A Great Fish Prepared Jonah 1:7

Though the “mariners” aboard the ship upon which Jonah traveled attempted to continuing rowing in the midst of the storm, they did not prevail and threw Jonah overboard as he requested. As soon as they did, the storm was “calm”, and the “mariners” began to “sacrifice” and “make vows” unto the LORD. In chapter one and verse seventeen of this prophesy, we see how God “prepared” a “great fish” to“swallow up” Jonah as he bobbed in the sea. We read:

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.

And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

The verse begins, “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” The writer began with the words, “Now the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God” “had prepared” or “counted, reckoned, assigned, appointed and numbered” “a great fish” which means “large, intense, distinguished and prolific fish” “to swallow up” or “engulf and eat up” “Jonah” whose name means “dove”. After the “mariners” threw Jonah into the sea, the sea became calm, and God “assigned and appointed” a “prolific fish” to eat him.

The verse goes on to say, “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” The writer continued, “And Jonah” whose name means “dove” “was in the belly” or “internal organs, bowels, intestines and digestive organs” “of the fish” which means “the assigned prolific fish” “three days” or “from three mornings to evenings” “and three nights” or “three evenings to mornings”. Jonah spent “three days and nights” inside the stomach and intestines of this “great fish”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we admire God's preparation of the “great fish” well in advance of Jonah being thrown overboard. This “great fish” just happened to be in the exact spot to “swallow up” Jonah, and we can only imagine what the “mariners” who were watching thought about it when this occurred. Some people have trouble believing this story of a fish swallowing Jonah, however, if we consider it was “the LORD” who prepared it, we should have no difficulty at all knowing the Creator did this. Perhaps as we think about our relationship with Jesus Christ, we wonder if “the LORD” is preparing some sort of “great fish”, “circumstance” or “situation” to “swallow up” our lives, and capture us in a manner that will turn our attention fully unto Him.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Jonah praying to the LORD while in the fish's belly, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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