Jonah enjoys a fine nap in the midst of the storm. The storm is God’s doing. One of those tempests that get your blood pressure and adreline going. But Jonah sleeps. He sleeps deeply, it seems, as a way of manipulating God into changing his mind about the mission to Nineveh. The captain refers to Jonah as the sleeper. “If God notices that I am not interested, then maybe He will let me continue on my way to Tarshish and do away with this sea spectacle.”
In Mark 4:38, Jesus sleeps in the midst of the storm. The disciples wake him wondering if he cares that they drown.
Jonah sleeps in disobedience. Jesus sleeps in obedience. Jonah sleeps to manipulate. Jesus sleeps to comfort.
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