Jonah – A Great Fish Story ∙∙
For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. – Matthew 12:40
Jonah 1:3-17
But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.
But the LORD hurled a mighty wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help. Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit.
“Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?” Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned.
Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah’s God. “O LORD,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the LORD’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
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: A Story of Faith and History
The book of Jonah is one of the most well-known yet often misunderstood books in the Bible. Steadman notes, from a secular perspective, the story of Jonah and the great fish is frequently dismissed as a simple fairy tale, suitable only for children. It is often ridiculed, disbelieved, and rejected as a historical fact.
However, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself affirmed the authenticity of Jonah’s story. He not only believed it but also used it as a prophetic symbol of His own death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus explained that Jonah’s three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish foreshadowed His time in the grave before His resurrection.
Matthew 12:40: “For 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.”
Matthew 16:21: “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, who clearly differentiated between myths and actual historical events, regarded Jonah’s story as a historical fact. If He accepted it as true, then believers can do the same with confidence.
A Modern Jonah: The Story of James Bartley
Skeptics often question whether someone can survive being swallowed by a whale. Remarkably, history offers a documented account of such an event. The British Admiralty records the story of James Bartley, an apprentice seaman on a whaling ship, who was swallowed by a whale in February 1891 and lived through it.
Bartley’s ordeal began when he was thrown overboard while chasing a whale. Presumed lost at sea, he was later found alive inside the whale’s stomach after the creature was caught and dissected. Crew members were shocked to see movement within the whale’s stomach, and Bartley was removed, unconscious but still alive.
He later recounted his experience, describing how the whale’s massive mouth engulfed him, swept past its teeth, and slid down into its stomach. Although he could breathe, the oppressive heat and foul odor caused him to lose consciousness. Bartley was trapped there for over 15 hours before being rescued.
While he survived, Bartley’s body showed the scars of his terrifying ordeal. His skin had turned white, he had lost all his hair, and he was permanently blind. Despite these lasting effects, he lived for another eighteen years, passing away in 1909. His tombstone in Gloucester reads: “James Bartley – 1870-1909 – A Modern Jonah.”
The Inescapable Presence of the Father
The story of Jonah, whether seen through the perspective of Scripture or the historical account of James Bartley, serves as a powerful reminder of the Father’s sovereignty and presence. No matter how far we attempt to flee, we cannot escape His Spirit or His plans for our lives.
Psalms 139:7: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!”
Jonah’s defiance and disobedience mirror the struggles many children of the King face in their own lives. However, the Father’s patience and persistence demonstrate His unwavering commitment to His children, even when they resist His will.
REFLECT & PRAY
No matter how far we run or how fiercely we resist, we cannot outrun the relentless patience and persistence of the Father. His love chases after us, and His grace keeps us steady, even in our moments of defiance or despair.
Father, I do not want to be a reluctant servant, yet I see so much of myself in Jonah, defiant and disobedient. Encourage me to listen to Your voice and heed Your instructions, trusting in Your perfect plan for my life.
INSIGHT
Jonah’s Commission and Defiance
The Father called Jonah to serve as His prophet, commissioning him to deliver a message of judgment to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. The city’s wickedness had become so great that divine intervention was needed. However, Jonah’s response was far from obedient. Instead of heading east to Nineveh, he fled west toward Tarshish, the opposite end of the known world. His defiance was apparent: “No way, I’m outta here!”
Jonah’s attempt to escape the Father’s command was futile. The Father, ruler over all creation, had no trouble finding him. To stop Jonah, He used His power over nature, creating a great storm and a great fish. Essentially, He provided Jonah with a living submarine to ensure that the prophet would complete his mission.
The Storm and the Sailors
As Jonah fled by ship, a fierce storm arose, terrifying the pagan sailors onboard. They cried out to their gods and frantically tried to lighten the ship’s load, but their efforts were useless. When they confronted Jonah, they discovered he was fleeing from the God of heaven, the Creator of the sea and land. This revelation made them hysterical.
The sailors recognized that the storm was not just an ordinary event; it was the Father’s pursuit of Jonah. They realized that Jonah’s disobedience had put all of them in danger. Reluctantly, they decided that someone had to die to save the rest. With great hesitation, they threw Jonah into the sea. As soon as Jonah hit the water, the storm ceased.
This miraculous event caused the pagan sailors to turn to God. They abandoned their false gods and committed themselves to serving the Lord God of Israel.
Jonah’s Ordeal in the Great Fish
While the sailors experienced a spiritual transformation, Jonah found himself in the dark, suffocating belly of a great fish. The conditions were unbearable, pitch black, hot, and foul-smelling. Yet, even in this dire situation, Jonah remained defiant. Though he eventually repented, his repentance was incomplete, as he continued to withhold his complete submission to the Father.
The Scriptures describe the creature that swallowed Jonah as a “great fish,” or in Hebrew, dag gadol. The people of Israel, living 2700 years ago, likely had little knowledge of whales or other large sea creatures. However, the Father, in His omniscience, had long anticipated Jonah’s rebellion. He created a unique creature specifically for this moment in history.
The Father’s Intelligent Design
The Father, who created all animals, land, air, and sea, designed a creature ideally suited to fulfill His purpose. This great fish was engineered to save Jonah from drowning, transport him safely, and deliver him to shore. While the Scriptures do not specify the exact species, the sperm whale is a likely candidate.
Sperm whales are remarkable creatures, reaching lengths of up to 60 feet. Their massive heads, which can measure 20 feet long, 10 feet high, and 7 feet across, make them capable of swallowing a man whole. Their stomachs are large enough to hold a human and provide enough oxygen for survival.
Placing the whale at the right place and time was no problem for the Father, who is both all-knowing and all-powerful. Jonah spent three days and three nights in this divinely designed underwater transport. He did not drown, suffocate, or succumb to digestion. Instead, he came out alive, finally ready to fulfill his prophetic mission.
The Miracles of Jonah’s Story
The story of Jonah is filled with miracles, each demonstrating the Father’s power and sovereignty. From the great storm to the great fish, every part of the story reveals the Father’s ability to carry out His will, even though unwilling and disobedient servants.
A miracle, by definition, is something that seems impossible but happens. Jonah’s survival inside the great fish is proof of the Father’s miraculous intervention. It reminds us that no matter how far we run or how defiant we are, the Father’s plans will succeed. Jonah’s story is not just about rebellion and redemption; it’s a powerful display of divine power, grace, and purpose.
The story of Jonah is more than a story of a man and a great fish; it’s a profound narrative of God’s mercy, sovereignty, and persistent pursuit of His people. Whether through Jonah’s experience or the modern story of James Bartley, we are reminded that the Father’s presence is inescapable, His plans are unstoppable, and His grace is endless.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 