Obscure Invitations

Jonah 1:1-3

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh.” . . . But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. (Jonah 1:1-3)

JONAH WAS GIVEN AN INVITATION to partner with God in his work—literally an offer he couldn’t refuse—but Jonah was terrified of the prospect. We can hardly blame him; most of us today would flee from an opportunity to preach the gospel in the streets of Mecca or to have declared the virtues of democratic liberalism in the Red Square at the height of the Cold War. Jonah’s calling had similar connotations, so he ran the other way. He saw God’s invitation as a responsibility too overwhelming to follow.

Most of God’s invitations aren’t quite that extreme, but they do tend to appear disorienting at times. After all, Jesus’ invitation in Luke 9:23 to take up our cross and die daily carries some pretty radical implications for us. We shouldn’t be surprised if God’s calling sometimes comes disguised as something we might not like. But even when we don’t understand his directions, we have to learn to trust him, knowing his nature is not to harm us but to bless us. We see this often in Scripture. Naaman the Syrian didn’t understand Elisha’s directions to wash in the Jordan River, but his healing came with obedience (2 Kings 5:9-14). Paul didn’t understand why the doors of Asia had closed on him to spread God’s message, but Europe was in full view once he turned around (Acts 16:6-10). The first steps of a calling can be difficult, but the last ones are always worth the cost of pressing through the confusion and fear.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming God’s instructions will always come with a clear view of the end. The fruitfulness and rewards may be hidden from natural eyes, especially at first, and the invitation may not look very appealing at all. But clarity comes along the way, and eventually so do satisfaction and fulfillment. Move toward his instructions, and he will make things clearer as you go. He knows how to lead. Press ahead and expect him to open doors along the way.

{Lord, help me discern the difference between conviction that keeps me from going down the wrong road and fear that keeps me from going down the right one. Give me wisdom when your instructions are disorienting and confidence that I’ve heard you well. Lead me wherever you will. Amen.