Jonah (Part IV)
Let’s get going shall we?
Jonah 1:3-4
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. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
4) But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
I know we looked at verse 3 the last time I posted on Jonah but the last sentence bears more study.
So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
I just find it amazing that Jonah was willing to pay money to get away from God! In our day and age, people will pay millions for seminars, books, conferences, and try some of the most weirdest things to get to God. They try to find God in other religions, in people who claim to be god, or people they think have the “fast track” to God. On the flip side of the coin, you have people who know God is tugging on their hearts, but they do everything they can to “feel” like God isn’t there. They try to sin in ways that they think will have them stop thinking that “God loves me” . I have always heard that there were people who were “running from God”when I was in church. I think I have truly had a revelation of what that means. There are those who will do anything to get on that boat to Tarshish, they think they are running from ”the face of God” (Penuel), but what they run into is the very One they were running from. There are things that must be broken from our lives so God can truly be our Lord and Savior. We have to go to Tarshish before we can get to Nineveh.
Nineveh is our destiny! Nineveh is God’s call on your life! Nineveh is the fulfillment of that prophetic word spoken over you many years ago. Nineveh is the consumation of every hope and desire of God for your life. Nineveh is the answer to your most heart-felt prayer. Nineveh is not the end of the road, but the beginning!
Are you fighting what God is trying to do in your life? Are you hiding behind insecurity and fear as if these things are too big for God? I ask this cause I struggle with my own insecurities and fears sometimes, but what I am learning is that He doesn’t need vessels of silver and gold, He needs yielded vessels. He needs people that no matter how they feel, they are going to do what God is telling them to do. No matter how foolish, or flawed, or unprofessional you may look. God is big enough to take care of the rest. It may take some time in Tarshish, but we will look back on that time with joy and realize that you have made it to Nineveh!
Will you join me on that journey?
Kevin
