We've been tracing a theme that we've been calling the chaos dragon throughout the story

of the Bible.

In today's episode, we come to a story that employs all the major motifs of this theme.

It's got chaos waters, it's got a great sea monster, except the story doesn't call

the creature a sea monster.

The story just calls it a great fish.

That's right, today we're talking about the story of Jonah thrown into the Deep Abyss

swallowed up by death.

Even the belly of the sea beast can become a vehicle for God's redemptive purposes in

the world.

The story of Jonah as a twist on the themes that we've been talking about.

We've seen spiritual beings become chaos dragons.

We've seen humans become dragons.

But now Jonah is the chaos agent.

The story of Jonah is a way of exploring in the tale of one rebellious Israelite.

Israel's failure to truly be a mouthpiece for God's character and purpose among the nations.

And the violent Assyrians who oppressed Israel, the people we thought were the chaos monster,

they end up repenting.

And the actual sea monster, Jonah, the great fish in the Deep Abyss, it becomes a vehicle

of God's redemption.

Jonah flips the script and makes us ask,

What if our enemies end up repenting?

...