“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. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” – Jonah 1:3

As children, when bedtime came we would often find someplace to hide. We believed that we had escaped the presence of our parents. Yet, in a very short time we were discovered by our "omnipresent" mother or father. If we couldn't escape the presence of our parents, can we truly escape the presence of God?

We deceive ourselves when we believe that we can slip away from the presence of God. Jonah was determined to have his own way and reject the command of God. He became convinced that he could leave God behind by way of a ship to Tarshish. He thought that mileage would change everything, but he forgot the testimony of David in Psalm 139:9-10, “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.”

My friend, are you comforted with the words of our Savior in Matthew 28:20, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age"? Well, be aware that He also commissioned you and me to "make disciples of all nations" and there is no mileage that can change that fact. Don't be a Jonah by shipping out, share the faith, even with those you don't like, because the Lord is watching!