Have you ever pulled a “Jonah”?

This weekend's Old Testament reading picks up the story of Jonah after he was unceremoniously spit from the great fish and was called by the LORD a second time to preach in Nineveh, calling them to repentance. You remember the start of the story, how when Jonah heard the LORD'S call he ran the opposite direction, boarding a ship headed for Tarshish. But you can't run away from God. When the storm came, Jonah was eventually thrown off the ship yet the Lord mercifully rescued him.

In this weekend's Gospel reading, we will hear of Jesus calling two sets of brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, and James and John, who leave their boats and follow Him to become fishers of men, calling people to repent and follow Jesus.

There is quite the contrast between Jonah and the two sets of brothers. Both end up getting out of a boat, but one leaves because he is trying to escape God's call while the others leave in joyful response to that call.

Have you ever pulled a Jonah and tried to run from doing something you knew the Lord wanted you to do as your conscience kept bugging you and it seemed that every devotion you read or sermon you heard seemed to keep bringing you back to considering where God wanted you to be? The wonder of our God is His remarkable mercy. Even though Jonah tried to run, God still called. After giving him a time-out in the miraculous fish, He gave Jonah the opportunity to respond positively. And so He does for you and me. He doesn't want us to drown away from Him but live with Him who has great things for us to do in His service.

“Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake, “All in My way abiding;
Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding.
O bear the cross, whate’er betide, Take My example for your guide.

Lutheran Service Book #688, v. 1