Jonah and the Big Fish (All Join In Bible Stories)

Jonah and the Big Fish

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In the sheer blackness of the deep inner recesses of the earth, there He is. No one can escape from the eye of God. He is omniscient; knowing everything about everyone wherever they are. He can look into the heart and discern thoughts and intents. There really is no escaping God. It is completely futile. Yet there is comfort in this too. He never leaves those or forsakes those who are His. We are said to be the apple of His eye and if this is so, which it is, how can He ever abandon us or give up on us?

Imagine that you have been a people at war with a nation for hundreds of years. In the past they have destroyed, burned, and pillaged your cities. They have torn down your worship centers, stolen and profaned your sacred relics, and killed your citizens. They are your worst enemy; your arch-rivals for centuries. Now God wants you to go and save them and bring them to repentance before God.

How hard would it have been for Great Britain to befriend and try and evangelize Nazi Germany right after the Holocaust or the bombing of England? At the time this city was full of idolatry, full of wickedness, and hated the Jews. They had literally hundreds of gods that they worshipped.

They had false religions that were steeped in paganism and in some cases involved human sacrifice; some of which were children! To be honest, this must have been difficult for Jonah and we could easily understand why he ran away from such a calling. To pray for repentance for you enemies is about the most unnatural thing a human being could do.

Of course, Jonah could not escape. Even though he tried to leave the nation, he ended up in the belly of a great fish. It was not a whale that some translations say but a great fish. What type of fish it was is unknown. It could have been a Great White shark, or a now extinct sea monster. The point is that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and survived.

The fish literally threw up Jonah on a beach and allowed him to go on his mission. Jonah finally delivered the message to Nineveh to repent and the whole city did. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. He had reached his limit.

His arch enemy had repented before God and the city was saved. Nineveh was actually a city-state with over one hundred and twenty thousand people living there.

Jonah then goes outside of the city and stews in anger. Jonah was very pleased with this natural shelter but the next morning, God sent a worm which devoured the plant and it withered and died. Jonah was even angrier since God removed his shade with the plant dying.

God speaks to Jonah 4: It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals? This is a picture of the Great Commission. God wants us to go to those who might have treated us with disdain, whom we consider our enemies, with those who have ridiculed us, and even done us harm.

It changes the heart for the here and now. It transforms and brings us into an eternal relationship and fellowship of the God of the universe. One of the most important evidences that a person had been converted is not that they stop smoking, or drinking, or swearing; it is that they utilize their times, talents, and treasure in service to spreading the gospel. It testifies to the value the person places on the gospel and the fact that he treasures God and the gospel above all; even personal rejection and humiliation.

It is one of the surest signs of conversion. Long ago, there lived a man called Jonah, the son of Amittai — which means Truth. A son of Truth, and a prophet, Jonah often heard the word of the Lord God. This gift was not one that he appreciated at all, far from it — for although the truth will enlighten us, all too often it will alarm us first.

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One night, in a dream, God said to him: Go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me. I could go to the great city of Nineveh and call on the people to cease from worshipping idols and to leave their evil ways. Yes, I could do that, but would it make me popular? More likely they would grow angry at my ceaseless preaching, and they would throw stones at me. Then again, what if they did listen to my prophecy of doom? Suppose that they hear the word of God? I know you, my Lord, you are gracious and merciful, and you soon repent of your resolve to punish mankind.

You will turn away from your plan to undo the city and to destroy the people. My prophecy of destruction shall not come to pass. I shall be a false prophet. A false prophet has the respect of no one. The Lord God did not answer Jonah, because he had told him once what he must do, and he did not mean to repeat himself.

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Jonah arose — and he ran. He hurried himself to the port, and paid money to board a ship heading for Spain at the other end of the Mediterranean sea. Perhaps there, far away from the Holy Land, he would no longer hear the voice of truth that disturbed him so. Jonah lay down in his cabin at the bottom of the ship, where he hoped that God would not spot him.

The ship set out to sea, and he remained down below, refusing to come up on deck to sample the fresh sea breeze. Some days out, the Lord sent a great wind and stirred up a mighty storm. The ship heaved and creaked, and wondered if it should break apart. The sailors were afraid. They jettisoned their cargo over the side, to lighten the ship. The captain ordered that everyone on board must pray for salvation.

Each cried to his own god — but their passenger was nowhere to be seen.

The captain went down below to seek him out. Call upon your god and pray that he may save us from perishing. Jonah, reluctantly, and on wobbly legs, climbed up onto the deck.

There the sailors were casting lots. Each had to pull a wooden stick out of a bucket — he who drew the shortest would be, they believed, the cause of all their tempestuous trouble. Jonah took his turn and drew the shortest stick.

Jonah and the Big Fish (My First Bible Stories)

Twice again, they drew lots, and each time the result was the same. Now the sailors were even more afraid, for they saw that a man who runs away from his god must be very wicked indeed. Here was the explanation. The presence of this man was why the storm was raging all around them and threatening to break their ship. Nevertheless, the sailors cried out: They returned to their places and rowed hard against the tumultuous storm, but all their efforts were in vain, for the angry sea was far stronger than their puny arms.

So in great sorrow, they picked up Jonah and cast him over the side of the ship into the stormy waters. Immediately, the sea ceased from raging.

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The calm miracle made a great impression on the sailors. They offered up a sacrifice of thanks to the Hebrew Lord and made their vows to him. Though Jonah was tossed by the sea, he did not perish, for the Lord sent a giant sea creature to swallow him whole.

Some say it was a whale, others a shark, and still others say a unique monster from the deep. Jonah himself had no opinion on the matter. All he knew was that he found himself on the inside of the mysterious fish from God, in its belly. There he remained, like a baby in the womb — only far less comfortable, for three days and nights as the sea creature swam the seas.

You have cast me into the deep, into the midst of the seas. The waves passed over me, the waters dragged me down, even to my soul, and the weeds wrapped around my head. I pray to you, and I will make sacrifices to you again, for I know that salvation comes from the Lord. Oh yea, I forgot, magic! Your the best please reply , lily and stella.

It is the middle of the night here and I woke up and approved some comments — sorry some of you thought you were first. You could not see other comments because they were unapproved. There are a lot of Amazing Old Testament stories. And yes we realise that many stories from the Torah, the Bible and the Quran are the same or similar. Bertie — October 29, Now is the twenty first century. You do not believe in God cool no problem, others may do and that is cool as well.

Respect others beliefs or disbelief is essential for us to move forward.

Here is your reply. Have a splendid week.

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