is a powerful one. What you may remember most is his encounter with the great fish and surviving three days in its belly. While that is true, it is only a small part of a much greater story.

Jonah was a prophet—a man of God—called to a higher purpose who ultimately ran from it when the moment of obedience arrived. He literally paid to flee from the presence of God. As we see in the passage above, Jonah’s immediate response to God’s direction was to go in the exact opposite direction of the Lord’s presence. What?! Why would he do this?

The answer is one Jonah gives us himself:

“And he prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’”
— Jonah 4:2–3 (ESV)

Jonah fled to Tarshish because he knew that if Nineveh heard and responded to God’s message, His grace would be extended to them.

And that’s exactly what happened:

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”
— Jonah 3:10 (ESV)

And Jonah’s response?

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.”
— Jonah 4:1 (ESV)

Jonah was upset that God extended mercy to people he didn’t like. He was exceedingly angry that God restored a broken community that repented and turned to Him. Jonah knew the character of God—and he was willing to pay to flee His presence in hopes that there would be no repentance in Nineveh. Only destruction.

Here’s a wild question: How much do you have to hate someone to physically pay to flee the presence of God?

Yet, God still used Jonah to accomplish the work He had called him to do. The great fish wasn’t a flavorful addition to the story—it was a response to rebellion and disobedience, meant to get Jonah back to where he needed to be. God allowed Jonah to rest in the heart of a fish to change the heart of the man.

I celebrate today that the God we serve is full of grace, mercy, and love. He desires to restore—not destroy.

I can’t help but reflect on times in my own life when I was tempted to “run” in the opposite direction because I knew what obedience would bring. Forgiveness would be extended to my enemies. Healing would take place in the lives of those who hurt me. Restoration would come to the souls of people I didn’t like. Obedience would require full submission to an almighty God.

This begs the question, what are you running from today?

Is there anything Jesus is calling you to—asking you to do—that you’re having a hard time following through with? My prayer is that it doesn’t take a whale to get you back on track. Instead, may a recognition of the love Jesus has shown you compel you to extend that same grace to others. May those who have hurt us experience the same grace, mercy, and love that has been poured out on us.

If that’s hard for you to accept today—can I pray for you?

Jesus, I pray for the one reading this who is struggling to be obedient to You and Your Word. Like Jonah, they understand that Your grace is sufficient—more than enough. Yet it can be incredibly difficult to witness such extravagant forgiveness when we are fully aware of the wickedness we’ve experienced. Would You give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to fully know Your perfect will today? Help us to be more like You. Help us stop running from Your will and instead run toward it. In Your name we pray, Amen.