More lessons from Jonah

Well this is the fourth time I am writing about Jonah. It just happened that I was reading the Book of Jonah again today (a Friday - when I write my blog). The question that immediately came to my mind: Was Jonah an actual historical figure who told his life story to tell us more about God? So I posted the question to Google and this is a synopsis of what I have learned:

Wikipedia on the Book of Jonah
Jonah was mentioned in II Kings 14:25 as an actual prophet. His history was clearly documented as "the son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher". From Wikipedia, this city Gath Hepher which today is called "el-Meshed, was located only several miles from Nazareth in what would have been known as Israel in the post-exilic period (as distinct from the former southern kingdom, known as Judah)". Jonah lived during the reign of Jeroboam II (786–746 BC). Again from Wikipedia, "Nineveh, where Jonah preached, was the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire, which fell to the Babylonians and the Medes in 612 BC. The book itself calls Nineveh a “great city,” referring to its size and perhaps to its affluence as well." It had a population of more than 120,000 (Jonah 4:11) and it took 3 days to travel across the city (Jonah 3:3).

Although the person of Jonah and the city of Nineveh may have been historical, the Book of Jonah, and in particular the miracles described in the book may be figurative (e.g. Jonah and the "huge fish" in Jonah 1:17; and the rapidly growing leafy plant in Jonah 4:6). St. Augustine, who in general believed in the possibility of miracles (e.g. Jesus' resurrection from the dead) viewed the story of Jonah as a figure for Christ: "As, therefore, Jonah passed from the ship to the belly of the whale, so Christ passed from the cross to the sepulchre, or into the abyss of death. And as Jonah suffered this for the sake of those who were endangered by the storm, so Christ suffered for the sake of those who are tossed on the waves of this world." Augustine credited his allegorical interpretation to the interpretation of Christ himself (Matt. 12:39,40). Augustine allowed for other interpretations as long as they were in line with Christ's.

Gotquestions.org answering the question: "Was Jonah truly swallowed by a whale?"
It first gave a list of all the objections to the believability of this book:
• A Mediterranean storm, both summoned and dissipated by God (1:4-16).
• A massive fish, appointed by God to swallow the prophet after he was thrown into the sea by his ship’s crew (1:17).
• Jonah’s survival in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, or his resurrection from the dead after being vomited upon the shore, depending on how you interpret the text (1:17).
• The fish vomiting Jonah upon shore at God’s command (2:10).
• A gourd, appointed by God to grow rapidly in order to provide Jonah with shade (4:6).
• A worm, appointed by God to attack and whither the shady gourd (4:7).
• A scorching wind, summoned by God to discomfort Jonah (4:8).
• Nineveh’s repentance (3:4-9), though it isn’t technically a miracle.

It then made a reasonable (but quite lengthy) argument to explain the course of event using interesting historical evidence such as the popular belief of a fish-god Dagon at the time. Interestingly this fish-god figure was also mentioned in the Bible in relation to the Philistines (Judges 16:23-24; 1 Samuel 5:1-7; 1 Chronicles 10:8-12). The bottom line is that if one believes in miracles (like Jesus rising from the dead) then there is no reason not to believe that these miracles did happen.

 So I choose to believe that Jonah was a historic figure who was sent by God to warn a sinful generation. Despite his resistance to follow God's call, he was miraculously restored - twice! The first instance (when he was swallowed by a fish and later delivered to shore) he learned obedience to God's call. In the second instance he was taught to care for the lost when God used a worm and a scorching east wind to remind him that God too cares for the lost. Jesus also used Jonah's story to show that in order for redemption to happen he had to die (on the cross) and was buried for three days.

As for me, I learn that when God speaks I should listen. I know my natural inclination is to run away like Jonah, but through Christ's death on the cross and his burial for three days, I am saved from the same fate as Jonah. And by His Spirit He enabled me to obey. So I know whom I have believed. I hear His familiar and loving voice. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so...