Tuesday – Easter Week Two – Apr 29

Jonah and the Fish

The Prophet Jonah, as depicted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel 1471 – 1484; Wikipedia CCL

Meditation

Tuesday of Easter Week Two draws our attention to Jonah and his symbolic death and resurrection, while continuing to point to the Exodus of the children of Israel in the Psalm and the apologetic of resurrection in the epistle to the church at Corinth.

The story of Jonah has been a favorite of children—the images of Jonah and the Whale littering coloring books and children’s stories. Critics scrutinize the fact that ‘whales’ can’t physically ingest a human. The translations mostly suggest a great fish, which could be interpreted in many ways, and one, that hasn’t been suggested by anyone that I have seen. When the Scripture says, the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and he remained three days in the belly, it suggests a ‘preparation’ that was different from the other naturally occurring water bound animals. The Hebrew word is used once. So there isn’t a great deal to compare it to.

For some, the great fish is another miracle that easily fits the faith experience of some believers. For others, the ‘great fish’ can be a stumbling block because they need to find a logical way of understanding belief. To them, I suggest that it could parallel the same way that the Revelation of St. John referred to locusts with metal chests, teeth and stinging tails, women’s hair. I wonder if John was seeing an armed helicopter or plane with weapons ready to aim at specific individuals. Perhaps, the ‘fish’ was another type of submarine vehicle which could be mistaken for the “monster,” or “fish that swallows” some translations say. I am not saying it is. I submit that we can’t say for certain one way or another. I just don’t like be adamant about things that are unique. The word ‘fish/monster’ translated from ‘dag’ הַדָּ֔ג is used once.

The key points in this lesson were the issues of God’s plan for our lives. God told Jonah to go to witness to Ninevah, because their wickedness was clear. Their repentance possible. How often do we think ‘witnessing’ to some is a lost cause? Jonah did. God allowed Jonah to make bad choices. Jonah thought he knew better than God. Pride. Arrogance.

God allowed the entire ship’s crew to suffer as a result of Jonah’s choice to head in the other direction from Ninevah. God is always with us. No matter how far we flee.