"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose 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 the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:1-3).
The Word is for Everyone Not Just our own
When the Lord gives us a command we must obey. Like Jonah, many of us don't like the assignment that God gives. Many of us believe that some people do not deserve to be forgiven. God does not think like we think (Isaiah 55:8). I thank God for his faithfulness toward us because, as we see in the case of Jonah, if our salvation was left to man, some of us would be left to die. Thankfully God is in control. He wants us to spread His Gospel Truth so that everyone may answer His call wherever we are wherever He sends us.
"But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his God and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep (Jonah 1:4-5).
You can Run but You Cannot Hide
Many of us believe that if we run in the opposite direction of where God told us to go, we'll be safe until God forgets the assignment. God is in control. He neither slumbers or sleeps. God watchful eye protects us day and night. He unwavering love for us cannot be deterred (Psalm 121:4). Whenever someone runs away from God, it will not be well for that person. Every hiding place will be exposed. In fact, like Jonah's hiding place, it will break asunder. Even if you find the lowest place in your hiding place God will still find you. Why? That's a good question. The answer to the question is you can run but you cannot hide (Your name goes here).
"So, the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore, they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” So, they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:6-17).
Everyone Will Know Him
It doesn't matter where we try and hide outside of God's will, people will know who we. We are a peculiar (1Peter 2:9-10). This is why we don't fit in everywhere. God's light cannot and will not be hidden. One of two things will happen in your hiding place or like in Jonah's case, both of the two. The first is that you will be outed and your hiding place demolished, and the second is that God will get the Glory even out of the non-believer. Our God is awesome. He wants everyone to not just know of Him but know Him. These people were out minding their business and here you come running from God bringing His wrath down on everyone around you. Even the men who believed in more than one god knew to call on the True and Living God. And still with our stubborn selves we'd rather die. Okay! We'll all learn that obedience is Better than sacrifice (1Samuel 15:22). Look at what you have caused yourself, and others, from running.
"Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1Samuel 15:22).
Obedience is better than Sacrifice
First things first. There is nothing wrong with sacrifice. However, the reason behind the sacrifice is what's important. It's all about the condition of one's heart and whether or not his love for God is true. God doesn't want our religion He wants a relationship with us. Everything we do has to be done as unto God as we are serving the Lord not man (Colossians 3:23-24). Whatever God is calling you to do, don't run. Remember, you (your name goes here) can run, but you cannot hide.
Run to God not Away from Him
When we run from God, we delay His blessings for ourselves and everyone around us. Why must we cause our own calamities? We are not the only ones who suffer from our choices. Whole families, communities, and nations suffer from our choices. Must we all suffer? God gets the Glory form His-story. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.