Toward
Dear Faith Family,
But Jonah rose 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, away from the presence of the Lord, (Jonah 1:3).
A window offers the opportunity to watch with a safe sense of security. Just through the back door window and out onto the deck, down a handful footful of steps and another footful of steps across the backyard there’s a flurry of activity. Two birdfeeders serve up a buffet of sunflower seeds free for the taking. And take them they do (the birds that is)!
Until…until the back door opens. When I open the backdoor, the birdfeeder becomes a ghost town. Birds disappear in thin air. Bummer! Don’t they know that I’m the one who hung the bird feeders? Keep the bird feeders full? Bought the birdbath? Resealed the birdbath with FlexSeal (yes it worked!). Keeps the birdbath full? I’m not only safe, I’m the guy who helps to take care of the birds!
So, I ask, why do they run away when I show up? Obviously, they’re afraid. Maybe they just don’t know that I’m the one who helps take care of them? Maybe they’re unaware of how much I enjoy them? Surely, they don’t think I’m out to get them, do they?
And then there’s Jonah. God showed up and Jonah ran, swam, and sank (kind of) away. His perception of God was less than true. Apparently, Jonah didn’t trust God. He thought he had a better idea.
How about you? When God shows up (when His Word speaks) which way do you run? Toward your God or like Jonah, away from your God? Do you know that He is the One who cares for you? Provides for you? Protects you? Delights in you? He’s not only safe, He’s the One who made you, redeems you, and sustains you! You can trust Him even when His plans don’t make sense to you!
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