Topical Bible: Fish: Miracles Connected With: Jonah Swallowed By

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Topical Encyclopedia

The account of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish is one of the most remarkable miracles recorded in the Old Testament. This event is detailed in the Book of Jonah, a prophetic narrative that highlights themes of obedience, repentance, and God's mercy.

Context and Background

Jonah, the son of Amittai, was a prophet called by God to deliver a message of impending judgment to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. However, Jonah attempted to flee from God's command by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish, in the opposite direction of Nineveh. This act of disobedience set the stage for a divine intervention that would not only redirect Jonah but also serve as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and grace.

The Miracle

As Jonah fled, the Lord sent a great storm upon the sea, threatening to destroy the ship. The sailors, recognizing the supernatural nature of the storm, cast lots to determine the cause, and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah confessed his disobedience and instructed the sailors to throw him into the sea to calm the storm. Reluctantly, they complied, and the sea immediately grew calm.

At this point, the miraculous event occurred: "Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish" (Jonah 1:17). This extraordinary occurrence demonstrates God's control over nature and His ability to use even the most unlikely means to fulfill His purposes.

Significance and Interpretation

The great fish, often traditionally referred to as a whale, served as both a means of judgment and deliverance for Jonah. While inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord, acknowledging his distress and expressing gratitude for God's salvation. His prayer, recorded in Jonah 2, is a profound expression of repentance and faith.

After three days and nights, "the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" (Jonah 2:10). This miraculous deliverance not only spared Jonah's life but also reaffirmed his prophetic mission to Nineveh.

Theological Implications

The miracle of Jonah being swallowed by the great fish is rich with theological implications. It underscores the themes of divine mercy and repentance, as Jonah's deliverance foreshadows the repentance of Nineveh. Furthermore, this event is seen as a typological foreshadowing of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus Himself referenced Jonah's experience as a sign of His own resurrection: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).

Conclusion

The account of Jonah and the great fish remains a powerful narrative within the biblical canon, illustrating God's relentless pursuit of His people and His willingness to extend grace and mercy to those who turn to Him in repentance.

Nave's Topical Index

Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
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Jonah 2:1
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
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Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Library

Letter cii. (AD 409. )
... priesthood, sacrifice, and the other things connected with these ... of Jonah after he
was vomited by the fish? ... I reply, that either all the miracles wrought by ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter cii a d 409.htm