Jonah and the Whale

The word of the LORD comes to Jonah: arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against its wickedness. Instead Jonah boards a ship for Tarshish, fleeing from the presence of the LORD. A mighty tempest rises, and while the sailors cry to their gods, Jonah lies fast asleep below deck. The lot falls on Jonah, and he confesses: cast me into the sea, and it shall be calm. The LORD prepares a great fish to swallow him, and for three days and three nights Jonah prays from its belly, until the fish delivers him onto dry land.

The word of the LORD comes to Jonah a second time, and this time he goes. Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown, he cries -- and the whole city believes God, from the king on his throne down to the least, covering themselves in sackcloth and turning from their evil way. God sees their repentance and spares the city, and Jonah is angry that his enemies have been shown mercy. But the LORD, who pitied even the cattle of Nineveh, teaches His runaway prophet how wide His compassion truly is.