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Daily Devotions

Running From God’s Will

By September 22, 2015No Comments

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:3 KJV

God had called upon Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh of impending judgment. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the enemies of Israel. Jonah was all for Nineveh’s destruction but was afraid they would hear the message, repent of sin, and be spared by God’s grace. He wanted no part in Nineveh’s salvation, so he attempted to flee from the will and the presence of the Lord, as far as he could, in the opposite direction. Did Jonah really think he could flee from God’s presence? That is unlikely, but it did not stop him from trying anymore than it stops us from trying to escape God’s will when we don’t want to do it. Jonah would learn as we all must learn that God’s plan cannot be thwarted.

Lord, how foolish we are sometimes, thinking we can flee from You or what You want us to do. Jonah’s attempted escape only created more difficulty for himself. If only we would learn how much easier our lives could be if we obeyed You from the start. Instead of trying to flee from, help me cling to Your presence and will.