#9 2024 Top Ten Editors Note: Now through January 5 I am posting the Top Ten posts of 2024.
If there is one character that became a symbol for running from God, it would have to be Jonah. A lot has been written and preached on about him fleeing God’s calling, and then God intervening by having a “great fish” swallow him. I want you to set aside for the moment all you know about the story of Jonah and just focus on the moment of the calling:
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me (Jonah 1:2, NASB).”
What was Jonah thinking when he heard the word of the Lord? We don’t know for sure, but we do know it prompted an immediate response: “But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (3).” Tarshish was in the direct opposite direction of Nineveh.[1] What would cause such an immediate reaction to this calling? God was asking Jonah to go to the capital of the Assyrian empire—a very powerful adversary of Israel. He was asking him to go to his enemy and call out its wickedness.
How would you feel if the word of the Lord came to you, instructing you to go to your fiercest enemy and call out their wicked behavior—to tell them to repent? It reminds me of when God tells Ananias to go to Saul—the man who was persecuting Christians. Ananias responded, “But Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name (Acts 9:13-14).”
Just like Jonah, the Lord asked Ananias to go to his feared enemy, the person who led the persecution of Christians. Ananias questioned the request, but the Lord responded: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake (Acts 9:15-16).” Unlike Jonah, Ananias obeyed and went to Saul. He laid hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17, NASB).”
The moment God calls us to act is a moment where is he is about to do something transformative. Whether it is to speak the word of the Lord to one person, a small group, or an entire city, he calls us to respond at that moment for a specific reason. Ananias was unaware of Saul’s experience on the Damascus Road, yet his obedience let him see an amazing transformation in Saul’s life to faith in Jesus Christ. Jonah’s fleeing the call shows us what God may do to turn us back toward Him and the path he has chosen for us.
Often when God calls us to act, we don’t have all the information and it may not make any sense. To respond in obedience to God’s call is an act of faith, trusting His timing and wisdom. Yet, like Ananias and so many other characters in the Bible, we may still question God. It’s a naturally human instinct to hesitate based on what we know about the situation. God gave Jonah a second chance to respond to his call to go to Nineveh and this time he went.
© 2024, Chris G. Thelen
“Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes (Jonah 3:5-6, NASB).”
Answering the Call
This post is part of the “Answering the Call” series—an exploration of the moment of decision for so many people in the Bible. To read other posts in this series, click on the category “Answering the Call” At the end of this post.
[1] A helpful map of the locations can be found at: https://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/jonah_map.png
140 Character Christian 
The comparison of Ananias and Saul to Jonah and Nineveh is helpful. Sometimes God does call us to talk with our enemies. He always asks us to pray for them. I found this post by searching for the tag #Jonah.
It’s good to know the tags I place on each post are useful. Glad you found the comparison helpful. Thanks for the comment.
Blessings Chris for sharing this encouraging message. Trust in God comes to mind when we feel God’s calling.
Yes, we need to trust God’s wisdom and follow His lead. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
Wishing you blessings! Very good post!
Praise God! Blessings to you as well.
I wonder how many stories are not recorded in the Bible about people who refused a call, so God chose someone else. How many times do people lose a great blessing? Do they learn later, and change their hearts?
That’s an interesting thought. A good reminder to be diligent in seeking God’s leading. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.