This Week's Story

Sailors toss Jonah into the Mediterranean Sea where he is gulped by a huge fish.

This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.

Jonah in the Belly of a Great Fish! part two

Do you think I like fanciful stories? I do, but that has nothing to do with the truth of this story. Do you think I am too loony to know whether or not I was in a fish?

I know that God is moving in this story. He told me to go to a most dreadful place-- Nineveh! The people there are famous for mistreating foreigners. I was to tell them how disgusted God was with their rampant violence. How angry they would be with me!

Naturally, I went the opposite direction of Nineveh. I knew that I was foolish to try to escape God. He has power over sea and land. My brains twisted into non-thinking noodles. I got on a boat for Joppa and found a place to sleep. I would go the opposite direction of Nineveh, but a ferocious storm struck the ship in which I slept.

The ship’s captain awoke me and lots revealed that I was the cause of the storm. It was clear to me that God had sent the storm to command my attention. I told the sailors that I was trying to escape God’s presence. The sailors asked me, “Jonah, why have you rebelled

against your god? What shall we do to you, that will cause the sea to be calm?”

I told them, “Throw me into the sea. Then this tumult will stop. I know that the tempest is because of me.”

I was astonished when they did not grab me immediately and toss me overboard. Instead, they rowed hard to save their lives, my life, the ship; and reach land. They were totally unsuccessful. They pleaded with God, “We beg you, do not drown us because of this man’s life. Please do not blame us for his death. Do what you think is best.”

Then the sailors picked up Jonah and dropped him into the wild waves. The sea ceased raging. The sailors were in awe of God. They offered sacrifices to Him and made promises to Him. “You, O God, are great! Indeed, you are the true God! We pledge our allegiance to you.”

As Jonah dropped below waves, a large fish, swallowed Jonah.

In the fish’s belly I prayed to God. I had not prayed during the tempest. Instead, I slept. Now I prayed and God heard me! I cried, “Help! You put me into deep waters, into the middle of the sea. Waves pass over me.

“I am out of your sight. I will look again to your holy temple. My head is tangled in seaweed. Yet you bring me up from death. I will do what I have promised. Salvation is of You.”

God spoke to the fish. Three days I was in its belly. Then it vomited me on the seashore. I continued onward to Nineveh.

Join Todd Warren, Carlos Gamez, Gwen Crawford, and Barbara Steiner for Jonah’s reception into Nineveh.

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