Here Am I, Send Him: When We Run From God’s Call
Have you ever tried to run from God’s will in your life? Like a football player sprinting in the wrong direction, sometimes we find ourselves heading away from what God has called us to do. The story of Jonah teaches us about the futility of running from God and the beauty of His relentless pursuit of our hearts.
The Story of Wrong Way Roy
In the 1929 Rose Bowl, Roy Riegels scooped up a fumbled ball and ran 65 yards toward the goal line – but he was running the wrong way. His own teammate had to tackle him to prevent him from scoring for the opposing team. At halftime, Roy sat sobbing in the locker room, convinced his career was over. But his coach stood up and said, “The same team that started the first half will start the second half. Roy, you’ve got to get up and go back out there. The game’s only half over.”
Perhaps you feel like Wrong Way Roy today. Maybe you once walked with the Lord but turned your back on Him. Maybe God has called you to something specific, but you’ve chosen disobedience instead. Our God is like that coach, saying, “Get back up and get back on the field, but this time head in the right direction.”
Who Was Jonah and What Was His Call?
Jonah received a clear message from God: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are” (Jonah 1:2). But instead of obeying, Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction, buying a ticket to Tarshish – about as far from God’s call as he could get.
Why Didn’t Jonah Want to Go to Nineveh?
Nineveh was a massive, powerful city with walls 100 feet high and wide enough for three chariots to ride side by side. It housed 120,000 people who were known for their extreme cruelty and violence. These Assyrians were Israel’s sworn enemies, notorious for torture, execution, and unspeakable acts of violence.
But here’s the surprising truth: Jonah didn’t run because he feared failure. He ran because he feared success. Deep down, he knew that if he went to Nineveh and preached, the people would repent, and God would show them mercy. Jonah didn’t want his enemies to be saved – he wanted them judged.
God’s Heart vs. Jonah’s Heart
This reveals a stark contrast between God’s heart and Jonah’s heart. God loved those rebellious, wicked people. Jonah didn’t, couldn’t, and didn’t want to. He had buried prejudice against “those people.”
Who are “those people” to you? Maybe it’s a group you’ve come to fear or despise. Perhaps it’s Muslims, political extremists, or activists whose values oppose yours. We justify our anger by pointing to their sin, but we forget that God loves them too and died for them as well.
The Problem of Apathy
For many Christians, the problem isn’t hate but apathy. We’re comfortable knowing our eternity is secure while remaining unconcerned about our lost neighbors and community. Yet God’s command to Jonah and to us is clear: “Go and preach.”
The Great Commission: Not Optional
Jesus echoed this same call in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” This wasn’t just for pastors or missionaries – it’s for all believers. Two things stand out:
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It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. Our mission isn’t to wait for people to come to church; it’s to go into the world and tell them about Jesus.
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This command applies to everyone. If you’re not making disciples, are you really a disciple?
What Does It Mean to “Preach”?
Many people say, “I’m not called to preach, so this doesn’t apply to me.” But preaching simply means sharing information, telling your story. No one can tell your testimony like you can. You’re not just able to share your story – you’re commanded to.
The Cost of Running From God
When Jonah tried to escape God’s call, he discovered an important truth: you can run, but you can’t hide. Disobedience always comes with a cost, and when you run from God, you always pay your own fare.
Notice the downward spiral in Jonah’s journey:
- He went down to Joppa
- He went down into the ship
- He was thrown down into the sea
- He went down into the belly of the fish
- Finally down into the depths
This is the pattern of running from God – it’s always down, down, down, circling the drain.
Satan Makes Disobedience Convenient
Here’s something important to understand: Satan is a master at arranging circumstances to make our disobedience convenient. There’s always going to be a ship at the dock ready to take you in the wrong direction. There’s always that relationship, that compromise, that opportunity that feels “meant to be” – even when it contradicts God’s Word.
God’s Storm of Mercy
When Jonah was on that ship heading to Tarshish, God sent a violent storm. This wasn’t punishment – it was mercy. God loved Jonah too much to let him continue in the wrong direction.
Every believer faces storms in life, and they serve different purposes:
- Protecting storms keep us from something worse
- Perfecting storms shape our character
- Correcting storms come when we rebel
Jonah’s storm was a correcting storm. As Hebrews 12:6 says, “The Lord disciplines those he loves.” Maybe you’re in a correcting storm right now, and God is saying, “You’re mine, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you back.”
The Tragedy of Lost Testimony
When the sailors discovered Jonah was running from the God of Israel – the God who split the sea and crushed Pharaoh’s army – they couldn’t believe it. Why would anyone run from such a powerful God?
There’s nothing more tragic than a believer who has lost their testimony. Sometimes unbelievers show more faith than believers do. The sailors had more understanding of God’s judgment than Jonah did. When our lives don’t line up with what we say we believe, it damages our witness and confuses those around us.
Life Application
The story of Jonah challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions. Are you running from God’s call on your life? Is there something He’s asking you to do that you’ve been avoiding or refusing?
Maybe you’ve been running your whole life from God, from truth, from surrender. But just like Jonah, you cannot outrun His mercy. The same God who sent a fish to rescue a rebellious prophet sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue you.
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, today is the day to stop running. Accept that you’re a sinner, turn away from your sin, believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, and confess Him as your Lord and Savior.
If you’re already a Christian but have been disobedient to God’s call, it’s time to turn from Tarshish and head toward your Nineveh. God has work for you to do, people for you to reach, and a testimony for you to share.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your “Nineveh” – the place or people God is calling you to reach that you’ve been avoiding?
- Who are “those people” in your life that you struggle to see through God’s eyes of love and mercy?
- Are you actively sharing the gospel with others, or have you been living in disobedience to the Great Commission?
- What storms in your life might be God’s way of correcting your course and calling you back to His will?