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.
Perhaps this wonderful tale is the story of how our ignorance and judgements swallow us–a darkness from which in our experience a dawning occurs….the Christ is born, and we literally feel as if we have been spat out upon a whole new shoreline of Consciousness.
That’s poetic if not truth!
I am still having trouble with all being saved…The fact that God gives us free will to make the choice to accept or reject him throws a big monkey wrench into the works….If in this life our ego is such that we will not accept God’s love no matter what the circumstances what is going to make that person change their mind after death? God is all knowing so He knows that person is not going to accept His love…..so the delima is what does He do with that person after death? Does he just cease to exist or what???
David B
Spirit cannot cease to exist- it’s not extinguishable. So, one must choose between a God who is truly ALL POWERFUL (in other words the Creator is more powerful than the creations will power-and His love will conquer us ALL), or one chooses a God who devised a sadistic plan wherein 80-90% of the world He created, and knew on purpose, would suffer eternally and infinitely for finite sins. I can’t follow or love a God of the latter case.
So basically what you are saying is free will only applies to us while we are on this earth otherwise His love would conquer us all while we are still in this earthly body or will the evil men do turn enough of us toward Him and His love that eventually we are in the majority and the minority will see our love for Him and it will become contagious…food for thought..
David