Story 41 of 100 · Based on Jonah 1–2
Jonah and the Big Fish
God spoke to the prophet Jonah.
—Get up and go to Nineveh, the great city —he said—. Announce there what I will tell you.
But Jonah did not want to. He got up, yes, but to run away in the opposite direction. He went down to the port of Joppa, paid the fare and boarded a ship, far from the Lord.
Then God sent a strong wind over the sea, and the storm was so great that the ship seemed about to break apart. The sailors were afraid and each one prayed to his own god. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship and was fast asleep.
—How can you sleep? —the captain said to him—. Get up and pray to your God. Maybe he will remember us and we will not sink.
They cast lots to find out who was to blame for the storm, and it fell on Jonah.
—I am a Hebrew —he told them—. I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land. Throw me into the sea and the sea will calm down. I know that this storm is my fault.
The sailors rowed with all their might to reach land, but they could not. Then they prayed to the Lord and threw Jonah into the sea. And the sea became calm.
God sent a great fish that swallowed Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From there he prayed to God:
—In my distress I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me.
God spoke to the fish, and the fish put Jonah on dry land.
Let's talk: Jonah prayed even inside the fish. Can you pray anywhere?
God hears you anywhere. Even in the dark. Goodnight.