Jonah 1:3 tells us: “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.”
In the last month or two, the story of Jonah has continued to pop up for me in many different settings. It’s a story with a very basic point, but sometimes we can get so caught up in the miraculous—a man being swallowed by a giant fish, surviving for three days, and then being spit out onto the beach—that we forget the heart of the story: obedience. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah chose to run in the opposite direction. He knew what God wanted him to do, yet he deliberately disobeyed.
How often do we do the same thing? We sense God calling us to something—maybe to forgive someone who has wronged us, to step out in faith and experience a new opportunity, or to speak truth in a difficult situation—but instead of obeying, we run. Maybe it’s fear that keeps us from following God’s call, maybe it’s our own selfish desires or maybe we simply want to blend in with the world rather than stand out for God. Whatever the reason, the reality is when we run from God’s will, we’re walking in disobedience. And disobedience always has consequences.
Jonah’s disobedience didn’t just affect him; it put others in danger. The sailors on the ship he boarded were caught in a violent storm because of Jonah’s choice to run from God (Jonah 1:4-5). Likewise, when we resist God’s will, it can impact the lives of others as much as it does ours. Perhaps our delayed obedience is holding back a blessing for someone else. Maybe our unwillingness to share the gospel is keeping someone from hearing the good news of Jesus.
The good news is that God, in His mercy, still pursues us even when we run. Jonah’s story didn’t end in disobedience. After being swallowed by the fish, he had a change of heart and turned back to God in prayer. God gave him a second chance, just as He does for us. No matter how far we run, God is always ready to receive us when we turn back to Him.
Here are a few questions that might be good for us to ask ourselves: Are there areas in our life where we’re running from God’s call? Are there things in our life that are keeping us from fully obeying Him? How can we take a step of obedience today, even if it’s small?
Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve run from Your will. We know that Your plans are good, even when they don’t align with our desires or comfort. Give us the courage to obey You, no matter what. And help us trust that You are always with us, guiding us every step of the way. Amen.
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