Re: Stories like this

I used to think that when Jonah got swallowed by the big fish, that he was being punished. I mean who wants to be inside a big fish? I'm sure that would be scary. But I learned later that Jonah getting swallowed by the big fish was actually God saving him. The men threw him over into the raging waters. Jonah would have drowned if the fish hadn't swallowed him.

Jonah 1:17 But the LORD PROVIDED a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah, when he was delivered from his great danger, when, by the command of God the fish had obediently left its great deeps and delivered its cargo upon dry land, was then capable of judging; and this was the result of his experience under his trouble—"Salvation is of the Lord." (Spurgeon sermon)


I agree that I and other people make things harder for ourselves much of the time, just like Jonah did. But, I also rejoice in knowing that despite mine and other's stubbornness, God's will will be done, just like it was with Jonah. Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh the first time God asked him to go, and he still didn't want to go the second time. But nevertheless, despite Jonah, God got His way through Jonah, and all those people were saved. And I believe Jonah will be rejoicing in heaven with those people he once hated.