A few Noah and Jonah comparisons

 

 

“In the story of Noah, we see God tells him to bring the animals into the Ark.

The animals are saved, along with Noah and his family.

In a similar way, not only are the humans saved in the city of Nineveh

but also the animals”.

  

Alexander d’Albini wrote (Nov 04, 2022):

Jonah: And Noah - by Alexander d’Albini - Tower of Adam

 

Jonah: And Noah

One way to read the Bible is to think about how the original listeners interpreted what they heard. We can imagine what the Ancient Israelites may have thought about the story of Jonah. Maybe they would have linked it with the narrative of Noah.

 

Noah, Jonah and the Dove

 

Jonah’s name means the Dove. In the story of Noah, the dove brings the hope of renewed creation as it returns with a olive branch in its mouth. Like how Jonah’s message gives new hope to the city of Nineveh.

 

The Great Fish and the Ark

 

We see a parallel between the Ark and the Great Fish. The Ark with its inhabitants rise on the Flood waters, moving upwards to God.

 

The Great Fish with Jonah dives deep beneath the waves. Heading away and hiding from God.

 

Whereas Jonah calls out to God after being swallowed by the Fish, Noah says nothing and appears to quietly trust God.

 

The Animals are Saved

 

In the story of Noah, we see God tells him to bring the animals into the Ark. The animals are saved, along with Noah and his family.

 

In a similar way, not only are the humans saved in the city of Nineveh but also the animals.

 

A New Deluge

 

An interesting idea is that the evils of the Neo-Assyrian Empire were so great, it may have reminded hearers of the conditions in the pre-Flood World.

 

They may have worried that God may cause another flood to wipe humanity from the Earth.

 

But in the story we see God keeps His promise to never flood the Earth again, by instructing Jonah to preach to the Ninevites. As they repented, it meant there was no need for another Flood. ….

 

Plant and Vine

Finally, at the end of the stories of Noah and Jonah, a plant is featured. Noah grows a vine, gets drunk and his son Ham sees him naked. This results in Noah becoming upset and cursing Ham.

 

God allows a plant to grow over Jonah and hide him from the Sun’s heat. A worm eats through the stalk, the plant withers and Jonah is ‘naked’. So the Sun burns him. He becomes very upset by this.