Jonah is called to go to a specific place to preach to a specific people. He is called to get up, go, and preach. Instead, he decides to go in the opposite direction.  Many of us have heard or read the story many times. We know God brings a great storm on Jonah and the sailors on the ship. The storm only subsides when Jonah is tossed in to the ocean.

Miraculously, he is swallowed by a great fish. For three days he is in the belly of the fish. Jonah cries out to God in repentance. It is only after repentance that God delivers Jonah to the shore safely near where he was called to go. Upon reaching land, he heads to Ninevah to preach. Upon hearing the message from God through Jonah, the people repent and God chooses to not bring judgment on the Ninevites.

We tend to make the same mistake that Jonah makes. We are called by God to share the message of the Gospel to a teammate, neighbor, classmate, or family member. Instead, we head in the opposite direction. We may not literally flee in the opposite direction form these people like Jonah, but we flee from the message we are called to share. We may share the wrong message, an altered message, or no message at all. When we fail to share the message God has called us to share, the intended audience loses a chance to repent.

We need to repent from failing to get up, go, and announce. Once we do that, God will deliver us back to our intended audience. It is only by hearing the message of the Gospel that those around us can repent and come to God.