Running From God

I just read the book of Jonah, it’s not long, only a few pages. While reading it I couldn’t help but think about how many life lessons there are in this short book. I read about Jonah’s rejection of God, his running away and his days in the big fish. 

Sometimes, like Jonah, we not only try to run away from our problems but God as well. We start by not being in relation with him, not talking to him on a daily basis or saying that you’ll never talk to God again. Basically just being mad at God. Having the attitude that if God loved me why would he let this happen? I’m sure we have all felt that way at one time or another. 

Hebrews 13:5b says, “I will never leave you or forsake you”. Contrary to some beliefs, as hard as you try to run from God he will never abandon you. Rather than waiting around for you to come to your senses and cry out to God, he boldly pursues you and wraps you in his never ending love. 

In the story of Jonah, while he was running from God he got onto a ship to sail far away. There was a terrible storm and the boat came into peril. The crew on the ship decided it was because of Jonah. Jonah, not thinking of himself, asked the crew to throw him overboard into the sea. He thought so little of himself that he asked to be punished. I think this is often a part of the story that we tend to overlook, Jonah asking for punishment.

Like Jonah we sometimes ask God to punish us as well. This may sound a bit strange but people do it all the time. Maybe it is after a death that you unconsciously blame yourself for what happened. “If I had just been there this wouldn’t have happened….” This amount of intense emotional pain sometimes leads us to ask for what we think we deserve. Take a moment and pause, God would not purposely do anything to harm you, he loves you. Remember that God works out of love and grace, not punishment. 

Sometimes, like Jonah, we not only try to run from God but we try to ignore him as well. Sometimes we may think that we don’t need God anymore. Our busyness in life can lead to independence, thinking that we can manage things on our own; this always leads to disaster. It is often during this time in our lives that we may fall to sin, hardening our hearts from God. We need to take a step back and recommit ourselves to him like Jonah did inside the big fish. He went through a magnificent transformation during his three days and turned back to God.  

After Jonah gave his address to Ninevah, the people repented and God forgave them. This made Jonah angry because he felt they should be punished. Sometimes, like Jonah, we get very angry with God. When you get angry with God talk to him in prayer. Tell him what is bothering you, don’t hide your emotions. Be completely honest with him. Jonah cried out in frustration and anger, asking for death rather than forgiveness. 

God didn’t abandon Jonah, instead he made a bush to cover him from the heat of the day. He also sent a worm to ruin the bush. God sent the bush and worm to teach Jonah about his own lack of mercy toward the citizens of Ninevah. God taught Jonah a lesson with the bush just as he continues to show us lessons today. These lessons can come to us through our life challenges and experiences. God gives us free will to choose our own paths but sometimes these paths are not always the right ones. Reading and meditating on scripture can be a wonderful guide toward making appropriate life decisions. 

The book of Jonah is packed with life lessons. This book teaches us that God will forgive everyone if you repent of your sin. I’m sure that is what Jonah was doing during his three days inside the big fish, having long talks with God and asking for his forgiveness. God is also patient with us. Look how long he stood by Jonah, even when he was running from him. 

Don’t run from God, he’s with us all the time, he knows how we feel and what we think. Be with him and never forget, he loves you!

Dear God, be with us when we are angry or try to run from you. Help us to come close to you and establish an everlasting relationship. Amen




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My First Blog Post

Image
​This is my first blog post. I have to tell you that I am quite unsure of myself. I have been reading other blog posts and wonder if I can measure up. I am an upper middle aged woman who loves to read and write. I have stacks of books and journals to prove it.  My first blog post is going to be about my great-grandmother. I was about five years old when I stayed overnight. I had fun helping my grandma in the garden that day and helping her to make dinner, or supper where I’m from.   When the day was over, my grandma put me on the couch to sleep since they didn’t have any guest bedrooms. She had a big writing desk that was across the room from the couch. I really was’t that sleepy since it was quite a bit before my regular bedtime so I waited and watched what she did.  Next she went to the writing desk and sat down and pulled out a little book with a rough looking cover. She started writing in it and she wrote for quite a long time. I was starting to get sleepy but I manag...
Read more

Lost and Found

Image
​Have you ever lost your child? Even for a short time? I have, and I can tell you it was one of the most stressful days of my life.  My children are 35 and 33 now, and even though they’re adults, I still worry about them. I worry about them getting into a car crash, getting seriously ill, or other needless worries. I know God says not to worry, but I’m a mother and I still do. I remember one time when my son was three years old and I was very worried about him. We went to the grocery store; just another typical shopping trip. I had some film I wanted developed, so I went to the service counter. In those days, you put the film in a little bag and wrote what type of prints you wanted, your address, and other things on the bag.  My son was near me and he wandered over to a toy section close by. I filled out the information for the film and turned back to get him, and he was gone. Terror struck my heart! Where was he? I was sure he hadn’t gone too far, so I searched for him. Sever...
Read more

Draw Near To Me

Image
​Sunday is a special day at our house. My husband and I start out the day by going to a local coffee shop about an hour before church.  I order my usual latte and my husband orders an iced tea. We both order a blueberry muffin and sit at our usual table.  During this time together we not only enjoy our treats but also enjoy each other. We talk and talk about our days over the past week and really enjoy our time.   In this day and age it is very important for married couples to sit down and talk. Making a weekly coffee date has really improved our relationship. We rush through our week with our jobs, children and homes, sometimes saying little or nothing to each other. In the same way we cultivate a relationship with each other, it is very important to have a healthy relationship with God. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” NRSV  How can we get to know our God better?  Quite time. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” NRSV...
Read more