But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and he went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3
The only difference between Jonah and Adam is the distance each was prepared to travel to get away from God. Both should have known better than try to hide, but Adam remained in the Garden of Eden where the living was easy and good. Jonah’s travels would have taken him at least to Cyprus and possibly to Spain. He really wanted to get away. Like all of us, God had a purpose for Jonah, and Jonah wanted none of it. Perhaps he thought that God would not be interested in anything outside of Israel. So, instead of travelling east-northeast as God commanded, Jonah headed due west. He was like a sinner who tries to avoid dealing with God. He was also like a Christian who tries to go his own way instead of the way that God has planned for him.
If we want to avoid God’s will for our lives, we can always find a ship setting sail for Tarshish. But just like Jonah had to do, we will have to pay the fare. We will find that the cost of a journey to our own little Tarshish is very high. We will lose out on the joy of the Lord’s presence. We will lose out on all the blessings that lie only within the path of God’s purpose. We will lose out on the company of the Lord’s people, at least those who matter.
The journey to Tarshish is also a downward path. The trip takes us down to places such as Joppa, seaports that, although still in Israel, trafficked with all parts of the world. Avoiding God’s purpose places us in unsavoury places and in unsavoury company. We must make our companions those who don’t understand or care about the Saviour or His Gospel, whose god is their belly and whose hearts are depraved.
How much better for Jonah if he had simply done what God desired of him. How much better too for the sailors, who would not have lost their entire cargo had Jonah not been there. A Christian running away from God’s commands does nobody else any favours by being among them. We can be a help to neither saint nor sinner.
Are we following God’s orders today? Are we willing to pass up on the Tarshish voyage to enjoy the Lord’s guidance and presence today? –Jim MacIntosh