Asleep at the Wheel

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose 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 on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish." (Jonah 1:1-6 ESV).

For those of you who know me, you know that I do not drive well. Only one of the many problems I have with my driving habits is the fact that I can so easily fall asleep at the wheel. I have tried all kinds of things to stay awake when driving. Most of the time they work! Recently, when I was traveling back from Nashville after doing one my regular phlebotomy treatments, I found it even more difficult. During one of those bouts, I began to think of how easy it is for Christians to “fall asleep at the wheel.”

The story of Jonah came to my mind as I thought more about it. It is a favorite Bible story of many people. As I reread it today I was struck by something I had never really paid attention to before.

You know the story. Jonah neglects the Lord's call, runs away and the ship ends up in trouble. Those are the events that led up to him being thrown overboard and swallowed by the fish. What struck me was the pagan sailors praying and calling out to their gods while Jonah slumbered comfortably below deck. Instead of interceding in prayer, he was asleep at the wheel, so to speak. I wondered how often others around me have been crying out for help from gods who cannot help, while I was “asleep at the wheel”?

Just like when I drive my truck, I don’t intend to fall asleep. In fact, it’s the last thing I would want to do. But after a long day, perhaps doing very good things, I neglect to recognize how much I need to rest and replenish my strength. That’s how it happens in our spiritual lives also. We get so busy tending to life in general, that we don’t replenish our strength. We get tired and fall asleep. We can’t see the hurts of those around us. We can’t hear their cries for help. Jonah’s solution was to have them throw him overboard. It was not a good or godly solution. He just wanted to die. The best solution is to go to the place of rest, to replenish your strength in the presence of your heavenly Father. Are you asleep at the wheel today? Then, go to Him! He will give you rest in your soul!