May 24, 2026

Being only 35 miles NW of Jerusalem, and the only natural harbour between Egypt and Ptolemais, Joppa functioned as the seaport of Jerusalem. This city is mentioned only a few times in scripture and often does not play a very central role. However there are two occasions when a servant of God leaves from this city. One is Jonah the other is Peter.

     We are quite familiar with the events recorded in the book of Jonah how he was asked to go to Nineveh and preach to the Assyrian capital. Jonah did not like God’s plan and instead tries to take a boat from Joppa to Tarshish. The very opposite direction from Nineveh, Jonah leaves Joppa going away from what God has planned for his life.

     We are probably not quite  familiar with Peter’s time in Joppa but it is quite significant. Peter had traveled to Joppa to evangelize. While there he healed Dorcas and had a successful campaign. He was still in Joppa staying with Simon the tanner when God called him to go and preach to Cornelius and his household. These would become the first gentile converts to Christianity. Peter being a good Jew would have strong reservations about this, but because of God’s preparing him he went to Caesarea.

     It seems to me that we are all leaving Joppa, we all face the choice to go where God wants to send us or go in the opposite direction. All of us are called by God to do things in his service that are often less than comfortable for us. We have to decide will we follow the example of Jonah or Peter as we leave Joppa.

Reworked from the post “Leaving Joppa” idevotions Steve Higginbotham

~ Kevin Cleary