In His Presence

A short phrase in the book of Jonah demonstrates how hopeful it is to be a child of God. Jonah was commissioned by God to deliver an uncompromising judgment message to the Assyrian people of Nineveh, located on the Tigris River near Mosul in modern-day northern Iraq. There is little wonder Jonah was not eager to visit Nineveh. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty and brutality.

One writer described an exhibition of Assyrian art at the British Museum as containing “some of the most appalling images ever created.”* Jonah made an honest attempt to flee from God’s presence. It seemed no trouble was too great for Jonah if it meant avoiding Nineveh. He boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction. Yet try as he might, Jonah could not successfully run from God.

God saw him on the dock in Joppa. He saw Jonah board the ship to Tarshish. He sent a storm to trouble the ship, and “the LORD had prepared a great fish” (Jonah 1:17) to retrieve the reluctant prophet. When Jonah encountered the sea creature, he thought his life was over. But he discovered that rather than making him fish food, God had apprehended him for a special purpose.

Jonah realized that, try as he might, he simply couldn’t escape God. God was with Jonah, even while he believed he was fleeing God’s presence, which tells us it simply isn’t possible to escape God’s presence.

You can run from God, but He’ll run right after you and call you back to Him. Even when you go your own way, God sees you, and He cares.

As foolish as Jonah’s actions were, God didn’t roll His eyes or lose His patience. God acted in love, and He acts in love toward you to give you every opportunity to turn to Him. Instead of fleeing from God, flee to God.

His purpose is always to bless you in preparation for eternity.