A long long time ago in the land of Israel, in a town named Gath Hepher, lived a man called Jonah, who was the son of Amittai. Jonah was a man of God and a prophet. In those days, God used prophets to tell people what he wanted to say to them. One day, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell the people there about him. Nineveh was the capital of the kingdom of Assyria, situated on the river Tigris. It was far away from Israel. The Assyrians were gentiles and the enemies of Israelites. The journey to Nineveh would take many weeks, for the distance was about 1000 kilometers. Jonah knew that the people of Nineveh were wicked, and last thing he wanted, was for them to know anything about God, or his love. He was also afraid that they might do him some harm. Jonah though to himself, “Let God send someone else. I’m not going”

So instead of doing what God told him to do, Jonah decided to run away from God. Very early the next morning, Jonah began his journey to Joppa, which was an important harbor on the Mediterranean Sea. It was as far as 100 kilometers away, and Jonah had to walk many days before he got there. Down at the harbor Jonah saw many ships being loaded. One of the ships was just leaving. Jonah rushed to the captain and asked him where they were going. He heard that it was going to Tarshish, which is today believed to be in Spain. He immediately bought a ticket and boarded the ship. He wanted to get away from God as soon and as far as possible.

When the ship began to sail, Jonah though he had successfully fled God, and going into the ship’s hold, he lay down and fell asleep. However, God had not forgotten Jonah. He sent a strong wind, and great waves tossed the ship so madly that it nearly broke up. The terrified sailors who had never seen such a storm cried out for help, each to his own god. They threw all the cargo into the water to lighten the load but nothing seemed to help. The captain found Jonah sleeping in the ship’s hold. He shook him awake shouting, “What are you doing? Don’t you know that we are about to drown? Get up and pray to your God for help. Maybe he will be able to save us.”

Jonah crawled out of his hole ashamed. He knew that God had sent the storm because of his disobedience. He couldn’t run away from God after all! Meanwhile the sailors were drawing lots to find out who was to blame for the storm. Jonah’s name was drawn. They surrounded him and asked him, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Jonah told them that he was the servant of God who made the heaven, the earth and the SEA. The sailors were petrified on hearing this and were even more so when they heard that he was running away from God. That was a terrible thing to do! The storm was getting worse so when they asked him what they should do to stop the storm, Jonah told them, “Throw me into the sea and the sea will calm down.” Having tried all other methods to get the ship ashore, in desperation they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea. The sea calmed down at that very moment. The sailors were so awed that they knelt down and promised to serve the God of Jonah.

Jonah was sure he would die when he was thrown overboard. God however had not forgotten Jonah. He sent a big fish to save him. The fish was waiting close to the ship and when Jonah fell into the water, it swallowed him right away. Then it dived in and swam away. Inside the fish Jonah was in darkness and tossed about. He felt very sorry for having disobeyed God, and started to pray. He told God that he would go wherever he wanted him to go. God heard Jonah’s cries. After three days, he ordered the fish to swim ashore and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah was happy to feel the ground beneath him at last. He now understood that he could not run away from God, as God was everywhere. Wherever he went, God would be there. Surely God would be with him in Nineveh. It so happened that when Jonah preached there, all the people of Nineveh repented of their bad deeds and believed in Jonah’s God.

God is everywhere at the same time because he is God. He is with me now and also with my loved ones who live far away. I need not go to a special place far away to find God. He is here, close to me right now.

Adapted from Jonah 1 & 2 and Psalm 139