4But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty storm on the sea, so that the ship was likely to break up. 5Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship and he was laying down, and was fast asleep. 6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
Have you ever slept through your alarm clock and missed an important appointment?
The Bible tells us that we are prone to more than one kind of sleep. While we regularly engage in physical sleep, we also have the potential to fall asleep spiritually causing us to overlook the invitation of God to participate in His work of redeeming the lost.
Jonah’s hatred for Nineveh drove him to flee from God. Rather than go to the city to which he was called, he travelled in the opposite direction, went down to the bottom of a ship, and lay down. Though he tried to move farther away from God, he could not escape. God was close at hand, drawing Jonah back to Himself.
As Jonah’s feet fled, his heart followed, an increasing numbness toward the heart of God. As he ran, he moved downward, which served. Despite the storm, Jonah goes into the depths of the ship and falls into a deep sleep. The unbelieving crew begins to act hoping they can save themselves by dumping cargo over the side of the boat. Finally, the captain discovers Jonah and tells him to wake up.
At this point in the story, the ship was Jonah’s confidence. He paid for it, boarded it, and trusted it to safely transport him away from the responsibility God gave to him. In response, God sent a great wind to break apart the ship in which Jonah had placed his confidence.
When we flee from God, we do nothing but damage to ourselves. In reality, there is no escape. He is everywhere, always, and He will do whatever it takes to get to the heart of those He desires. For Jonah, that meant sending a violent storm that threatened to destroy the ship on which he slept.
God’s commands are rarely easy, but they are always good. The Bible portrays a close connection between joy and obedience. When we run from God, we descend spiritually to an unhappy destination. Thankfully, we have a merciful God who is faithful in His love to break apart whatever stands between us and His call on our lives.
His storms are meant to gain our attention. If you are experiencing one today, choose not to see it as an inconvenience, but an opportunity. Wherever you find yourself, commit to talking with God. Trust Him with your fears, your struggles, and your weakness. Allow Him to use you for your good and for His glory.