There are many interpretations of the Book about the prophet Jonah, and much meaning to be found in it. One noted Rabbi wrote an article years ago called "The Story of Your Life." In his article, Rabbi Shais Taub makes a case for why the story of Jonah the prophet, in the Book of Jonah, is profoundly relevant to our own life.
On the meaning of Jonah, Rabbi Taub wrote:
"I know what you’re thinking. This has got to be a metaphor, because I have never boarded a seafaring vessel bound for Tarshish to escape prophecy, gotten caught in a storm, had the crew throw me overboard, and been swallowed by a fish." Nonethless, the Zohar says that this is the story of your life.
The journey of Jonah is like the journey our soul goes through in our life. The soul, Jonah, is like a hapless passenger, that has traveled far away from G‑d, yet never really left G‑d behind.
The Rabbi says, "Like Jonah, we delude ourselves into thinking that G-d is “out of range” in our life. Like Jonah, we take this perceived distance as an indication that we have been dismissed from our mission."
In the story of Jonah, “The Almighty rouses a furious tempest” to shake and break up the boat while Jonah was down in the hull sleeping. The ship's captain went down to stir up Jonah. In a similar sense, people and events shake our soul from its complacency and from answering a calling. Many of us pursue personal satisfaction. At some points in life a messenger may come to wake us from our slumber. A voice of conscience stirs from within and asks us. “What is your occupation?” What have you done with your life? Why are you here? Why were you sent?
At that moment, truth may arise, like it did for Jonah son of Amittai (Truth). Then, if we listen and obey, we may change our direction to serve a purpose that G-d has for us.
Is a captain calling you? Are you going in the direction of your purpose?
