I have heard it argued that Jonah could not have been in the belly of the whale, because baleen whales' throats are much too narrow. Of course, it would hardly be the only miracle on that scale in the Bible, but there is another possibility.
The Bible says Jonah was swallowed by a 'big fish'. It could have been just that- a big fish.
A Whale Shark. *One of the most beautiful animals in this or any world! God is good to us!!!
Whale sharks usually live in more tropical waters- the Mediterranean is more Temperate Basking Shark territory. But Whale Sharks do swim thousands of miles, and a Whale Shark, unlike a Baleen Whale or Basking Shark, can swallow something the size of a human without miraculous help.
The real miracle would be keeping Jonah in there for days- normally if a whale shark swallowed something like a human by accident (and it would be an accident) they would be ejected from the Whale Shark's stomach immediately, no harm done- but no doubt an unpleasent experience for the Whale Shark. So KEEPING Jonah in the belly of the Whale Shark is the REAL Miracle.
That and directing the Whale Shark to the Mediterranean, which is a bit beyond their normal range, and getting the great Fish to swim Jonah to the shores of Syria, the closest shores to Ninevah.
But then, God parted the Red Sea for Moses, so all that- and even getting Jonah swallowed by a Baleen Whale, which is impossible under science- is certainly not too much.
One more thing- now you know you don't have to worry about getting swallowed by a Whale Shark- if it really did happen by accident, you'd be back out before you knew it, with an incredible story for your grandchildren!
Just don't forget to pray for the poor Whale Shark!
*Not that you don't taste nice and yummy, they just don't like swallowing anything bigger than your hand!!!