Jonah and the ???

A fish is not a mammal; a whale is a mammal. The
Scriptures say it was a great fish, so it could not
have been a whale.

 

You're imposing modern biological categories upon the biblical texts.

There is no conflict.

 

You could very well be right, except that the
Scriptures do not say "whale." It could have just as
easily been a shark or a fish that had not existed
except for this job. We are adding to the
Scriptures to specifically say it was a whale.

 

Oops! I came here at Dr. Bob's invitation to all, but
I did not realize that it was Baptist Only. Sorry.

(I still say I am Baptist, though -- sort of.)

 

Whatever it was; it was big and it changed Jonah's mind about doing what God wanted him to do. It gives me comfort to think that God might go to such lengths to get me to respond positively. What I mean is that God might want to use me to such an extent (however small) that he would "make" me do his will.

Granted I don't want to be that resistive to God's will. I would rather just do his will as soon as I understand it.

The details about what kind of creature this was are interesting indeed, but before I learn those details, it's the lesson I care about. That lesson to me, is that God chose Jonah for whatever reason and chased him to the "ends" of the earth to accomplish his will in Jonah's life. The fish was the last straw, the last resort sort of. Jonah seemed to have many opportunities to respond positively. I'd like to think that God is long-suffering, patient and provides many opportunities for me to respond WAY before the harsh discipline comes.

Dave.

[ October 08, 2003, 02:41 AM: Message edited by: David Mark ]

 

Whatever it was, it was a 'bigun' and I'm sure it was just as happy to belch Jonah out as Jonah was to BE belched out!

Pass the Peptol Bismol please...

 

In Genesis 1:21, God created "great whales." If the Bible says great whale or great fish, we should believe the Bible and not doubt it. If I were to see a whale for the first time, I would probably say, wow, look at that big fish. If it looks like a fish, then it is a fish.

 

Yeah but sharks don't swallow their food whole. He would have been killed.

Personally, I think it was a 900 lb striper.

 

We place far more emphasis than is called for on the "fish" "whale" and tend to forget it was a "great fish" prepared or appointed by God for the purpose. It was a special act. It could have been a minnow. If it was prepared or appointed by God, it would serve His purpose.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Here's a question. Was or was not Jonah dead?

 

Every indication in the book of Jonah, indicates that he was aware of his surroundings and he responded. All the rest is speculation, I think.

Cheers,

Jim

 

The reason I asked is, Jonah is pictured as a type of Christ. Christ went to hell for 3 days and 3 nights and Jonah was in the belly of hell for 3 days and 3 nights. Obviously Christ's death was physical and maybe Jonah's was too. As you said, "I think."

 

I don't know what type of fish or whale God used. I do know that just because whales do not have the capacity to swallow a person does not pose a problem for God.

Remember when Nebuchadnezzar had Daniel's three friends tossed into the fiery furnace. Just because fiery furnaces, today, will certainly kill someone does not mean that God was limited by our natural laws.

I believe that God often has to bring "whales" of adversity into our lives in order to get us to do what He wants, at least He has done so in my life.

Sure is good to know that God cares enough for us that He does not leave us in the predicament we get ourselves into.

 

Well said, Terry!

I also don't care what sort of great fish God used! Like Abiyah said, it might have been a one and only type fish created for just this purpose! God said it and I believe it.

Diane

 

There is no conflict in what God said (dag = a fish or ketos = a huge fish)), only in what man sais that God said (fish, whale, sea monster, dragon, etc.). No problem.

 

A big fish capable of swallowing humans isn't a whale? What is it? Who cares? Replace it with "big swimming thing" and move on with your life. LOL Not everything has to turn into a versions debate or KJV bashing (ahem ahem Dr. Bob)! If it must, at least make it something truly debatable that affects biblical theology.
Gina

 

Amen sister!

 

God could have had a sardine swallow Jonah if He had wanted to.

I wonder if Jonah ever went fishing again?