Have you ever felt God calling you to do something you didn’t want to do? Perhaps it was reaching out to someone you’d rather avoid, serving in a ministry that seemed uncomfortable, or stepping out in faith when you preferred safety. The story of Jonah teaches us powerful lessons about what happens when we run from God’s calling.
Jonah was a successful prophet in Israel around 750 BC during the reign of Jeroboam II. According to 2 Kings 14:25, he had already experienced success in his prophetic ministry. But when God called him to go to Nineveh, everything changed.
Nineveh was the largest city in the world at that time with approximately 120,000-150,000 people. It was the capital of Assyria, Israel’s enemy, known for its:
When God told Jonah to go preach to these people, Jonah wanted nothing to do with it. Instead of traveling 500 miles northeast to Nineveh, he boarded a ship heading 2,500 miles west to Tarshish (modern-day southern Spain).
The first sign of running from God is drifting from His Word. Jonah knew what God had said, but he deliberately went in the opposite direction. The book of Hebrews warns believers about this drift:
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
When we’re running from God, we often:
In today’s world, social media and digital distractions can consume 4-10 hours of our day, leaving little room for God’s voice. Like Jonah who “paid the fare” for his escape, we pay a high price when we drift from God’s Word – in our relationships, mental health, and spiritual growth.
When Jonah ran, he delayed God’s plan not just for himself but for the people of Nineveh who needed to hear God’s message. Our disobedience can:
Hebrews 3:7-8 warns: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Each time we ignore God’s voice, our hearts either soften in obedience or harden in rebellion.
Jonah’s delay put him in the wrong company – sleeping peacefully among pagans while a storm raged around them. When we’re not where God wants us, we often find ourselves comfortable in places and with people we shouldn’t be.
At the root of Jonah’s rebellion was his disagreement with God’s mercy toward Nineveh. He didn’t want God to forgive Israel’s enemies. He despised God’s way of extending grace to all people.
We too can fall into the trap of thinking God should work according to our preferences and prejudices. We might question:
The reality is that “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9). When we run from God, we’re essentially saying we know better than He does.
Everything in creation obeys God except humans who have free will. In Jonah’s story:
Only Jonah, God’s prophet, refused to obey. And his disobedience affected everyone around him – the sailors lost their cargo, the fish had to change its plans, and the Ninevites’ salvation was delayed.
God is always at work, and He invites us to join Him with the word “now.” The question isn’t whether God is working – He is. The question is whether we’ll participate in what He’s doing.
This week, consider:
Where might you be drifting from God’s Word? Have you been neglecting Bible reading, prayer, or church attendance? Make a commitment to reconnect with God’s truth daily.
What might God be calling you to do that you’re resisting? Is there a ministry opportunity, a relationship to restore, or a step of faith you’re avoiding? Remember that God’s will often begins with simple things like gratitude, generosity, and faithfulness in small matters.
Are there any prejudices or preferences keeping you from embracing God’s ways? Ask God to renovate your heart and mind to see people and situations as He does.
What “fish’s belly” experience might God be using to turn you around? Sometimes God uses uncomfortable circumstances to redirect us. Instead of fighting against them, ask what God might be teaching you.
Remember: Faith is not about the past (“I believed once”) but about the present (“I believe now”). God is inviting you to join Him in His work today. Will you run from Him or with Him?