But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” Matthew 12:39-40 HCSB
Many people question the reliability and inerrancy of Scriptures, especially those stories that may be hard to believe such as the parting of the Red Sea, the killing of the giant Goliath by a small boy named David, three men being thrown into a fiery furnace and surviving, or Jonah being swallowed by a whale. Some people even try to explain such miracles by natural causes rather than believing in the power of God. The reality is that God’s Word is true from the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation. God used human writers but He inspired every word, therefore we can believe every word.
It is remarkable that Jesus referred to the story of Jonah from the Old Testament. Obviously, Jesus knew the Scriptures. Jesus affirmed the reliability of the story of Jonah. This helps us to know for certain that God’s Word is true and it is not just a collection of fictional stories. Jesus used the story of Jonah to illustrate and predict His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Challenge: You can rely on the the accuracy and inspiration of the Holy Word of God. In what ways does this give you hope for the future, knowing that you can trust what Jesus said? Thank God for His Holy Word that has stood the test of time. Every year there are more copies of the Bible sold than any other book. It is the best seller of all times.