Nowhere To Run

In 1965, Martha and the Vandellas recorded their signature song, “Nowhere to Run.” The song began, “Nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide.”

Maybe if Jonah had been alive at this time, he would have gotten the hint.

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:3a)

Jonah was called by God to deliver a message to the Ninevites, a ruthless and cruel people, and a people who had done great harm to the Jews. Jonah didn’t cherish the idea of telling them they had only 40 days left before God was going to wipe them out for their great wickedness (Jonah 1:2; 3:4).

Jonah knew God was “a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2b)

Jonah therefore picked the furthest place on planet earth from Nineveh, Tarshish, and ran from God and from His calling (Jonah 1:3).

But no one can run or hide from the presence of God.

King David said, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me” (Psalm 139:7-11)

Jonah tried to run and hide from God, but he had nowhere to run that God could not catch up to him.

In response to his attempt to run, God sent a great storm and Jonah was tossed overboard and swallowed by a great fish. Finally, Jonah got it, because there in the fish’s belly he cries out to God, and God heard him.

Today embrace God’s call realizing there’s nowhere to run.