10-21-2016

 Good Morning All,

            Jonah 1:3; “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.”

    I have always liked to read the book of Jonah.  It is only four chapters but we get introduced to some intriguing characters and events.  The book ends with one of the most interesting ending.  It asks a question and gives no answer.  It is as if God wants you to answer it.  But here we have something different.  The prophet, the author of the book, is given a command by God.  Everywhere else in the Old Testament; the prophets answer the call of God.  Some are less than excited but they do as God instructs.  But not Jonah; he hightails it and runs as far as he can.

    We know the rest of the story.  Jonah ran.  God stopped him with a big fish.  After that it was history.  Jonah did go to Nineveh.  He preached; they repented; he hated it and was mad at God for it.

    This is an interesting verse because I think most people at one moment or another try to run from God.  It may not be a full fledge run to Tarshish but it might be hiding in the closet.  It might be that we are just trying to avoid God which is really sad.  God is the One that we should never run from.

    We run because we are afraid.  Think when you tried to run or hide from your parents, or a teacher or maybe even the police.  We run because we fear punishment.  We run because we fear the consequences.  We run because the devil and our sinful nature tell us to.  We run, for all the wrong reasons, away from God.  We run because the devil tells us that God will not and cannot love us.  We are deceived by those lies and we run.  We run to Tarshish or Timbuktu or to a closet.  We listen to the lies.

    Yet God comes after us.  He never stops finding us.  Sometimes this is very scary but it should be comforting.  The devil is the one who brings us pain; God brings us comfort.  But we run because of our fear when it is God who calms our fear.  We need to stand and have faith.  God gives us the forgiveness of sins.  It is already done, done on the cross on Calvary.  We don’t need to run; God wants us to be his children and to give us the comfort and consolation of his incredible grace. 

     Don’t be like Jonah, who sought to run from God.  Rather we need to cling to his promise; cling to his guarantee of forgiveness.  Instead of running to Tarshish; we should run to God. 

 Dearest Father, too often we run from you instead of to you.  Forgive us when we try and run.  Keep us in your saving arms and defend us from the evil of the devil and his ways.  Be with those who struggle and are searching for answers.  Give your comfort to those who need it the most.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret