Jonah and the Whale
Reluctantly sent by God, Jonah’s attempt to flee from his mission ends in a dramatic encounter with a great fish—a turning point that leads him and the people of Nineveh to repentance.
MercyRepentanceCompassion
Jonah, a prophet tasked with warning the wicked city of Nineveh, tried to run away from God’s command. His attempt to escape by sea was thwarted when a mighty storm arose. Thrown overboard, Jonah was swallowed by a large fish, where he spent three days and nights in its belly.
In that dark place, Jonah repented and prayed earnestly to God. He was eventually delivered, and his subsequent preaching led the people of Nineveh to humble themselves, turning from their evil ways and receiving God’s mercy.
Footnotes
1
Jonah’s story is as much about God’s boundless mercy as it is about the prophet’s reluctance.