A Whale of a Tale

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: Hosea 4-5; Jonah 1-4 

Abbreviated Reading: Jonah 1-4

"… Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:9

Today we dive into the book of Jonah – that great big whale of a tale! Get ready to see God’s grace, long-suffering, patience, perseverance, love, and relentless pursuit of lost sinners. Through the incredible journey God sets Jonah on, we witness just how right the Apostle Peter was when he wrote, God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). As you read Jonah, contrast God’s character with that of the prophet.

Jonah didn’t agree with God’s decision to give Nineveh a chance to repent. After all, Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian empire, was an exceedingly wicked place with exceedingly cruel people, who were a perpetual thorn in Israel’s side. We know from the Biblical account that it was a large city with a population of at least six-hundred thousand people – none of whom Jonah wanted to see God save (Jonah 3:3, 4:11).

In protest to God’s plan for the people of Ninevah, Jonah fled from God’s call to preach a message of repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah jumped on a boat headed for Joppa, sailed straight into a storm, got himself tossed into the sea, where he was swallowed by a great fish miraculously! After the fish finally spit him out, Jonah begrudgingly brought God’s message to the Ninevites and God brought about the greatest revival in all of human history. Why? Because He’s not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). In fact, our Lord loves us sinful people so much that in the story of the cross we basically hear Him say: “You can perish, but only over my dead body.” And it is in Christ’s death and resurrection that we can look back and see how Jonah pictured Jesus oh so powerfully:

 “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.” Matthew 12:40

Jonah’s personal path would have led to the Ninevites death, but three days in the “grave” brought them life. So too, we were headed for death, but Jesus spent three days in the grave to bring us life. Rejoice today in the whale of a tale that is the Gospel of grace!

Keep reading: 2 Kings 14:24–29; 2 Kings 15:8–16

by Sharon Kaselonis / All rights reserved ©