"Hide & Seek"

Who hasn’t heard of Jonah? The story of his encounter with the big fish is probably the most well-known of all the Old Testament stories - even though critics deny its validity. Personally I find no difficulty in believing the literal account of the story, especially when Jesus validates its significance in His statement in Matthew 12:40 ‘For as Jonah was in the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Messiah, shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (TLB).

Jonah’s game was: "See if you can catch me." A grown man makes himself a fugitive in his own mind, sinks into despair and crawls into a dark corner of a ship to hide from the Lord. We play this game whenever we are unsure of ourselves (or of God), and go out of our way to get others to prove their interest in us by constant attention. It’s similar to a game we all played in childhood entitled "Hide and Seek."

It is extremely childish to put ourselves in positions where we continually apply pressure upon those who love us (God or people) to prove their love. We say, albeit unconsciously: "If you love me then prove it by dogging my footsteps, putting aside your own interests and engaging in ways that show me you are not willing to give me up." This is immaturity at its worst. Maturity recognises that the best way to be loved is to be the initiator, not the receiver. The rewards of loving are to be loved.

- Selwyn Hughes in his devotional "Treasure of the Heart"-