OPPOSITE DIRECTION< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

JONAH 1

When the word of God came to Jonah, it was with a direction for him to arise and go to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Nineveh. Nineveh had turned onto great wickedness and God in His goodness and mercy, wanted to use Jonah in ministering salvation to Nineveh. The Bible recorded in Jonah 1:3, ÒBut Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.Ó Tarshish was in the opposite direction from Nineveh, JonahÕs move was in the opposite direction to GodÕs command. Jonah got the command from God and he decided to move outside of GodÕs command by responding to the dictates of his heart. In his act of disobedience, he positioned himself for great disaster. JonahÕs decision was not only a threat to him but it was dangerous to all the people around him.  Jonah 1:4, ÒBut the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.Ó JonahÕs decision to go in the opposite direction brought a storm when there was no storm. Are you experiencing any form of sudden storm in your company or on your ground? Could it be that you have taken an opposite direction in your response to GodÕs calling? It could also be evidence that a Jonah has entered your ground. Taking the opposite direction away from the word of God is not always the right way for a believer. It does not matter how long you have been getting away by taking the opposite direction but it matters where it will take you to when a storm rages without a warning signal. Ask God for His mercy in all of your decisions today.