You can run but you can’t hide
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say surely the darkness shall fall on me. ‘Even the night shall be light about me. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)
The people of Nineveh were a heathen people and did wicked in the sight of God. So wicked were their ways that God called on Jonah and commanded him to go and prophecy against the city saying “their wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2) However, instead of obeying God and heading to Nineveh, Jonah heads off to Joppa where he boarded a ship heading to Tarshish.
In response to Jonah’s disobedience, God sent such a violent storm that the ship was almost destroyed. The sailors decided to cast lots to determine who had brought such misfortune on them. They were soon to discover that Jonah was the culprit. When they asked him what they should do to him, Jonah told them to throw him overboard not knowing that God had prepared a big fish to swallow him. Jonah remained in the belly of that great fish for three days and three nights. After he had repented and prayed, the Lord made the fish to vomit him on the shore.
Jonah thought he could hide from God but he soon learnt otherwise. Friend, God is not only omnipotent, He is also omnipresent and omniscient. He created the universe so He knows every “nook and corner” of it. How can you run away from such a God? Jonah learnt his lesson the hard way. Not wanting a repeat performance of what he went through before, the next time God called on Jonah, he was quick to respond.
Saul was another man who God gave a command. He was told to go and totally destroy the Amalekites but he only partially obeyed. Friend, his disobedience cost him the kingdom. Naaman almost missed getting his healing. When the prophet Elisha commanded him to go and wash seven times in the River Jordan, he first refused but after the young servant girl spoke to him, he went and was healed of leprosy. (2 Kings 5)
Friend, are you running away from God. Has He told you to do something and you are running away trying to hide. Or has He told you to stop doing something but you are hiding because you don’t want to give it up. Don’t be like Jonah and Saul who had to learn the hard way. Stop fighting Him. Simply obey.
Prayer: Lord, the entrance of your Word brings light and understanding to the simple. Help me to be quick to obey you. Stop me from running away from your commands and instructions. Open my ear to hear you clearly and give me a heart that is willing and able to obey you at all times. Help me so that I do not have to learn the hard way like Jonah and King Saul. I thank you for answering this prayer in Jesus Precious Name. Amen.
