Jonah – a Man With a Message ናሙና

A Big Fish

But what about Jonah? God wasn’t finished with him yet, because he had a message to deliver for Him to the Ninevites. As Jonah was sinking deep into the depths of the sea, God sent a big fish to swallow him up.

Deep in the belly of that fish, Jonah had three days and nights to think about what he had done. Finally, his heart softened and he remembered something he had promised to God a long time ago. 

He had told God that he would obey Him and speak His words. It didn’t matter anymore who the Ninevites were, Jonah knew he had to obey God.

From within the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God. “I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.”

God was watching and listening to see if Jonah would turn from his hardheartedness in repentance. As soon as He heard Jonah’s prayer, He commanded the fish to head towards land. 

The fish was getting a belly ache with Jonah inside, so he was more than happy to obey! As soon as he got close to land, he spit Jonah up and out onto the beach. Jonah was smelly and wet, but he was happy to be alive!

God spoke to Jonah a second time and told him, “Go to the great city of Ninevah and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah was smarter now and immediately obeyed God. Off to Ninevah he went.