Jonah

Jonah as a Type of Christ

Jonah was in the belly of the "fish" for three days, and while there he thanked God for his salvation. It was then that he was vomited up on the land. If a pagan had been in the fish he probably would have thanked the god of the fish for his salvation and built a temple to Dagon, the god of the Philistines which was symbolized by a fish. But Jonah knew that the fish was merely an instrument of God who reigns over the whole of creation.

Calvinists say that God did for Jonah what Jonah could not do for himself. They use this to support their concept of utter depravity. So the Calvinist interpretation is that Jonah is a type of man, utterly depraved, and unable to save himself. However, they are ignoring the first part of the story.

Before he is swallowed by the fish, Jonah is in a boat foundering in a storm. And the sailors, believing Jonah to have angered his god, ask Jonah what they should do. And it is Jonah who tells them to throw him overboard. Jonah volunteers himself. This is not a type of mankind, but a type of Christ, who goes to his passion voluntarily. Christ dies to himself, aligning his will with God's.

If Jonah is to be interpreted as a type of man, then by volunteering to be thrown overboard he is admitting that he is a sinner and is repenting. Jonah is dying to his own self-interest and aligning his will with God. Contrary to what the Calvinist says, our relationship to God is reciprocal. God will save us, but only if we allow him to.