Devotion

A Devotion on the Story of Jonah: Running from God's Call

"But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord." - Jonah 1:3

The story of Jonah begins with a divine commission and an immediate rebellion. God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, the great Assyrian city, to preach against its wickedness. But instead of obeying, Jonah boards a ship heading in the opposite direction. His destination? Tarshish—as far west as he could imagine going when God had called him east.

How often do we find ourselves in Jonah's sandals? When God calls us to difficult conversations, challenging ministries, or uncomfortable acts of obedience, our natural instinct can be to run. Perhaps it's reaching out to that difficult family member, serving in a ministry that stretches us, or simply being honest about our faith in secular spaces. Like Jonah, we sometimes prefer the familiar discomfort of disobedience to the uncertain path of obedience.

But God's plans cannot be thwarted by our rebellion. The storm that follows Jonah onto the ship reminds us that running from God's purposes often brings turbulence not just to our own lives, but to those around us. The pagan sailors find themselves caught in a supernatural tempest because of one Hebrew prophet's disobedience.

Yet even in judgment, we see God's mercy. When Jonah is thrown overboard and swallowed by the great fish, it's not primarily punishment—it's rescue. In the belly of the fish, Jonah has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, nothing to do but pray. Sometimes God's mercy looks like removing our escape routes until we finally turn to Him.

Jonah's prayer from the depths is raw and honest: "In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry" (Jonah 2:2). Even in his rebellion, God heard him. Even in the consequences of his disobedience, God was working for his good.

The most remarkable part of Jonah's story might be what happens in Nineveh. When he finally preaches—reluctantly and minimally—the entire city repents. From the king to the livestock, all of Nineveh turns to God. This massive revival happens through the ministry of a reluctant, previously disobedient prophet. God's purposes prevail not because of Jonah's excellence, but despite his failures.

The story concludes with Jonah angry at God's mercy toward Nineveh. He wanted justice for his enemies, not grace. But God gently teaches him about divine compassion: "Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?" (Jonah 4:11).

Prayer

Lord, like Jonah, we often prefer our own plans to Yours. We run from difficult obedience and struggle to extend mercy to those we find undeserving. Thank You for pursuing us with relentless love, even when we're heading toward Tarshish. Help us to embrace Your calling with courage, trust Your heart of compassion, and remember that Your mercy is always greater than our understanding. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal