p. 437 | Jonah and the Whale by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 23, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 28.

Jonah and the Whale.

By Editor

WE remember to have heard, some years since, the following story from the lips of a clergyman, who told it in illustrating a point in his sermon:—

A man had been troubled with doubts and difficulties in believing in the truth of the Bible. He had managed, however, to rid himself of all these doubts and difficulties, with the single exception of those that relate to the narrative given in the book of Jonah. He was not quite able to believe that a whale had ever swallowed Jonah, and, on a certain occasion, stated his want of faith to an elderly Christian lady, who had the habit of believing the Bible, and believing it just as it reads. "You don't believe that?" responded the simple-minded woman. "No, not quite," was his reply. "Well," said the lady, "that gives me no trouble. If the Bible said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it."

We confess a decided sympathy with the general attitude of this good woman's mind, whatever may be the true interpretation of the narrative of Jonah and the whale. The Bible purports to be a revelation from God, through the medium of prophets, apostles, and his Son Jesus Christ. "Thus saith the Lord," is the stamp which it puts upon itself. The first question to be asked is whether this claim is true; and, if this question be answered in the affirmative, that, so far as faith is concerned, is the end of all questions, with the single exception of those that relate to the meaning of the language used in the Bible.

What we are to do with the book, after having accepted it as of divine authority, is to read it, understand it so far as we can, and then believe what it says. God himself is the best possible authority; and what he says must be true. He can neither lie, nor be deceived; and, if we believe that the Holy Scriptures contain a record of his sayings through the inspiration of men, and through the teaching of Christ, then, in order to be consistent with ourselves, we must believe in the truth and authority of the sayings, and accept them as the infallible rule of faith and practice in respect to all the matters which they embrace.

We are strongly of the opinion that this is just the sort of faith for men to have, whether as preachers in the pulpit or hearers in the pew; whether as actors in the duties and work of life, or as persons hearing the summons of death; whether as Christians rejoicing in the hope of glory, or as penitents coming to God through Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It is the only sort of faith that possesses real power either to rule the life or bless the soul with its comforts. The power of the Bible to affect and move the human heart depends in part upon the ideas which it contains, and in part—and by no means a small part—upon the authority which stands behind these ideas.

The ideas are great and good, whatever may be their source; yet, being God's ideas, his thoughts, doctrines, and rules for man, they are of infinite moment. When he speaks, let the world hear. When he commands let men obey. A revelation from God is imperial in its source. It is his prerogative to dogmatize for humanity. Reason is never more reasonable than when it believes what God has said, and because he said it. A revelation from him ascertained is the end of all dispute touching the matter to which it refers.

If we refuse to believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, then, so long as we thus refuse, we will not apply to Christ for salvation, and will not be saved by him. Belief in the doctrine of redemption by his blood is the first condition of profit from that doctrine. So, if one substitutes blind and unintelligent laws and forces for the Christian doctrine of God's direct and immediate providence, alike general and particular, and the former only because it is the latter, and thus manages in thought to get God out of the world, he will practically have no God for the world; certainly none to whom he can pray, or whose forgiveness he can ask or enjoy.

If a man has a theory of inspiration which divorces God from the words of the Bible, then these words have lost their power with him as divine words, and he can play with them at his pleasure. If he denies the Bible doctrine of future punishment, then he assumes to know more on this subject than the author of the Bible, and in effect cancels that fearful emergency in human condition, for the relief of which Christ came down from Heaven. There was no need of the atonement made on the cross, and there is no need of pardon, if the punishment of sin be a mere fable.

The plain dictate of common-sense is that, if we accept the Bible at all as of divine authority, we should accept it absolutely, believing what it says and doing what it commands. We must not in the same breath accept and dispute a divine revelation. He who is afraid of his doubts, and yet has not the courage of faith, is in a sad plight. He is troubled with the one, and not comforted by the other. There is no danger that we shall believe God's word too strongly. It is only when we believe it with all the heart that we shall be able to say from experience: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Then we can look up to the great Father of spirits and say, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul."

Ah! then the Bible, with its high authority and sweet message of love, is a power alike to govern and to comfort. Those who believe with conditions, qualifications, modifications, and reservations, and, hence, mingle what faith they have with a set of half-way cavils, which at best are semi-disbeliefs, and may be even worse, know very little of this power. They do not treat the word of God in a way to get the power out of it. Its blessings may lodge in other souls, but not in theirs. They are too wise in themselves to be the best sort of believers. They know too much in and of themselves to be well taught of God.

If there is any one thing which we would emphasize more than another, that one thing is simple, child-like, trustful, unhesitating, loving, and complete faith in the word of God. This will do more for the soul, for its sanctification and its joy, than all the speculations of all the speculators that ever lived or died. It will answer more questions than they can answer were they to live a thousand years. It will place the soul in the guest chamber of the Great King, and feed it with manna that comes from the skies. Try it, ye doubters and cavilers, and after that you will have no heart to try anything else.—Independent.