“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9)
Thanksgiving is a joyful time of year, isn’t it? Getting together with friends and family, magnificent feasts, everything at the store goes on sale—who could possibly be saddened by Thanksgiving? Yet even Thanksgiving can be overshadowed by circumstance. Maybe you or someone you love is spending the holiday in the hospital. Maybe there’s an empty seat this year that was once occupied by someone who is now estranged or deceased. Maybe you’re far away from home and must spend this Thanksgiving eating frozen pizza, watching football, and trying not to think of the home that you longingly ache for. Paul encourages us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” But sometimes you find yourself in a place where it can seem hard to give thanks—not unlike the prophet Jonah.
Jonah, if you recall, was summoned by the Lord to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and cry out against it. In fear and trepidation, Jonah instead fled to Tarshish by sea. When a storm arose, the sailors discovered that Jonah’s disobedience was the cause of their disaster, and they threw him overboard to his certain death. Except he didn’t perish—the Lord sent a great fish to swallow him. And from—of all places—the belly of this fish, Jonah praised God and gave thanks to Him.
It was the prophet’s sin that had placed him in this predicament. His disobedience is what kicked off the chain of events that landed him in this (to put it mildly) uncomfortable situation. Sin brings hardship for us as well. It is the corruption of sin that causes hospital visits and estranged families. It is sin that lies at the root of loneliness, fear, and, yes, even death (Romans 6:23).
The belly of a fish seems like the last place from which one would be inspired to thank the Lord. Upon closer inspection, however, it makes all the sense in the world. God had saved Jonah’s life by sending the fish, and so he says, “I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. . . Salvation is of the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9) And in saving Jonah, He also preserved the 120,000 residents of Nineveh.
Wherever you find yourself this November 28, you have good reason to give thanks. To the sick and the lonely, the Psalmist reminds us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) To the bereaved and estranged, Jesus says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) To the heart strangled by guilt, where shame threatens to overwhelm thankfulness, Paul assures, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so also was our Lord in the grave for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). His triumphant resurrection means our justification. And our justification means our triumphant resurrection unto eternal life. Wherever you spend Thanksgiving this year, even if it’s in the belly of the fish, you have good reason to give thanks to the God who redeems you, protects you, and comforts you in every distress.
3rd Century Christian grave marker with a relief of Jonah and the great fish
is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spokane, Washington.
