Jonah and the Whale

Do you remember the story about Jonah and the whale? God gave him a special assignment to go to the land of Nineveh and tell the people that their evil ways had broken God’s heart. Jonah must have been a people pleaser, because the idea of doing that was too much for him! He ran away and got on a boat that was going in the opposite direction of Ninevah!

Well, ya' can’t run from God and Jonah found that out the hard way! The boat he was on blew and shook in a storm. Jonah knew God had sent the storm and so Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the water. A big fish swallowed up Jonah! While inside the fish, Jonah prayed, and after he was done praying, God commanded the fish to spit him out.

So, God still wanted Jonah to do what He asked- to go to Ninevah.  So this time, Jonah obeyed God. Jonah told the people that their evil ways broke God’s heart and guess what? The people were sorry and asked God to forgive them. Jonah learned that ALL people are precious to God! Jonah obeyed God this time!

It struck me today that I’m really a lot like Jonah. Maybe you are too. We claim to follow God, but when He gives us a specific direction, we really prefer to go another way. Sometimes, in fact, we run the opposite way! It’s so easy to cling to our comfortable ways and steer clear of an intimate walk with God. I’m learning in this challenging season that He is the only place where true comfort is found. Why would I want to run way from God?

Don’t forget to note how God is always at work in this story! Even when Jonah disappointed God, He didn’t leave Jonah. He pursued Jonah. He provided for Jonah and even saved him from the belly of a fish! He made a way even when Jonah was walking away from God. Wow… God is so good.

Have you walked away from God? Do you feel like you can run your life better than God?  Stop making excuses for keeping God at bay. God may be using this “storm” in your life to help you see His unfailing love for you. Consider Jonah and his ways. Change is possible.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.