Ever get asked to do something that may benefit someone else, but instead of doing it you run and hide? While in hiding, you hope that so much time has passed that the person forgets that they've asked you to do something and others won't get the benefit. Well, what if I told you that you are wasting your time hiding, especially when it is God you think you're hiding from. When God asks you to do something, just do it.
When The Word Comes To You
"Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:1-3).
God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh but instead he thought he could hide in order that they not receive God's promise of redemption. He had hoped that after a certain amount of time passing, God would destroy the unrepentant Ninevites. Because the people of Nineveh were evil and had plotted evil against God, exploited the helpless, committed idolatry, were very cruel in their war tactics, committed prostitution, witchcraft, you name it the Ninevites practiced it, Jonah believed them not to be worthy of God's Grace and Mercy. Just like Jonah judged the Ninevites unworthy, someone judged us unworthy. Yet! "...God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jonah was being selfish when he ran to hide. Don't be like Jonah. Freely we have received, freely we ought to give (Mathew 10:8). You cannot hide.
You Cannot Hide
You cannot hide from God's Grace and Mercy. God is Omnipresent [everywhere], Omnipotent [all powerful], and Omniscient [all knowing]. Even when we make our bed in Hell, God is there (Psalm 139:8). Jonah disobeyed God, yet God showed mercy on him. God allowed Jonah to ponder his ways for three days and three nights inside the belly of a whale (Jonah 1:17). God did not allow the waves to consume Jonah, and He doesn't allow the waves to consume us (Mathew 8:27). Stop hiding, remember from whence you came, and do what God asked you to do. Warn the people to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mathew 3:2, 4:17, Mark 1:15).
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil (Proverbs 4:26-27).