The
story of the reluctant prophet who was swallowed by a fish but later
moved the people of Nineveh to repent. |
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God sent a fish to save Jonah
4th
cent. mosaic from Galilee
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Jonah's story is
found in the book of Jonah.
Jonah refused to go to Nineveh, although God told him to warn that
city of God's anger. Instead, Jonah went to sea and when a storm
arose, Jonah was thrown overboard. God sent a fish to save Jonah,
and Jonah responded with a Psalm of thanks that God had delivered him
(Jonah 1-2). Reluctantly, Jonah went to Nineveh and warned the people
of coming destruction. All the people promptly repented in the hope
that God would spare the city. God decided to save the city and
Jonah became angry (despite the fact that earlier God had saved Jonah).
Jonah showed more concern for a plant that shaded him than he did for
the inhabitants of Nineveh (Jonah 3-4). Jonah lived in the eighth
century BC (2 Kings 14:25).
Jonah 1:1-17
- Jonah and the fish
Jonah 3:1-10
- Call to repent
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