One of the most memorable Biblical stories is that of Jonah and the great fish found in the Old Testament book of Jonah. Almost everyone knows the story. But now we learn that it didn’t happen. That’s right. Some “experts” who also claim to be Christians have decided that the science rules out the possibility that a man could live inside a great fish for three days and three nights. Let’s think about this.
If the story of Jonah is not true, God did not create the heavens and the earth
We really cannot discount the story of Jonah unless we are willing to say that the Creation came by some means other than God. After all, it would be a small thing for God to cause a great fish to swallow a single man if he created all men.
If the story of Jonah is not true, Jesus was not raised from the dead
The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest event in Biblical history. Paul goes so far as to say that if the resurrection is false, our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). If God could not cause a man to live inside a fish for three days, he cannot raise Jesus. And if Jesus is not raised then why bother with our faith.
If the story of Jonah is not true, Jesus & God lie
It is God’s word that makes the claim of Jonah. If it is false, God is false and cannot be trusted. Likewise, Jesus speaks of Jonah in Matthew 12:40 (and other places). If Jonah is not real, Jesus is mistaken or a liar and if mistake or a liar he cannot be the divine God worthy of worship.
When we quickly submit to scientific analysis of spiritual claims we set ourselves up for failure. Science cannot answer the questions of the soul because such things are beyond the reach of their methods. If we must choose between a scientist or God I am with God. How about you?
6 comments On Jonah and the Whale Could Not Have Happened!
Thank U brother for this article…….May God bless u and ur ministry……
Our faith requires evidence from God’s Word and a consistency in what we believe and don’t believe from Scripture. The basis of our faith becomes a garbled mix of fact and fable, such that we have no consistent basis for our faith. Our belief in God, including the creation, His knowledge and His love for his creation (mankind) requires that we take all scripture literally and concisely believe every word, every thought and every account. Even when passages are obviously figurative, we must still believe in their divine origin through inspired writers.
As you have pointed out, our entire system of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God collapses without our belief and trust in all scripture (2 Tim 3:16,17). Scripture is absolute truth! Therefore, science may eventually be reconciled to the Bible, but we can never compromise truth because of a scientific theory, regardless of how popular and commonly accepted it is.
I personally believe the story of Johan to be true and not figurative. I don’t believe it is an alegorical. It is possilbe to use alegory to convey literal truth through figurative speech. God clearly does from time to time. However, as with the account of Jonah, it is often difficult to prove the authenticity of events that occurred in the past. However, it is also difficult for others to prove that they didn’t happen.
For those who don’t believe in the account of Jonah. I’d like to ask this question.
Can you describe the exact creature of the fish, whale or whatever that swallowed Jonah?
If they are honest they will probably say that they can’t. Just as I have to be honest say that I can’t either. What we have here is imperfect information in the sense that the author didn’t feel it necessary to convey it. If we don’t know, then it is a matter of faith in the one that wrote it. As God inspired it, I take it for what it is worth and place my faith in God. For others that don’t want to believe the account, don’t say that you can prove it scientifically if you can’t even describe the creature that swallowed him. You may be drawing an incorrect conclusion from imperfect information.
If you say you have proof, I’m sorry I’m just not going to swallow your story. By the way I’m only adding this by way of information to the persons post.
Colin Lambert.
Personally, and I think it likely, that the whale or whatever also swallowed a a rubber dinghy and an anchovies pizza. (I love anchovies). I can see Johnah kikking back with his pizza and a can of coke sleeping on his water bed after he finished.
We have an amazing God that provides for us in our adversity. Now I can’t prove that this is true, but I think it likely now prove to me that it isn’t.
All my love,
Colin
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The story of Jonah is true because God said it and Jesus backed it with Matthew Chapter 12:40. People just want to find reasons to say the Word of God is fake but I got something for you think about. Read the Book of Jonah again because you only get one thing out of this, after Jonah said his prayer to God in the Belly of the Whale, he was dead after that, then the next thing that happen (Jonah 3: 1 – 3 The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, arise, go unto Nineveh , that great city and preach unto it the preaching that I bid you.Jonah arose and went unto Nineveh according to the Word of the Lord.) Jonah had to look horrible like a dead man walking because they repented and the Jonah prays for death. Just because Science cant prove it doesnt mean it is not true. If this doesnt help you the read (Matthew chapter 9 : 23-26 and John chapter 11 and believe in the ressurection of Jesus Christ) Blessing to all that truly ready the word God and get understanding.
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