God Knows How to Get Your Attention (Episode 19)

Have you ever sensed God calling you to do something you did not want to do, for whatever reason you had? Jonah the prophet in the Old Testament was such a person. God told him to go east and preach to the people in a place called Nineveh. Not wanting to go, Jonah went west wanting to flee from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah found out that you can’t run from God, you can’t hide from Him, and you can’t ignore Him. He is everywhere at the same time.

The story of Jonah should serve as a reminder that God knows how to get your attention. For Jonah, God sent a killer storm. Then He appointed a big fish to swallow up Jonah. He remained in the belly of that big fish for three days and nights. Afterward, Jonah was more than ready to obey God.

God speaks to us primarily through His Word and through the Holy Spirit. That’s why we must spend time with Him so we can hear His voice. Sometimes when God speaks to us, He demands our attention. If we choose to ignore Him, He knows how to take things to another level to get our attention. Fortunately, those means are not nearly as dramatic as a raging storm or a man-swallowing fish.

For Jonah, it was not a question as to what God wanted Him to do. He clearly told Jonah to go and set his voice against Nineveh. So, Jonah heard what God said, knew what God wanted, and chose to do otherwise. Perhaps that is true about some who will listen to this message. It may be something pertaining to ministry or their personal life.

Just remember that God knows how to get your attention. You can’t run from Him, we can’t hide from Him, and you can’t ignore God.