Jonah was called by God to go on a mission to Nineveh. Nineveh was very corrupt. Jonah didn't want to go. He instead leaves and takes a boat trip. The boat experiences very rough waters -- so rough that the mariners believe an evil has been brought to them. They cast lots and decide it was Jonah. Jonah says he should leave. The mariners toss him into the sea (after trying to get to land but unable to due to the tempest waters).
God prepares a big fish for Jonah. He sits there in time-out for three days until he repents. The big fish then vomits Jonah out. He goes on his mission. Nineveh repents. God forgives.
I know, in God, all things are possible. I still don't take this literally, but I do love the symbolism. May I present:
The Gospel According to Gina
Jonah was called to represent God and teach the good news of repentance and God's love. He disobeyed. He didn't want to go and had a bad attitude about it.
The boat trip is a symbol of Jonah leaving God. Boats are a form of traveling. He is leaving stable land. Boats are not as stable and are vulnerable to the sea around them. There is the risk of sinking and drowning.
The raging sea and danger to the boat and the passengers are symbols of how our choices in life affect others. Our problems affect others. If we make poor choices, it's not just us that suffer; those around us also suffer.
Here's an extreme example: Drug addicts have personality changes that bring arguing, fighting, stealing, etc. into the home not to mention deterioration to health. Sometimes families of those individuals have the tough choice to ask that person to leave. But it has to be done for the good of the family and the good of the addict. When the addict faces consequences, changes could be made.
In a milder example, when we go without sleep or nutrition or have had too much sugar, our personalities change. We get grumpy, and others don't want to be around us.
The Big Fish = loss of control, a bad situation you can't get out of, rock-bottom
Many of us are in our own big fish (depression, addiction, deception, etc.) due to poor choices we have made. We've gotten ourselves in such a mess it seems impossible to get out. This is where we could give up or find renewed strength (often through saying we are sorry and trying to change).
Jonah prayed and repented. He could have given up, be consumed and eliminated out the back way, but he wanted another chance.
He got his chance. But, the fish didn't just open his mouth and have Jonah walk out. No. Jonah was vomited out. That's not a pretty image. The vomiting symbolizes the sometimes-ugly, difficult effort it takes to make things right again. Addicts who want to get clean have the nasty battle of withdrawal ahead of them.
It would have been better for Jonah if he had just done what he was supposed to do in the first place.
What's your "big fish?"
