As a child, I loved the story of Jonah and the whale, or at least I thought it was a whale. It sure was a whale of a fish story. As I got older I began to question the ability of a person to stay alive in the belly of a big fish for a couple of days. I"ve finally come to appreciate the metaphor that holds for me so much promise. The story was always good to me and for me, but it"s much richer for me now. And, far more acceptable to my friends.
So, what"s the genesis (cause) of this myth of Jonah? What are some of the lessons to which this metaphor points?
1-It"s a story of a person (people) who want what they want and not what God wants.
2-It"s a story that reminds us that we can hide but we can"t run from God
3-It"s story of God"s love for a people that are un-lovable or don"t care for God (Ninevites)
4-It"s story that tells us God is forgiving, caring, and compassionate.
5-It"s a story that shows a whole nation can be changed (repent) in we"ll deliver God"s message.
6-It"s a story that emphasizes God"s will ("Am I not free to feel sorry for Nineveh"- 4:11).
7-It"s a story of God"s grace and not the superiority "worthiness" system presented by religion.
Bottom line- IT IS A STORY!
Fundamentalists and literalists are not happy with alot of the seven points above, and most do not believe that ultimately ALL will be saved which is a common thread. We want to have to "earn" righteousness. I"ve got GOOD NEWS! You can"t earn, acquire, or pursue what you already have and are. With our Western thinking we tend to overly objectify that which is subjective.
There is faar more to God that we can fathom.
In fact ther is no true way that we can talk of God other than metaphorically. God is so "other" and so "infinite" that even the words universalism or Catholicism seem to pale in comparison. Ah, but we have to articulate our Creator in some sense so stories like Jonah and the big fish help pain one of the millions of pictures that we hold in our minds eye to try and comprehend the uncomprehendable.