Quotes about Jonah

The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

I have spoken of Jonah, and of the story of him and the whale. — A fit story for ridicule, if it was written to be believed; or of laughter, if it was intended to try what credulity could swallow; for, if it could swallow Jonah and the whale it could swallow anything.

It was when Jonas was traveling as fast as he could away from Nineveh, toward Tharsis, that he was thrown overboard, and swallowed by a whale who took him where God wanted him to go.

Within are shabby shelves, ranged round with old decanters, bottles, flasks; and in those jaws of swift destruction, like another cursed Jonah (by which name indeed they called him), bustles a little withered old man, who, for their money, dearly sells the sailors deliriums and death.

And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

I heard a man of brilliance cry out that God has withdrawn from nations when they have turned from Him, and surely we are astiff-necked people; why should He not withdraw? But then I remember Jonah accusing God of overlenience, of foolishness, mercy, and compassion. We desperately need the foolishness of God. (233)

When he would have Jonah cast into the sea, God sent a wind by stirring up a whirlwind [Jonah 1:4]. Those who do not think that God controls the government of the universe will say that this was outside the common course. Yet from it I infer that no wind ever arises or increases except by God's express command.

Our sacrifice—the best we have to offer, And not our worst nor second best, our best, Our very best, our lives laid down like Jonah's Our lives laid down in war and peace—may not Be found acceptable in Heaven's sight. And that they may be is the only prayer Worth praying. 'May my sacrifice Be found acceptable in Heaven's sight.

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jonah 2:8).

The temple was the Jewish people's stronghold and refuge. Solomon had built it and had spoken profound proverbs. Jonah was the messenger to the Gentile nations and had survived three days of what should have been certain death. Jesus here was saying that he was greater and had a greater message than all three.

Of course God went after Jonah, inquiring gently, "Do you do well to be angry?" However, insane from isolation, Jonah answers remarkably, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." Wow!

Because outside of God's shadow I was just a gaudy plastic float filled with stubborn air, drifting off like a blind Jonah in search of Plan B, manipulating circumstances and wondering why I kept waking up in my very own Tarshish.