Escape: June 8, 2010

Today's Word for Tuesday June 8, 2010

ESCAPE

DEFINITION

Get away or flee as from capture or confinement; evade or avoid; elude.

SCRIPTURE

"But Jonah rose up to flee into Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa." Jonah 1:3

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

When we think of the word escape for some reason Alcatraz, the prison in the bay of San Francisco, comes to our mind. This prison was reserved for the worst prisoners in America. They would be sent here to serve their time because the system felt that they could not escape. Alcatraz was located on an Island in the San Francisco bay and if one would try to escape it would be a very long swim and most thought it was humanly impossible.

Today it is a museum and a few weeks ago one of our grandchildren went there to tour the museum. This is a program that his school does every year for the 4th grade class as part of their American history program. Upon his return he told us about his visit and the story that some felt that one or two prisoners may have escaped but if they did escape from the island they would have drowned in their attempt to swim to land.

The scripture above tells us about Jonah and the time that God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach the Word of God. Jonah did not like the assignment and decided to escape God's presence by running away to Joppa to get on a boat headed to Tarshish.

It was foolish for any person in the prison at Alcatraz to think that they could escape by jumping off the Island into a vast sea expanse of water like the San Francisco bay. It was even more foolish for Jonah to think he could run and escape from God, who is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and all omnipresent (present everywhere).

Just as trying to escape from Alcatraz could only lead to disaster so would Jonah's attempt to escape from God's presence lead to disaster. Jonah was hurled into a raging sea and as he was about to drown he cried out to God and even in the midst of a stormy sea God was present. God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah and saved him.

In trying to escape from doing what God wanted him to do just think about what Jonah lost. He lost not only valuable time he could have spent preaching God's Word, and he lost his peace of mind. It certainly must have tormented him to know he was not doing what God wanted him to do. He had lost the blessing of God's presence, God's provision and God's comfort in his life.

God still had His way with Jonah but Jonah brought suffering on himself because of his decision. He ended up doing what God wanted him to do by going to Nineveh to preach the Word of God.

There are occasions when we as believers fall away from our duty by not doing what God wants us to do. The result is always the same. We lose the presence and comfort of the Lord in our lives. Just like Jonah, we may find ourselves in the midst of a raging sea. The moment we run off to seek our own inventions, without God's blessing, we are at sea without a pilot. Then we cry out to God asking Him where has He gone? God has not left us, we have left Him. By this time in our life we are at the same place that Jonah was - on the run and with no peace of mind. Sin destroys a believer's comfort. Jonah found out, as you will, that it is harder to try to escape from doing what God wants you to do than to yield to His will - when, where and how He directs you.

When you truly put your trust in God and communicate with Him daily, then you will not flee from what He tells you. It is hard to contend against God when you try to escape doing His will. When you trust Him, He knows what is best and will be with you always giving you His assurance of His faithfulness and the comfort of His presence.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 5:8.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

PRAYER

Give me the wisdom to know Your will in my life and give me the strength not to try to escape from doing Your perfect will in my life. Give my family direction and guidance that only You can give us. Thank You for leading us, protecting us and blessing us