1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Jonah and the ???

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Dr. Bob, Oct 8, 2003.

  1. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    What about it. OT account uses the phrase "whale" is Job 7:12 and Ezekiel 32:2. But it uses the term "fish" in Jonah 1:17. Obvious distinction. Two totally different Hebrew words.

    NT (King James, whichever revision) uses the phrase "whale" in Matthew 12:40 when referring to Jonah.

    What's your thoughts here?

    [ October 08, 2003, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: Dr. Bob Griffin ]
     
  2. Abiyah

    Abiyah <img src =/abiyah.gif>

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,194
    Likes Received:
    0
    A fish is not a mammal; a whale is a mammal. The
    Scriptures say it was a great fish, so it could not
    have been a whale.
     
  3. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    10,720
    Likes Received:
    781
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You're imposing modern biological categories upon the biblical texts.

    There is no conflict.
     
  4. Abiyah

    Abiyah <img src =/abiyah.gif>

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,194
    Likes Received:
    0
    You could very well be right, except that the
    Scriptures do not say "whale." It could have just as
    easily been a shark or a fish that had not existed
    except for this job. We are adding to the
    Scriptures to specifically say it was a whale.
     
  5. Abiyah

    Abiyah <img src =/abiyah.gif>

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,194
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oops! I came here at Dr. Bob's invitation to all, but
    I did not realize that it was Baptist Only. Sorry.

    (I still say I am Baptist, though -- sort of.)
     
  6. David Mark

    David Mark New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2003
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    0
    Whatever it was; it was big and it changed Jonah's mind about doing what God wanted him to do. It gives me comfort to think that God might go to such lengths to get me to respond positively. What I mean is that God might want to use me to such an extent (however small) that he would "make" me do his will. :D

    Granted I don't want to be that resistive to God's will. I would rather just do his will as soon as I understand it.

    The details about what kind of creature this was are interesting indeed, but before I learn those details, it's the lesson I care about. That lesson to me, is that God chose Jonah for whatever reason and chased him to the "ends" of the earth to accomplish his will in Jonah's life. The fish was the last straw, the last resort sort of. Jonah seemed to have many opportunities to respond positively. I'd like to think that God is long-suffering, patient and provides many opportunities for me to respond WAY before the harsh discipline comes.

    Dave.

    [ October 08, 2003, 02:41 AM: Message edited by: David Mark ]
     
  7. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2003
    Messages:
    44,448
    Likes Received:
    1
    Whatever it was, it was a 'bigun' and I'm sure it was just as happy to belch Jonah out as Jonah was to BE belched out!

    Pass the Peptol Bismol please... :D
     
  8. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    In Genesis 1:21, God created "great whales." If the Bible says great whale or great fish, we should believe the Bible and not doubt it. If I were to see a whale for the first time, I would probably say, wow, look at that big fish. If it looks like a fish, then it is a fish.
     
  9. Mike McK

    Mike McK New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2001
    Messages:
    6,630
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah but sharks don't swallow their food whole. He would have been killed.

    Personally, I think it was a 900 lb striper.
     
  10. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2002
    Messages:
    15,460
    Likes Received:
    1
    We place far more emphasis than is called for on the "fish" "whale" and tend to forget it was a "great fish" prepared or appointed by God for the purpose. It was a special act. It could have been a minnow. If it was prepared or appointed by God, it would serve His purpose.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  11. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    Here's a question. Was or was not Jonah dead?
     
  12. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2002
    Messages:
    15,460
    Likes Received:
    1
    Every indication in the book of Jonah, indicates that he was aware of his surroundings and he responded. All the rest is speculation, I think.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  13. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    The reason I asked is, Jonah is pictured as a type of Christ. Christ went to hell for 3 days and 3 nights and Jonah was in the belly of hell for 3 days and 3 nights. Obviously Christ's death was physical and maybe Jonah's was too. As you said, "I think."
     
  14. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2002
    Messages:
    4,455
    Likes Received:
    1
    I don't know what type of fish or whale God used. I do know that just because whales do not have the capacity to swallow a person does not pose a problem for God.

    Remember when Nebuchadnezzar had Daniel's three friends tossed into the fiery furnace. Just because fiery furnaces, today, will certainly kill someone does not mean that God was limited by our natural laws.

    I believe that God often has to bring "whales" of adversity into our lives in order to get us to do what He wants, at least He has done so in my life.

    Sure is good to know that God cares enough for us that He does not leave us in the predicament we get ourselves into.
     
  15. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Well said, Terry!

    I also don't care what sort of great fish God used! Like Abiyah said, it might have been a one and only type fish created for just this purpose! God said it and I believe it.

    Diane
     
  16. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    3,133
    Likes Received:
    0
    There is no conflict in what God said (dag = a fish or ketos = a huge fish)), only in what man sais that God said (fish, whale, sea monster, dragon, etc.). No problem.
     
  17. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Think that's a valid point.

    OT uses "dag" or fish in the Jonah story.

    NT uses "ketos" or fish in the Jonah story.

    It is the TRANSLATORS of different versions that screwed up the words and introduced "whale" into the mix. Maybe we should move this to the VERSIONS THREAD??!! It's another KJV mess.
     
  18. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    A big fish capable of swallowing humans isn't a whale? :confused: What is it? Who cares? Replace it with "big swimming thing" and move on with your life. LOL Not everything has to turn into a versions debate or KJV bashing (ahem ahem Dr. Bob)! If it must, at least make it something truly debatable that affects biblical theology.
    Gina
     
  19. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    Amen sister!
     
  20. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2002
    Messages:
    4,455
    Likes Received:
    1
    God could have had a sardine swallow Jonah if He had wanted to.

    I wonder if Jonah ever went fishing again?

    :D
     
Loading...