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Heading for the Shore? Or Can You Run from God?

The Book of Jonah

On November 12, 1970, the Oregon State Highway Department performed the detonation, in an attempt to remove a beached whale, discovered dead on the shore five days earlier, upwind from the coastal town of Florence. The decision was made to disintegrate the whale with explosives, with the belief that it would be broken down into small fragments that would then be picked up by gulls, crabs and other scavengers. Twenty 50 lb. cases of dynamite were placed under the 45 foot Pacific Gray whale, and a quarter mile radius was cleared of spectators for safety. The explosion, captured on film by several news teams, was more vigorous than anticipated, and many in attendance were hit by whale debris. Much of the whale carcass remained unexploded on the beach, and was buried where it laid. Nobody was injured, though everyone in attendance was coated in a " sticky film" by the ensuing cloud of rotting whale vapor. The most damage was suffered by a car parked 450 yards from the blast site. A 1970 Oldsmobile, owned by Walter Umenhofer, was struck by a large blubber fragment, which entirely flattened the roof, effectively totaling the car. The car had been purchased two days earlier from Dunham Olds in Eugene, a dealership then advertising "A Whale of a Deal".

I. You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV) "The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 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."

Notice that when Jonah began to run from God, things went downhill from there.

He Went Down to Joppa

Jonah 1:3 (NIV) "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."

He Went Down Below Deck on the Ship

Jonah 1:5 (NIV) "All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep."

He Went Down Into the Ocean

Jonah 1:15 (NIV) "Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm."

He Went Down into the Belly of the Great Fish

Jonah 1:17 (NIV) "But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

He Went Down to the bottom of the Sea

Jonah 2:2 (NIV) "He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry."

Is there something that you are Running from God about? Has He told you to do something, go to someone or go somewhere for His Glory and Honor, yet you are Running? Do you really think that you can hide from God. The Psalmist answered that question.

Psalms 139:7-12 (NIV) "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

II. When You Hit Bottom, You Can Always Look up

Jonah 2 (NIV) "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. 7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." 10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land."

When we are at the bottom, it is a great time to begin to talk to the Lord.

One of Erma Bombeck's favorite Jewish grandmother stories: The grandmother "took her grandson to the beach one day, complete with bucket, shovel and sun hat. The grandmother dozed off and as she slept, a large wave dragged the child out to sea. The grandmother awoke and was devastated. She fell to the ground and on her knees and prayed, 'God, if you save my grandchild, I promise I will make it up to you. I will join whatever club you want me to. I will volunteer at the hospital, give to the poor and do anything that makes you happy.

Suddenly, a huge wave tossed her grandson on the beach at her feet. She noticed color in his cheeks and his eyes were bright. He was alive. As she stood up, however, she seemed to be upset. She put her hands on her hips, looked skyward, and said sharply, 'He had a hat, you know.'"

For the Prodigal it was in the Pig Pen after squandering away what had been given him. For Jonah it was when he was in the belly of the Whale at the Bottom of the Ocean. If you are running from God, where will it be? What will have to happen to you for you to hit rock bottom?

Both the Prodigal and Jonah could have stopped running at any time. Jonah could have turned to God while in Joppa, while in the boat, even while still in the whale on one the first two days.

III. God Is a God of Second Chances

Jonah 3:1-3 (NIV) "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh."

Often times our Mistakes are not very serious. This last week I found this about "Gaffs, goofs and Freudian slips from church bulletins."

"While the pastor is on vacation it is our rare privilege to hear a good sermon from...." "Today's Sermon: 'Thou Shalt Not Steal.' Choir Special: 'Steal, Steal Away!' " "No healing services today due to the Pastor's illness."

"Ladies, Saturday's rummage sale is a chance to get rid of old things you don't want any more. Bring your husbands!" "A new loudspeaker system has been donated by one of our members in honor of his wife." "Remember to pray for those who are sick of our congregation." "Don't let worry kill you. Let the church help."

"Potluck Supper on Thursday. Prayer and medication afterwards." "For those who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery." "The church supper was like Heaven; many we expected to see were absent." "The end of the world has been postponed until next semester due to lack of classroom space."

God is a God of Second Chances. Aren't you glad for that!

When Moses said, "Here am I, send Aaron," God gave him a Second Chance. When David committed Adultery with Bathsheba and Murdered Uriah the Hittite, God gave him a Second Chance

When Peter worshipped Jesus at the supper and cursed Him at the fire, He gave him a Second Chance

When people spat at Jesus face, slapped Him, whipped Him and ridiculed Him, He gave him a Second Chance

When the very Creation crucified their Creator He gave him a Second Chance

When will God give you a Second Chance? When you Stop Running, Repent (Change Directions) and Obey Him.

That is what the Prodigal did in the pigpen, it is what Jonah did in the Belly of the Whale and it is what you and I can do today. Stop Running, Repent and Obey!

IV. God Loves Everybody

Jonah 4:11 (NIV) "But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?""

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

John 3:16 (NIV) ""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

There is no person on the face of this earth to whom God's Love does not extend. His love crosses racial, economic, geographical and social barriers. Every person who draws breath is a candidate for God's Love. If we are His Children, should we not love them also??

In his book, No Wonder They Call Him Saviour, Max Lucado tells the story about a mother named Maria and her daughter Christina. Maria and Christina lived in a poor village in Brazil. Maria's husband died when Christina was an infant. Maria had a job as an maid in order to support herself and Christina. There were no luxuries, but they got by.

For fifteen years then went rather well. But now Christina had become a teenager and teenagers often have minds of their own. Christina was not interested in marrying young and raising a family like most of the other girls that she grew up with. Not that she couldn't have her pick of husbands. He olive skin and brown eyes, as well as he infectious personality, kept a steady stream of prospects at her door. She dreamed of trading her dusty neighborhood for exciting avenues and the city life. Just the thought of this horrified Maria. People don't know you there! Jobs are scarce and life is cruel. And besides, if you went there, what would you do for a living? that is what horrified Maria the most. Maria knew exactly what Christina would have to do for a living. That is why Maria's heart broke when she awoke one morning to find her daughter's bed empty. Christina had gone and Maria knew where. Maria set out immediately to bring her back.

Maria threw some clothes in a bag, gathered up all he money and ran out of the house. But not before she had an inspired idea. On her way to the bus stop she went to a drugstore. She entered the photograph booth there and spend all the money she could afford on pictures of herself. With a purse full of small black and white photos, she boarded the bus ride for Rio de Janeiro.

And there Maria began her search. Knowing what a girl would have to do to support herself in this cruel city, Maria began with the bars, hotels and nightclubs, any place with a reputation for street walkers or prostitutes. She went to them all. And at each place she left her picture - taped to a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a corner phone booth. And on the back of each photo she wrote a note. It wasn't too long before both them money and the picture ran out and Maria had to go home. She wept as the bus began it long journey back to her small village.

A few weeks later young Christina descended a flight of hotel stairs. He young face was tired. He brown eyes no longer danced with youth but spoke of pain and fear. Her laughter was broken. Her dream had become a nightmare. A thousand times over she longed to trade these countless beds for her secure pallet. Yet the little village was, in too many ways, too far away. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again, and there on the lobby mirror was a small picture f her mother. Christina's eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and removed the small photo. Written on the back what this compelling invitation, Whatever you have done, whatever you have become, it doesn't matter. Please come home. And she did. (Lucado - No Wonder They Call Him Saviour 157-159)

Mark Redd

This Journal is published by Theological Web Publishing, LLC. For more information e-mail us at: webedit@theology.org

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