Monday 31 March 2008
- Bible Book:
- Jonah
"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 'Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me'. But Jonah set out 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 his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD". (v.1-3)
Background
Jonah isn't keen on going to Nineveh to tell the people theyhave to repent or face the destruction of their city. Nineveh wasthe home of Israel's enemies - the Assyrians - and no doubt Jonahfeared that his reception there might be a touch frosty.
So, like a character in a Hollywood thriller, Jonah goes on therun. Tarshish was at the opposite end of the known world, and Jonahmakes a beeline for it. He boards a ship, goes down into the holdand falls asleep, hoping God won't notice him.
But God notices everything and raises up a terrible storm thatthreatens to sink the ship. By the end of this passage Jonah isabout to be thrown into the sea to be swallowed by a great fish.About as bad as it gets, you would have thought.
Seen from a 'worldly' point of view, God is a terrifying opponentwho will not rest in punishing the disobedient.
But seen from God's point of view, God is actually saving Jonah.Through his ordeal, Jonah will repent and come back to God. Godwill not allow Jonah to escape because God loves him. To escapefrom God and God's will is to seek oblivion. It is as if Jonah waslike a child running towards the edge of a cliff and God put out ahand to stop him.
In God's efforts to bring the disobedient back, what seems likeGod's wrath can actually be God's saving grace.
To Ponder
Think about the times when you may have tried torun away from God. What happened?
Are there periods in your life that weredifficult at the time, but in retrospect you can now see how Godwas at work? What are they?
How can you use those times to help and supportyou now?