“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.”
- Jonah 1:1-3 -

God said to Jonah, "Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city." But he went to the opposite to go to Tarshish (2-3 modern day Spain). Jonah had two excuses to disobey the Lord. 1) There was a high chance of losing his life for the people of Nineveh were godless and cruel. 2) The people of Nineveh were Israel’s enemy because they had caused Israel a lot of trouble. Indeed, Assyria invaded and conquered the northern kingdom, Israel in 722 BC. Jonah's disobedience led him to go down; first to Joppa (3), then to the lower deck (5), third to the sea (15) and last to the belly of a great fish (17). It shows us that our disobedience causes us to go down physically and spiritually. Yet at the lowest point in his life, Jonah repented and he finally obeyed God.

Just as God chased Jonah, He also pursues us. So many testify that God met them in the depths. Is your life going down (degradation)? Arise and go to Nineveh (the place God wants you to go)!!!

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for calling us with great purpose. Help me to rise and go where you send me in obedience. Use me in the year 2021 for your precious will.