Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. The chapter closeth with the narration of Jonah's preservation. Though thus pursued by justice in a fish's belly, where, in a miraculous way, he was kept three days and three nights. Doctrine. 1. When God is pursuing the rebellion of His children in a most severe way, yet doth He not altogether cast off His mercy toward them, but out of the abundance thereof, moderates their affliction: for "the Lord," pursuing Jonah, "had yet prepared a great fish to swallow him up." 2. God's providence over rules and directs the motions of irrational creatures and sea monsters, as pleaseth Him. For " the Lord had prepared a great fish," etc., whereas it knew nothing but to range up and down in the sea, and swallow him as any other prey. 3. God may have a mercy and proof of love waiting upon His people, in a time and place where it would be least expected; for Jonah meets a mercy in the heart of a raging sea, into which he is cast in anger, as to be destroyed. 4. Albeit the mercy of God will not destroy His guilty people in their afflictions; yet His wisdom seeth it not fitting at first totally to deliver them, but will have their faith exercised. 5. God can, when He seeth fit, preserve His people from ruin in an incredible and miraculous way. Therefore Jonah is not only swallowed whole by the fish, not being hurt by its teeth; but is preserved in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, where he was in hazard of choking for want of breath, or of being digested by the fish into its own substance. (George Hutcheson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. |
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