Jonah and the Big Fish

God spoke to a man named Jonah and gave him a job to do. “Go to the great city of Nineveh,” He said, “and give my message to the people there.”

Jonah did not want to go. So he went down to the harbour, found a ship sailing the other way, paid his fare and climbed aboard.

Out at sea a great storm came up. The wind howled and the waves rose so high that the sailors were terrified. Jonah knew why the storm had come, and he told them, “Throw me into the sea, and it will grow calm.” They did not want to. In the end they had no choice, and the moment Jonah went into the water the sea grew quiet.

Down he sank into the cold and the dark. And God sent a big fish, which swallowed Jonah whole and kept him safe inside.

For three days Jonah sat in that strange dark place, and he prayed. He told God everything: that he was sorry, that he had run away, that he needed help.

“I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me.”

Jonah 2:2

God heard him. The fish swam to the shore and set Jonah down on dry land, alive, with the sun on his face and sand under his feet.

And God said it again, kindly: go to Nineveh. This time Jonah went. He had learned something he would never forget, that God is full of mercy, and that He gives people another chance.