The narrative of the prophet Jonah is one that is well known, frequently used as a great Bible class story for kids, and too often taken for granted by adults, observed Nathan Ward in his lesson yesterday morning at the Florida College Lectures.
Nathan dug deeper than most teachers usually do in sharing some interesting insights and challenging thoughts about Jonah and his encounter with “the great fish.”
Among Nathan’s points was the contrast between the use of the expression “the face of the Lord.” The wickedness of Nineveh was so great that God said it has “come up before My face” (1:2). So, Jonah was told to go and preach to that sinful city and cry out against their wickedness. Jonah, however, responded by fleeing “the face of the Lord” (1:3, 10).
“How can a prophet who knows that God’s face can see the sin of Nineveh thinks he can escape the face of God is inexplicable–almost as inexplicable as when Christians behave exactly the same way,” Ward opined.
Nathan’s observation on this one point deserves our attention and reflection.
“The face of the Lord” speaks to the presence of God. His ability to see what you’re doing and to know the intentions of your heart.
God saw what was going on in Nineveh. He knew about their sinful and shameful attitudes and actions. About their idolatry. Their sensuality. Their carnality. The Bible describes God’s attitude regarding their evil by both the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Peter. “The face of the Lord is against those who evil” (Ps. 34:16; 1 Pet. 3:12).
There is no such thing as sins hidden from His sight. The Hebrew writer affirmed “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (4:13).
When we are alone, shrouded by darkness, God is there. He sees. When we are on vacation in a far a place where no one knows us, God is there. He sees. When we’re preparing taxes and claiming deductions, God is there. He sees. When we’re on a business trip, entertaining clients, God is there. He sees. When we’re enjoying entertainment, attending a concert, going to a movie or at home watching TV, God is there. He sees.
The people of Nineveh couldn’t escape the all seeing eye of the Lord and neither can we.
Furthermore, we cannot escape His presence when we shirk our responsibility. When, like Jonah, God sends us in one direction, and we choose to go the opposite way, God is there. He sees. When we hear a sermon, knowing we need to apply it and change, but refuse to do so, God is there. He sees. When we know we should do good, but fail to do it, God is there. God sees. When our minds drift in worship and our ears become dull of hearing, God is there. He sees. When the duties of our homes are disregarded, our spouses neglected, and our children not disciplined, God is there. He sees.
Fleeing the Lord’s face? Escaping His presence? Hiding from His all seeing eye? Think again.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
(Ps. 139:7-12).
It seems simple. An elementary truth captured in a children’s song, “There’s a Father up above, looking down in love…”
Yet, Jonah seemed to think that he could flee from “the face of the Lord.”
Sadly, some times we behave the same way.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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