PROPHET JONAH - The Israel Prophet was preserved by God

PROPHET JONAH JONAH 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah was a famous prophet in Israel and prophesied about the military victories of King Jeroboam II. Jonah was a prophet that God commanded to go preach in Nineveh so that the people would repent of their sins and be saved. Nineveh was under sin and God was sad about that city, but would yet give a chance for his people to repent and be saved. Assyria was an enemy empire, its people were violent and cruel and did not worship God, so Jonah wanted to see the city destroyed. Jonah tried to escape from his mission and embarked on a ship that was going to Spain, which was just the opposite of the way he was supposed to go. At sea, God sent a great storm, which threatened to sink the ship. While the sailors were doing everything to save themselves and praying to their gods, Jonah slept in the hold! The captain woke up Jonah and everyone tossed lots to find out who was to blame for the storm. The lot fell on Jonah and he explained that he was running away from your God. The storm didn't calm down, so the sailors threw Jonah into the Sea. Soon the sea calmed down and the sailors worshiped Jonah's God. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish sent by God and stayed there for 3 days. When he was inside the big fish Jonah repented and prayed to God in repentance for having been rebellious. The big fish threw Jonah out near a beach and he made his way to Nineveh. There he preached the word of God and said that the city would be destroyed in 40 days because of their sins. The people believed the word of God and repented, so they were spared of the wrath of God. The king proclaimed a starvation for salvation and everyone abandoned their wicked ways, crying out to God for forgiveness. God saw this and decided to not destroy Nineveh. Jonah was very upset that God had spared the City and went to the Desert, then asked to die. God made a plant grow to give Jonah shade, because the Desert was very hot . He was very happy, but the next day the plant died and Jonah became overheated. Bored, Jonah asked again to die. Then God told Jonah why he was feeling sorry for a plant that was not his doing, but not the 120,000 people of Nineveh! He understood God's work and was happy to serve as an instrument for the Salvation of that City.