“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17 (NLT)
Did Jonah really get swallowed by a great fish or is this a fable?
Let’s start with questions about the great fish. So, is this a fable? Is this even possible? Could this happen? Realize that the book of Jonah is not about a fish at all. The
great fish is just a minor role. The book is about a great God. The fish is not the point. OK fine John, but do you believe it really happened?
The short answer: I do. Here’s why. It’s because of what Jesus said:
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ He answered, ‘A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” Matthew 12:38-40 (NIV)
I believe Jonah was swallowed by a fish because Jesus believed he was swallowed by a fish. So, then it’s: What do you believe about Jesus?
You can’t outrun God.
Jonah 1:17 says God arranged for a fish to swallow Jonah. The picture is like God saying:
“Hey, fish.”
“Yes, Lord!”
“Go pickup Jonah. I’ll give you directions. This is important: Swallow, don’t chew…I’ll tell you later where to drop him off.”
God provides this fish.
This story is very important. Because Jonah’s story and our story intersect at some important places. The story of Jonah is the story of someone who ran from God. It’s your
story and it’s my story too. We are all runners.
Whenever we resist God’s will, His plan for us, when we resist in different areas of our life–we run from God. All of sudden, in Jonah’s life he has no way to run, he has
nothing else to do for three days and three nights. So, he did what we do when we don’t know what to do–he prayed.
Jonah and Spiritual Transformation
Here’s the end of Jonah’s prayer:
“Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” Jonah 2:8-9 (NLT)
I have heard verse 9 described as “the key verse of the Bible”. It is the whole theme of the Bible, and what Jesus’ ministry and message was all about. Salvation is from the
Lord.
This means salvation is not from our efforts, our power, our skill, our knowledge–it is from Lord’s grace. What is grace? I like this definition: Grace is an undeserved gift from
an unobligated giver. Grace is when you bring meals to that annoying coworker who gets ill. You don’t have to, you might even not want to bring the food, but you do. That’s
grace.
Next, Jonah is told a second time to go to Nineveh.
“Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.’” Jonah 3:1-2 (NLT)
Why did God tell Jonah a second time? Grace. To bring him back from his way to God’s way. To help him stop running.
In our despair, in our running God hears and responds. We are humbled. Then we see clearly. We are transformed. It’s the news of grace: Call and He hears you. He wants
you to come back home. To stop running.
It is always true. The greatest gift you can give your spouse, your family, your kids, yourself is to quit running away from God and run to Him.
