Jonah -- Preacher of Repentance (5) -- Three Days and Nights in the Watery Grave

Jonah — Preacher of Repentance (5) Three Days and Nights in the Watery Grave

The Fate of the Reluctant Prophet

It is impossible to imagine the misery Jonah endured for those three days and nights he spent in the belly of a huge fish–both his tomb and his salvation. Jonah’s distress is great–it is that of a dying man. Yet, Jonah is not dying. Beyond all human expectation, YHWH sent a huge fish to rescue the “reluctant prophet” from certain death in a watery grave. Jonah’s entombment in the fish is neither the end nor even the high point of the Jonah story. But it is the literary hinge upon which the story turns from Jonah’s flight from YHWH to the fulfillment of his prophetic mission in Nineveh.

The Prophecy of Jonah opens with YHWH commissioning Jonah to go and preach to the Ninevites, something which Jonah refused to do. Attempting to flee from YHWH’s call, Jonah boarded a ship bound for Tarshish. But YHWH sent a great storm which threatened both Jonah’s ship and its crew. Realizing that it was his sin that was the cause of the storm, Jonah was confronted by the pagan crew–whose own gods were of no help in calming the storm. Unless the storm ceased and soon, all onboard would be dead. Jonah told the crew who he was, what his mission entailed, and that unless the crew threw him overboard, they would not be spared. The frightened crew did exactly that–they threw Jonah into the sea where he was certain to drown.

The moment Jonah was off the ship, YHWH relented, calmed the storm, and delivered the crew, who witnessed YHWH’s great power. The grateful crew offered YHWH sacrifices of thanksgiving. But unbeknownst to them, YHWH miraculously rescued Jonah. At this point, Jonah’s story turns from an account of his flight from Nineveh, to a time of prayer and repentance (chapter 2), which are the preparation for the fulfillment of YHWH’s greater purpose that the gospel be preached in Nineveh (chapter 3), Jonah’s ultimate mission.[1]

As we have seen in prior installments, the Book of Jonah is neither an allegory nor a moralistic fable designed to teach the reader that opposition to the will of God is futile. No doubt, attempting to run from God is one of the most foolish things we can do. But the underlying message of Jonah is not the usual moralizing object lesson–obey God’s call or else suffer the consequences. The Prophecy of Jonah reveals that it is YHWH’s redemptive purpose to save Gentiles who are outside of his covenant with Israel. While dwelling in Canaan (the promised land) YHWH intended his people (Israel) to serve as witnesses of his holiness and righteousness to the neighboring Gentiles nations. Once the unified nation of Israel (as in the days of David and Solomon) was divided by a civil war and the Northern Kingdom became more and more apostate and disobedient to YHWH’s covenant, Israel was no longer a faithful witness, but instead became a sad illustration of happens to those who reject YHWH’s gracious covenant promises and protection in exchange for a helping of pagan porridge.

As Israel failed in its role as YHWH’s witness, covenant judgment came upon the nation as foretold by the prophet Amos and described by Hosea, the last of the prophets YHWH sent to the Northern Kingdom). During the days of Hosea’s ministry (he appears shortly after Amos and Jonah) the Assyrians invaded and conquered Israel, decimating its people. Since Israel failed to be YHWH’s witness to the nations, YHWH calls Jonah to serve as a prophetic witness to the Gentiles–Jonah is to preach in Nineveh, the very heart of the pagan Assyrian empire.

Jonah the Patriot

But Jonah was a Jewish patriot and deeply hated the Assyrians (Israel’s current enemy). Jonah even claims that he would rather die than see the Assyrians converted through his preaching (Jonah 4:3). So, like the nation from which he hailed, at least initially, Jonah also fails in his role as YHWH’s witness to the neighboring Gentiles. He refuses to obey YHWH’s prophetic call and attempts to flee to Tarshish only to discover that you cannot escape from YHWH. YHWH’s word will be preached in Nineveh, by Jonah, and to great effect just as YHWH decreed.

Jonah’s reaction to his miraculous deliverance from certain death is revealed in the second chapter of his prophecy. Somehow surviving in the belly of a large fish appointed by YHWH to save him, once inside the fish Jonah might have thought it would have been far better had YHWH simply let him die. It is hard to think of a more uncomfortable and miserable environment. In this “song of deliverance” (Jonah 2:1-10) also known as “Jonah’s prayer,” we learn of Jonah’s change of heart which leads him to go to Nineveh and preach in fulfillment of his divine call. Jonah shows himself to be quite familiar with the Psalter as his words and expressions frequently echo well known passages from the Psalms. In this, Jonah models how Christians ought to face pain and suffering–clinging to God’s words and promises. We also see Jonah’s expression of thanksgiving unto YHWH for delivering him from certain death, as well as an indication that now confined in the most difficult of conditions, Jonah will become a student of YHWH’s ways, and of YHWH’s mercy.[2]

Jonah Sleeps in the Fishes (with apologies to Luca Brasi)

Regaining his wits and realizing that he was not dead, but that he had been swallowed by a great fish, we read, “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.’” There is little said by way of transition from the declaration in 1:17 to chapter 2:1–although Jonah does speak briefly of this in verses 5-7 of his song. The Jonah story focuses neither on the fish, nor upon the manner in which Jonah survived. The Book of Jonah is primarily concerned with the bigger redemptive-historical purpose behind YHWH’s sending both the storm in judgment and the great fish in redemption. Jonah has miraculously survived and is now being prepared for his mission to Nineveh.

