In the Bible, there is an account of a man named Jonah who tried to run from God. He was to go to the city of Nineveh and “cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jonah 1:1).
Surely if one is given a message from God, it should be obeyed, but Jonah chose to ignore God’s word. The Bible says he “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 1:3).
Those familiar with this book will remember how God caused a storm with rough seas and how the sailors eventually tossed Jonah overboard. God had prepared a great fish, which swallowed Jonah. Jonah immediately realized his need to run to God and not away from him.
Chapter 2 tells of Jonah’s prayers to God and how God delivered Jonah.
God has spoken to man today through his Son. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1-2).
His words are recorded for us in the Bible, God’s inspired book. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16).
Man today also is given a message from God. Yet just like Jonah, many run from obeying God. Some become too busy to listen to God, so they fail to read and study the Bible. They find no time to worship God and never learn what to do to be saved.
Jonah learned that he needed God and that God must be obeyed. This is the same lesson man needs today. Man needs God in his life. If God is the center of each person’s life, life itself will be better. Husbands will be the best husbands they can be, wives will be the best wives, parents the best parents, children the best children and on and on we could go. Too many times, people have to be “thrown in the sea” before they realize they need God in their life.
God desires all men to be saved: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4).
Why not study his word and obey him, believe in Christ, turn from sin and be baptized for the remission of sin. Run to God rather than away from him.