Jonah was a prophet, and God wanted him to go to Ninevah to preach that in 40 days Ninevah would be overthrown if they didn’t repent. But instead, Jonah ran away and caught a ship bound for Tarshish. There came a mighty storm and wind and the sailors were afraid, but Jonah was sleeping. They tossed out the ship’s cargo to lighten the load. The sailors called out to their gods, but their gods did nothing because they weren’t real. The captain of the ship went down to Jonah and said, “Wake up, sleeper, and call on your god, and maybe he will save us.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. And Jonah told them that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, who made earth and everybody. They asked Jonah what they should do so that the sea would quiet down, and Jonah said to toss him into the sea. The sailors didn’t want to, but they did anyway, and the storm immediately quieted down. God prepared a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of that fish for three days and nights. Jonah prayed to the Lord God and God spoke to the fish and the fish spat Jonah out onto dry land. God told Jonah to preach the message to Ninevah. This time, Jonah obeyed. Amazingly, the Ninevites believed God and repented! Jonah sat on the hill, overlooking the great city and he knew that God would no longer destroy Ninevah, but he wasn’t happy because he wanted the Ninevites to receive judgement. But God did indeed show them mercy. And now it was very hot and Jonah thought he might die. And God grew a plant to shelter Jonah and Jonah was very glad for the plant. The next day, god prepared a worm that damaged the plant so that it withered, and Jonah was angry about the plant, and God asked him why. Jonah learned that God was a merciful God.