Jonah Chapter 2: Guy swalowed by fish

Guy swallowed by a whale

cape cod times

cape cod was it a whale or a fish

lobster diver swallowed by a whale

The prayer

Jonah 2:1 NIV

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.

Jonah 2 is a record of Jonah’s prayer from inside the fish. The emphasis of his prayer is on God as the one who reverses fortunes.

Jonah 2:2–6 NIV

2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

In the fish, Jonah was as good as dead. He had sunk to the depths of the grave (2:2,6) but God graciously brought him up from the pit (2:6).

Jonah 2:10 NIV

10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Parralells to Jesus saving the disciples v 4

The pattern of death and resurrection conveyed in the prayer was used by Jesus when he spoke of the sign of Jonah. This was the only sign Jesus would give to a sinful and adulterous generation (Matthew 12:38-42).

Matthew 12:38–40 NIV

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 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.

In the light of his salvation, Jonah affirmed his trust in God as the God of grace, unlike the idols which so many cling to. He affirmed that salvation comes from Yahweh. The brilliance of these affirmations served to highlight Jonah’s extreme self-focus. He was delighted to be saved from his own sin, but angry at the thought of others being saved from theirs! He was totally out of step with the grace of God whom he served.

Gospel Connection: We are dead in our sin, and only Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross on our behalf can save us.

Application: We can repent of our sins, knowing that Jesus loves us and willingly and joyfully forgives us and gives us new life.