The Book of Jonah is filled with puns and ironies. In the song which follows, we see Jonah’s personal repentance and thanksgiving–things he denies to the Ninevites by fleeing from his prophetic call. One of the first things we notice is just how different the prayer of chapter 2 is from the plea recounted by Jonah in 1:12: “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” Jonah offered himself as a sacrifice to turn aside God’s wrath directed at him, so as to save the ship and its crew. Now, Jonah acknowledges that YHWH has heard his prayer and graciously delivered him from certain death–even though Jonah speaks of his presence in the belly of the great fish as though he were buried in the grave. YHWH rescued Jonah when the fish initially swallowed him, now YHWH acts to preserve Jonah’s life while entombed for three days and nights–the final outcome is something of which Jonah is not yet sure, but is soon to learn.

Apparently, Jonah does not fear death. After all, he was willing to sacrifice himself to save the ship’s crew. What Jonah fears is being abandoned to the grave (Sheol). Sheol was understood as that place where the dead wait until the final judgment. A number of near-Eastern death legends held that the journey to the underworld took three days and nights.[3]

Jonah’s Prayer for Deliverance from YHWH’s Judgment

Jonah prays to YHWH to be delivered and he is so very thankful that YHWH hears his plea. Jonah begins his prayer (v. 3) with an acknowledgment of YHWH’s sovereignty over all things–including the storm and the actions of the crew. “For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.” The crew acted freely and out of desperation, yet their actions fulfilled YHWH’s purpose. The Bible frequently presents free human actions as the fulfillment of God’s will with no attempt to resolve the apparent conundrum–which is why we have theologians and philosophers. Jonah sank quickly into deep water–below the crashing waves and billowing sea. Notice that Jonah speaks of the seas, the waves, and the storm as YHWH’s possession. YHWH formed the oceans, he controls the wind and the waves. These become YHWH’s means to both discipline and rescue his reluctant prophet.

In verse 4, Jonah speaks of his despair and then acknowledges YHWH’s mercy. “Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’” The most terrible thing anyone who trusts in YHWH can ever experience is being “driven from YHWH’s sight.” “Being driven” is a word which is translated as “banished” in Leviticus 21:7 as when under Jewish law a husband divorces his wife and banishes her with due cause (i.e., adultery).[4] Entombed in the belly of the great fish, Jonah feels banished from YHWH’s presence. He pleads with YHWH, “may I yet again worship at your holy temple,” presumably the temple in Jerusalem–an interesting request, since Jonah is a loyal citizen of the Northern Kingdom which had separated from Judah, in part, over Judah’s claim (rightful) that the true temple of YHWH is that built by David and Solomon in Jerusalem. Jonah’s desire is the same as the Psalmist’s ( 84:1); “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” Perhaps Jonah will survive to someday lay eyes on that magnificent temple. An element of hope is now present.

YHWH has mercifully brought Jonah up from the pit. As Jonah’s life was ebbing away (as he was losing consciousness) his final thoughts remembered the Lord to whom he utters what he assumes to be his final words. His words again virtually repeat the Psalmist (88:2), “let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!” YHWH never leaves us nor forsakes even in times of great danger, illness, or even at the approach of death. He is ever present and always with us.

Jonah’s song closes with words of doxology and praise to YHWH (vv. 8-9) who saved the reluctant prophet from the dark and terrifying depths of the sea. “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah is likely thinking of, or loosely quoting the words of Psalm 31:6, “I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.” Jonah trusts in YHWH from whom salvation comes, and of which Jonah is the grateful recipient. Jonah is thankful to have experienced such an amazing and seemingly impossible deliverance from certain death. The reluctant prophet is reluctant no more. He boldly speaks out against those who embrace idols, cutting themselves off from YHWH’s covenant love and faithfulness.[5] The unanswered question is whether Jonah is speaking of his own people, Israel, who have abandoned YHWH’s covenant and have openly embraced idiolatry and Baal worship. To break the covenant is to abandon YHWH and suffer loss of covenant friendship and fellowship with him. Jonah condemns idolatry in a way previously impossible for him.

Fish Barf — Jonah Released from his Prison

As Jonah’s song ends, the prophet will endure the three days and nights as a man made ready to receive and obey YHWH’s call. Having completed his ordeal and preparation, the sovereign God will ensure that Jonah’s mission resumes, a point reinforced by the declaration of verse 10. “And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” YHWH’s agent, the great fish, does exactly as YHWH commands, and deposits Jonah presumably on the beach somewhere in Palestine where Jonah will be re-commissioned for his missionary journey to Nineveh. We do not know upon what beach Jonah was deposited, but I’ll bet a bath or a shower soon followed.

To read the next installment, click here: The Sign of Jonah

Jonah the Preacher of Repentance: Who Was Jonah?

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[1] Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, 471-2.

[2] Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, 471.

[3] Wiseman, Alexander, and Waltke, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah, Jonah on Jonah 2:1.

[4] Smith and Page, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, on Jonah 2:4.

[5] Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, 478.