Jonah and the Big Fish

Jonah one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament is a book with only four chapters and 47 verses. Yet it is a book whose story is told to young and old. It is easy to remember and is filled with adventure and intrigue from the very beginning. What is the first two things that comes to mind when you hear the story of Jonah? How would you summarize the story of Jonah?

Would it be something like this? Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh. Jonah ran from God. Jonah boarded a ship for Tarshish which now the southern coast of Spain. A big storm occurs and Jonah gets thrown into the sea and is swallowed by a Big Fish/Whale. After three days the fish spits Jonah out but only after Jonah repented of his sin. He went to Nineveh and lived to have a successful preaching ministry.

Is Jonah mentioned anywhere else in the Old Testament? Yes or No How do we know that Jonah was a true prophet of God?

Is Jonah mentioned anywhere else in the Old Testament? Yes or No

Jonah makes a good story: it is filled with adventure, boats, storms, a big fish, a rebellious runaway, guts and grime, miraculous rescue and a dramatic ending. While this is in the story the story it is more than that.

Jonah is a

The story of Jonah is a credible story. Josephus the Jewish historian traces the life of Jonah through Jewish history and Jesus also confirms it. The factual story of Jonah foretells of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Matthew 12:40 ESV

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matt 12

What is Jonah really about?

Jonah’s rebellion:

God appoints Jonah to go and Jonah rebelled: Jonah as a prophet would be used by God to go out for Him and bring His message to the people God sent him to.

Jonah 1:2 ESV

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

Jon 1:2

Jonah was judgmental. He considered the Assyrians wicked pagans who waged war on God’s chosen people. The Assyrians were archenemies of the Israelites. His viewed them as filthy, immoral, barbaric, blasphemous, hedonistic people who had no regard for the one true God. It was one thing to be called to go to his own people but to the Assyrians was another matter in his mind.

Jonah 1:3 ESV

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 down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah should have known it was impossible to escape for God. 7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. Collect of Purity begins Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid:

When the big storm occurs the sailors , the Captain goes to Jonah asleep in the inner part of the ship, they draw lots, Jonah in his pride tells them he is Hebrew and worships the LORD the God of heaven. He tells them they should throw him overboard. They don’t want to do it, when they do the sea calms and they become believers in the LORD.

Even though Jonah is rebellious God still pursues him and does not give up on Him.

The Big Fish and Jonah’s Prayer

God appoints a Big Fish to swallow Jonah. God has a plan for our life just as He had a plan for Jonah. Sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves to be exactly where God wants us. We have to step aside of ourselves so that we can do what God wants us to do. Sometimes we have to hit bottom before we truly surrender to God.

Jonah 2:1-2

Jonah 2:1–2 ESV

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

, Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, "I called to the LORD out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 7 As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

Jonah’s pride, arrogance, and anger took priority over God and his will. It is true of those who worship other idols and even of those who are Christians who allow the things of the world or ourselves get in the way of our relationship with God.

Jonah understands that “salvation belongs to the Lord.” God is a God of second chances. God calls to Jonah again; The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh,

Jonah goes to Nineveh

While Jonah answered God’s call he didn’t go with a good heart. He was still irritated with God for sending him to these people and goes to Nineveh preaching doom. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Jonah spends 40 days going through the city. During this time period Nineveh was a very large city probably about 120,000 in population. Whether it took Jonah 40 days to encompass the entire city or not is unknown. It was probably more of matter that he met in certain plazas, meeting places etc. when it was most crowded.

While Jonah went it does

Why did the king of Nineveh repent and call for the whole city to repent and even the livestock? It could have been a time when Nineveh was struggling. When the king called for repentance of all Jonah was mad. He was upset again with God knowing that God would be merciful. He is furious with God. Jonah was zealous for God and he couldn’t understand how God could save these people.

, But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

,

Jonah and the plant. Jonah storms out of the city, builds a shelter, God provides a plant to shade him and next day it dies. Jonah is more concerned about the plant than he was for the people of Nineveh.

The account of Jonah is not about Nineveh repentance. It is about God:

God compassionate desire for all in the world to turn to him. It is about God’s compassion. It is about God providing second chances. It is about God relentlessly pursuing us even in our rebellion. It is God fulfilling His intended purpose of salvation. It is about our over zealousness can make us weak missing God’s plan.

God gives grace time and time again to people who don’t deserve it.

God provides unending mercy and grace

God appoints and works out all the details of people.

Now matter