Can you believe that Jonah was inside the belly of a fish/whale for three days and three nights?
Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
I was talking to my son about Jonah recently. He’d mentioned that he’d thought that Jonah would have been digested by the whale while inside the belly. How could he still be alive? God kept him alive, was the best that I could explain it.
Jonah ran away from his calling and he had to pay the price. He prayed while in the belly of the fish – he prayed to the Lord. The Lord then commanded the fish to spit Jonah out.
While inside the belly, God protected Jonah from harm. He protected him from being digested by the fish. Jonah did not provide sustenance to the fish (as far as I can tell). The Lord kept him safe, which is good.
I keep thinking about how it feels to be trapped in the belly of a whale. It sounds scary and frightful. Is there enough oxygen in there to breathe? I guess so if the Lord provides it for us. How long could one stay alive in the belly of a whale if one were NOT protected by the Lord?
I also felt that this would make a cool movie! Can you imagine making a movie about Jonah? I wonder how one would film the scenes inside the fish’s belly?
So what do you think it was like for Jonah inside the belly of a fish/whale for three days and three nights?
I think your answer to your son, that God kept him alive, was the best answer and the correct answer. I think that God did this for two reasons. 1. To give Jonah the time to think about what he did in disobeying God. And 2. To make the example of Jonah for Jesus to give about his death, burial and resurrection. Thanks for this posting and allowing me to add to it.
Thanks for your insight Jeannie!
Interesting to think about. Let me know if you make a movie!
Hi, Mary! I’ll let you know! Parts of the script are running through my mind right now! I wonder how I’ll film the inside of the whale’s belly?! LOL!
I always wondered exactly what your son did. It comes down to faith and trusting God in all circumstances. I bet Jonah was terrified. It had to be so terrifying to finally pay attention to God!
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Yes, so true! Logic tells me that a person would not survive in the belly of a whale. I’d think the person would be digested and then…well, you get the picture. But, anything is possible through the power of God. We can even survive in whale’s bellies if it’s His will!!!
I think there is no better answer than the one you gave. That was nothing but GOD. I think otherwise the person in side the whale would have been ate up in no time never able to live for 3 days. It shows how Amazing our God is. I know Jonah was more than just terrified. All things are possible with God on our side.
Hi, Juliet! That is SO TRUE! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!
You hit the nail on the head with what you told your son. But God! So much we face in life would utterly destroy us BUT God protects, keeps and brings us through life’s difficulties and challenges. Life is dark, empty and meaningless without Him!