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Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah 1:1 WEB

The word of the Lord came to Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh, but Jonah fled in the opposite direction. God told him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah went to Joppa and then took a ship down to Tarshish. Nineveh (in modern-day Iraq) was about five hundred miles east of his home in Gath-heper (2 Kings 14:25). While Tarshish (in southern Spain) was twenty-five hundred miles west. Jonah planned to be three-thousand miles away from where God wanted him to be, as soon as he could get there.

Jonah spent far more time, energy, and money, in doing the exact opposite of what God wanted. As you might guess, trouble followed after him. The Lord told Jonah to do something, but he refused and did the opposite, while fully knowing what God wanted. That is a serious decision. I don't know what causes a man to do that, but I have done similar things myself. We know to do right, just can't seem to do it. As Paul wrote 'For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice' (Romans 7:19).

Jonah's life then fell apart and became a living hell. At his lowest point, when he had been eaten by a fish and was sitting alone in the dark, covered in slime and seaweed, Jonah finally surrendered his life to God and prayed. He reversed his course. He stopped running. Things changed quickly in his life, and when he made it to the beach, the exact same word of the Lord came to him a second time. God's plan had not changed because of Jonah's bad behavior. The word was still 'Go to Nineveh.'

There have been times when I thought that God was finished with me. Yet when I finally turned to Him and prayed, I heard the same word come again. His plan for you is still there, even when you knew what you were supposed to do, and yet did the opposite. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29). The Lord still has a plan and purpose for your life, when you stop running and turn back to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for having mercy on my life. Forgive me of the times when I have lived contrary to Your will. Lead me, and I will follow. Teach me, and I will learn. Please work Your perfect will in my life and guide me into all that You have for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network

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