"Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going 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 1:3
It is an exercise in futility when trying to flee from the presence of God, who is omnipresent; no one can elude the Lord. Jonah was not deterred from trying to escape the felt presence of God. To this day, people still try to flee from the face of God. Jonah perhaps believed that leaving those who knew him and the familiar surroundings would remind him that he was a prophet of God. Then, he would forget about the command of God. The burden to go would lift, and the fire to preach extinguished. One could argue that some have not returned to church after COVID-19. There is no longer the weekly reminder of God's commands or those in our lives who might question how we are doing spiritually. Jonah found what he sought in this voyage and paid the fare, unaware to what extent this would cost him. People, in their wisdom, calculate the risks of life and do things in their strength, oblivious to the future and the storms that can hurled against us. Running from the face of God can cost you more than you would ever be willing to pay, but we do not often see that at first. The Lord had a great fish prepared, but one cannot always be sure of the consequences paid for our rebellion or disobedience. It is far better to humble ourselves beneath the mighty hand of God from the first and trust in His grace. Do not lean on your understanding today; acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and faithfully obey Him.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Wight