Jesse Tree Symbol #18: Jonah's Big Fish

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Jesse Tree Symbol #18: Jonah's Big Fish

Jonah 1-4
(select verses here)



“Jonah– You, Me and Everyone” by Mary Beth Mutarelli
     I wasn’t really drawn to the story of Jonah at first.  We’ve all heard it many times, and it’s easy to dismiss it as almost a cartoon drawing.  Jonah isn’t heroic or brave--in fact, he comes across as somewhat cowardly and bumbling. God’s word came directly to Jonah- “Go preach in Ninevah- it’s in a very bad way.”  That was a dangerous and frightening assignment, so Jonah ran (as fast as possible) in the opposite direction, to the port of Joppa, where he boarded a ship for Tarshish.  Imagine the audacity of a person who would ignore God’s calling and shirk a job he or she was specifically called to do!
     A huge storm came, and the ship was in great peril.  In fact, the men were throwing their possessions overboard right and left to lighten the load, and they cried out in desperate pleading to their gods to spare them.  Jonah meanwhile was in the ship’s hold, taking a nap! Jonah was blamed by his fellow shipmates for causing the crisis by running from God. Jonah accepted the blame, and told them to throw him overboard.  This they did, and the sea calmed immediately. The sailors worshipped God for this miracle, while Jonah was spared from drowning by being swallowed whole by a whale.  He remained in the belly of the whale for three days and nights.
     In Chapter 2, Jonah prays to God.  He thanks God for “pulling
me from that grave alive.  When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, and my prayer got through to you.”  He doesn’t describe his physical or emotional condition while in the belly of the whale, but at this point, I can put myself into his story, and easily imagine some of what he might have felt.  He was in a truly stinky and unpleasant  place, with no apparent means of escape.  He was spared from one thing, but how and when was this present dilemma going to end? He was surrounded by darkness, and perhaps overwhelmed by loneliness, uncertainty, and terror.
      I think every one of us has had some experience of being in “the belly of the whale”. How dark, lonely and more hopeless could things possibly get?  Homelessness,  abandonment and alienation from family and a support network, addiction, poverty, betrayals and broken promises, dysfunctional and toxic relationships, devastating illnesses, overwhelming grief -the list of the darkest places  in which we have all found ourselves could continue indefinitely.
     In our human condition, we cry out to God.  Why is this happening to me?  What did I ever do to deserve such a harsh fate as this?  Is there a lesson for me in this horrible, hopeless mess?  May I just tell You, God, I think I got Your message, so could You just make it all stop right now? And by the way, my grandmother was so very mistaken when she said, “God never sends you more than you can handle.”
     The challenge to all of us is to have faith and trust in God when there seems to be no light and no pathway out.  God understands.  He never promised us a smooth, seamless and pain-free life, but He did promise to always be with us, to love us unconditionally and to forgive us completely.  That’s the way out of the belly of the whale.

Prayer: All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brought us peace. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Eternal God, Jesus Christ, the coming of light shines in our darkness, giving us joy in our sorrow and comfort in loneliness. Amen.
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Kids Corner

Discussion:   How would you describe a miracle?  Do you think miracles still happen today? ...when Jonah finally came to Ninevah, the people repented and apologized to God. What is the one thing you would like to say you are sorry for? 

Activity:  Write down something you want to tell God you are sorry about.  Draw a heart around it to remind you that nothing can stop God's love for you.


Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for  the miracle of forgiveness.  Amen



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