Are you running away from God? If you continue to do so, then you are bound to get tired because there is nowhere in this world that you can hide.
In the Bible, there are some people who tried to run away from God but eventually came into a realization, and submitted themselves to the will of God.
First, Jacob can teach us that if you allow God to work in your life, then you will become a channel of blessings to others.
Jacob was a swindler. His mother conspired that Jacob will be given the birthright instead of Esau. Because of this, Jacob later on feared for his life and ran away. Eventually, Jacob was caught by God. They wrestled until the early morning. God injured Jacob in the hip so that he should not run anymore and face his problem.
In that event, his name was changed. Genesis 32:28 tells us that God told him “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Because of that, Jacob as Israel has become the father of the twelve tribes. And the rest is history.
Second, Jonah can teach us that God can use you mightily if you surrender your life to Him.
When God called Jonah to preach to Nineveh, he ran away and boarded a ship in Joppa in order to go to Tarsus. This place was opposite Nineveh. But God caused a storm so that Jonah will be thrown over. He was eventually swallowed by large fish. After 3 days, he was spit out in the land again.
For the second time, God called him to go to Nineveh. He followed God and arrived in the city which has about 1 million people. He preached for 3 days and gave the people 40 days to repent because if not, they will be destroyed by God.
The inhabitants of the city, which is now Mosul, Iraq, eventually repented from their wicked ways. Jonah 3:10 says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
We, too, can be like Jacob and Jonah. Let us not run away from God but instead fully surrender to Him.
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications