Are You Running From God?

Jonah 1:1-17

1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”

3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.

4 But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.

But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives.”

7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 “Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?”

9 Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”

10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?”

12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”

15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.

17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

Have you ever run from what the Lord told you to do? I have, in a way. There have been times in my life when I know the Lord had told me to do something and I went in the opposite direction. It wasn't something like what Jonah was instructed to do, but it would be when He would tell me to apologize to my wife for something I said that offended her. When I would run the other way because my flesh did not want to admit it had done wrong, things would inevitably get worse. We would have a fight or I would say something that would cause her more pain. Eventually I would listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and apologize for my comments and we would work things out. How many arguments or how much heartache I would have avoided if I would just follow what the Holy Spirit was telling me to do.

Jonah is no different that you or I am. He knew he had heard from the Lord and he deliberately went in the opposite direction from where he was supposed to go. Why would he do that? Just like me it was his flesh that he was listening to. His flesh did not want to get into a confrontation with the people of Nineveh. It's kind of a contradiction if you think about it. Our flesh doesn't want to get into confrontations with others but when we listen to our flesh that is what happens. That is a typical scenario for the devil. He leads you down a path of sin and when you make a decision to partake in that invitation he is right there to point a finger or condemnation at you for what you did. Thank God Jesus doesn't operate that way, neither does the Holy Spirit. Contrary to what many in the body of Christ have been taught in their lives, the Holy Spirit's only time of conviction is to those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. "How can you prove that?" you may be asking. Here is where it comes from in Jesus' own words:

John 16:7-11 (NLT)

7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

I also love this version:

John 16:7-11 (AMP)

7However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

8And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:

9About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me];

10About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer;

11About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him.

Isn't that awesome! The Holy Spirit's job is to bring us to the point of accepting Jesus. Once we do that His job is to teach us about righteousness or uprightness of heart and right standing with God. That is awesome news! Some would call that Good News. That is why it is called Good News. God is not sitting up in heaven waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us. On the contrary, He is sitting up in heaven with gifts for us that He wants to give us, not because of what we do but because of what Jesus did for us. What Jesus did on the cross has allowed us to be on the receiving end of God's blessings, not His punishment. That my friend is Good News.

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved