(it is almost impossible to resist into the whale’s belly for 3 days without God’s
help), after He had saved him, God sent the prophet for the second time to Nineveh.
The result of Jonah’s preaching was represented by the Ninevites’ repentance,
but also by the prophet’s wrath, who saw his people’s enemies escaping from divine
punishment. After completing his mission, Jonah went out of the city and sheltered
under a gourd that would give shade, in order to pass his wrath. The next morning,
God made the gourd dry and Jonah got angry. Then, the Lord rebuked him because,
in his anger, he wished to die. Then, God’s generous answer followed, in which He
expressed His love for the people from Nineveh, who had repenteded, and whom
He forgave: “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it
or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have
concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and
twenty thousand people. . .” (Jonah, ch. 4, verse 10 and 11).
As several Christian authors stated in their writings, because of the story of the
great fish, the unbelieving mind does not want to accept this miracle as a reality,
considering it as an allegory or fiction. However, the divine nature of the book of
Jonah, written in old age, is confirmed by a series of arguments, both in content and
form.
Jesus’s refferences to the Book of Jonah are likely to convince us that he really
existed and that his experience was real (The Bible, The Old Testament, “The
Gospel of Matthew”).
19 For those who doubt the veracity of this miracle, the
historical reality of the story is confirmed by another comment made by Jesus in
“The Gospel of Luke”, chapter 11, verse 32, in the New Testament: “The men of
Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they
repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here”.
In other words, if it were not for this miracle, the people of Nineveh would have
remained impassive at Jonah’s preaching. However, there are indications that, after
this time, Nineveh experienced a series of reforms that led to a peaceful and thriving
social life, and ultimately to economic prosperity. God never owes anything to
anyone, He always forgives and blesses the ones who obey Him.
1.4 The Sea, a Working Vessel, a Testimony and Hope
of Humanity
As shown in the second part of this paper, after the man’s fall into disobedience,
God, as a good and loving parent, decided to always guide our steps towards light,
righteousness and truth. As human history shows God’s punishments are limited in
19 “. . .He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it
except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a
huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (The
Bible, The Old Testament, “The Gospel of Matthew”, ch. 12, verse 39–40).
1 The Sea, Cradle of Divine Spirituality
17
help), after He had saved him, God sent the prophet for the second time to Nineveh.
The result of Jonah’s preaching was represented by the Ninevites’ repentance,
but also by the prophet’s wrath, who saw his people’s enemies escaping from divine
punishment. After completing his mission, Jonah went out of the city and sheltered
under a gourd that would give shade, in order to pass his wrath. The next morning,
God made the gourd dry and Jonah got angry. Then, the Lord rebuked him because,
in his anger, he wished to die. Then, God’s generous answer followed, in which He
expressed His love for the people from Nineveh, who had repenteded, and whom
He forgave: “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it
or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have
concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and
twenty thousand people. . .” (Jonah, ch. 4, verse 10 and 11).
As several Christian authors stated in their writings, because of the story of the
great fish, the unbelieving mind does not want to accept this miracle as a reality,
considering it as an allegory or fiction. However, the divine nature of the book of
Jonah, written in old age, is confirmed by a series of arguments, both in content and
form.
Jesus’s refferences to the Book of Jonah are likely to convince us that he really
existed and that his experience was real (The Bible, The Old Testament, “The
Gospel of Matthew”).
19 For those who doubt the veracity of this miracle, the
historical reality of the story is confirmed by another comment made by Jesus in
“The Gospel of Luke”, chapter 11, verse 32, in the New Testament: “The men of
Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they
repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here”.
In other words, if it were not for this miracle, the people of Nineveh would have
remained impassive at Jonah’s preaching. However, there are indications that, after
this time, Nineveh experienced a series of reforms that led to a peaceful and thriving
social life, and ultimately to economic prosperity. God never owes anything to
anyone, He always forgives and blesses the ones who obey Him.
1.4 The Sea, a Working Vessel, a Testimony and Hope
of Humanity
As shown in the second part of this paper, after the man’s fall into disobedience,
God, as a good and loving parent, decided to always guide our steps towards light,
righteousness and truth. As human history shows God’s punishments are limited in
19 “. . .He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it
except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a
huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (The
Bible, The Old Testament, “The Gospel of Matthew”, ch. 12, verse 39–40).
1 The Sea, Cradle of Divine Spirituality
17