"Chaos From Running"

By: Zach Wood

Jonah 1:1-3

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:  "Go to the great city of Ninevah and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.  He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port.  After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

 

 

The other day, I started reading the book of Jonah because it had been on my mind.  What was even more interesting was the next day, my wife had gone to the local library and rented the Veggie Tales Jonah video.  It was almost like I felt God telling me that I really need to start reading it.  As I read the first few verses, I felt like I was relating right with Jonah.  It just amazed me to read that he paid the fare to actually flee from the Lord.  How many of us have purposely set out to run away from what God wants us to do?  Maybe in the past, or perhaps even now?  I think we all tend to find times when we are slowly walking away from what the Lord wants for us.  

 

I don't think any of us would really say to God, "I am leaving my path with you because I want something different in life."  We all become distracted by Satan and he makes so much in the world look pleasing.  Maybe God is calling us at some point to do something really profound or a little out of our comfort zones.  That's exactly what happened to Jonah.  He was pretty much saying, "Nah, Lord, I think I've got better plans.  I'll go do my own thing.  There is no way I'm going to Ninevah."  If you read on a few more verses, you notice that a terrible storm swept over the boat and nothing but chaos resulted for Jonah.  Once again, how many of us run away from the things God wants us to do in life?  Perhaps we are running from things He is calling us to do now?  When we run away and neglect His calling, nothing but chaos arises.  Life does not seem to make sense.  Our attitudes can sour, our mind constantly wanders and our hearts become in tune with the world instead of with God.  

 

I think if we really admit it, we are all a bunch of Jonahs.  I do not think there is any one of us who can say, "Nope, I do not relate at all to Jonah.  I have never tried fleeing the Lord."  We have all decided at one time or another to flee from the life God wants us to have.  He calls us to situations in life that are not always so easy.  He wants to challenge us in ways that we may not understand at first, but we have to remember that He knows what He is doing.  

 

I used to be in track and cross-country when I was in Jr. High.  If you have ever been to a track or cross-country meet, could you just imagine what it would be like to see runners going around in circles and straying off the course?  It would not be very enjoyable to watch.  The runners would be running and wasting their energy.  The same is true with us when we run from God and ignore what He wants us to do.  We run away and waste the energy He wants to use to further His Kingdom.  He wants us to use that energy to bring others closer to Him and in relationship with Him.  How are we doing?  Are we allowing chaos to enter our lives from running, or are we using our energy to further His Kingdom?