Bible Narratives: Old Testament V20 - Jonah and the Ninevites: God's Providence in the Life of Jonah

A man is walking along the shore. His eyes gaze longingly across the water of the great sea. He wants to go far away. He wants to sail across that wide sea. He no longer wants to stay in his own country. Nervously he looks behind him, as if he is being pursued by someone. He is looking for a boat which he can board to sail to a far country. He wants to flee and never return. Where does this man live? And why does he want to flee to a far country? This man lives in the land of Canaan. His name is Jonah, and he wants to flee from the God of Israel!

But why does Jonah want to flee? Has he committed a terrible sin, and is he afraid of God's punishment?

No, Jonah has not commited a dreadful sin; he is not a thief or a murderer. Jonah is a servant of God, a prophet. Jonah is planning to do something terrible, however. He wants to run away from God! He no longer wants to listen to the Lord. Instead he wants to travel to a distant land across the sea. Jonah feels that he is doing wrong. He knows that it is not right. That's why he looks behind him. Does God see him running away?

The Bible Narratives series consists of separate books with narratives from the Old and New Testaments. The narratives are simple but faithful accounts of the historical parts of the Bible. Beautiful pictures make the narratives even more understandable.

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