Prayer: Father, I pray for new insight into the man Jonah. Amen.
Bible Project: Book of Jonah Summary | Watch an Overview Video (bibleproject.com)
Reading: Jonah 1: key: vs. 1-3 “Now the word of Adonai came to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying: “Rise, go to the great city Nineveh and call out to her, for their evil has risen before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish, from the presence of Adonai. He went down to Jaffa and found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fee and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish—away from the presence of Adonai.”
Attention: How foolish it is for Jonah to think that he could run from the “presence” of the Lord.
When I was in high school, I played Varsity Football on a State rated team. Every game and every play were filmed for the coaches’ review and shared with the team at our next meeting, usually a Monday. There was no way to avoid the capture of the camera. If you missed a block or a tackle, the camera would capture the evidence. It was unavoidable.
Fleeing the presence of Adonai is the same. He is unavoidable. Adam and Eve could not run from the presence of God. Neither could Jonah.
If you find yourself running from God, please understand the foolishness of your predicament. You can run and run, and run for the rest of your life, but God will be there waiting for you. Jonah tried to flee as far from God as he could get. He traveled west when God told him to go east. You can go to space, and you can relocate to the most remote place on earth. Like Jonah, you can go to the depths of the sea, or climb mountains. You will not be able to flee from God’s presence.
All of the people mentioned in the book of Jonah were responsive and obedient to God, the sailors, the ship captain, the wind and the waves, the great fish, the king, the people, and the cows of Nineveh, the plant, and the worm. Only the preacher/prophet was disobedient.
God’s presence is unavoidable. If you are running from God’s presence, I encourage you today to relent and repent, and get relief from the burden of running.
Action: I choose today to relent and repent to the Sovereignty of Adonai.
Yield: I choose to submit to the sovereignty of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in being open to His leading.
Relationship: I choose to run with God.
Prayer: Father, I pray that unlike Jonah, we run with You and towards You as obedient followers and servants. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalm 139:7 “Where can I go from Your Ruach? Where can I flee from Your presence?” TLV
Music Video: Elvis Presley—Where Could I Go But to the Lord https://youtu.be/dTS7RLFelbc?si=8uNQ2EocCgV_xYll
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”