And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1:17
When I was a child the Jonah story was all about that great fish or “whale” as we often mistakenly said. As I have grown older (and I hope become more mature), I realize that the great fish is not the focus of this account rather it is the attitude that Jonah had regarding his assignment. But the great fish is important in that it demonstrates God’s provision for Jonah when he needed it most. I also used to view the great fish as God’s way of punishing Jonah for his disobedience. Most of us have probably had this outlook when it comes to others and their disobedience (certainly not ours). “Get ‘em God.” “Don’t let them get away with that.” “Put them in their place.” But again, as I have gotten older, I have begun to realize that God sending the great fish was not punishment rather deliverance.
As the men threw Jonah over the side of the boat, they were sending Jonah to his demise. But God had other ideas, plans not to see Jonah perish rather to see him delivered and transferred safely back to dry land. Although Jonah spent three days inside the great fish (and we will see what he did with that time), God’s destination for him was redemption from his running. It would be a shame for us to miss the correlation between God’s deliverance of Jonah and God’s deliverance of believers through the cross of Christ. In a short passage, Paul gives us four spiritual realities present in the life of a believer in Jesus:
For He (Jesus) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
- God has rescued us from the domain of darkness.
Just as God rescued Jonah from the depths of the sea and certain death, God has rescued us from the darkness that is found in the world. To be “rescued” is to be delivered. This word means that God is drawing us to Himself. Christians have been set apart (sanctified) for the purposes of God. Like Jonah, all of us, as believers, now have an assignment in which to accomplish for the kingdom of God.
- God has transferred us to His kingdom.
In addition to rescuing Jonah from drowning in the sea, God also transferred him to dry ground via the great fish. Likewise, Christians have been rescued from spiritual death and judgment but it doesn’t stop there. Believers have also been transferred to the Kingdom of God and Christ. We can think of God’s “rescuing” and “transferring” as working in tandem to create “deliverance.” Much like a letter is delivered, meaning that it goes from point A to point B, the life of a believer in Christ is delivered from spiritual death and judgment to spiritual life and acceptance. This work of deliverance was secured by the finished work of Christ on the cross and is available to anyone who will freely accept it by faith.
- God has redeemed us.
Deliverance (rescuing and transferring) can be summed up in the word “redemption.” This word can be defined as “a releasing and liberation acquired by the paying of a ransom.” When Jesus gave Himself on the cross, He was doing everything necessary for sinners to be accepted into the kingdom of heaven. All other religious and philosophical views outside of the Christian faith focus on mankind and what he must do to access God or be made right with Him. But no amount of good works or being a “good person” will have the same redemptive effect that Jesus’ sacrifice has. The answer to the question, “What can I do in order to be accepted by God?” is simple. The answer to that question is, “nothing.” There is nothing we can do apart from receiving Christ’s sacrificial gift that will bring redemption to our lives. But for those who place no confidence in the flesh (good works) but rather completely place their faith in Jesus’ provision for salvation, spiritual freedom and abundant life are theirs to enjoy.
- God has forgiven us.
But there is one more thing. Along with God’s redemption is His forgiveness. Believers in Jesus are still sinners but people in whose transgressions will never be held against them. Christians are not perfect people rather they are being perfected through the process of spiritual growth. The more mature we become in our faith in Christ, the more we are able to die to the Law as our means of righteousness and to embrace the forgiveness, righteousness, and acceptance of God which comes only by faith. Forgiveness can be defined as “letting go of sins as if they had never been committed.” When we are found to be in a relationship with Jesus, God looks at us as if we have not sinned at all. There is a remission of the penalty for our transgressions. We will all give an account for how we have used our time, gifts, and talents for the kingdom, but for the believer, this accountability does not include judgment nor condemnation. In Christ, we have truly been set free!
God delivered Jonah from the depths of the sea and certain death by a most unusual means, a great fish. God has delivered born again believers from the domain of darkness and certain spiritual death by another most unusual means, His own Son. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). Have you been delivered?
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