God came to Jonah and asked him to go to Ninevah, where
there were a lot of bad things going on. Instead of obeying
God, Jonah ran away to Joppa and got on a boat headed for
Tarshish.
God sent a big storm, and the ship that Jonah was on was
soon in danger of sinking. Jonah admitted he was
trying to run away from God. The men on the boat
realized that God was mad at Jonah, not them, so they threw
him overboard. The storm stopped almost right away.
Adrift in the sea, Jonah was swallowed by a whale!
He prayed to God and asked for his forgiveness, and after 3 days and
nights in the whale's belly, the whale spit Jonah out onto a
beach.
Jonah was ready to obey God now! He went to Ninevah
and helped to bring the people back to God.
The last Wednesday in February is Ash Wednesday. This
is the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, when we prepare
ourselves for the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
God knows our true hearts, and will forgive our failings if
we ask with honesty and sincerity. As we approach Ash
Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent, we can
begin to think about what a wondrous gift we have been given
in our lives and our families, and the grace of God that can
see us through good times and bad. Thinking about the lesson
of Jonah is a good way to get ready for the important season
of Lent!
