Jonah and the Whale Abraham s Sacrifice Holy Tales From The Bile Old Testament

Jonah was a wise old man who lived in Israel long, long ago. He was loved and respected by the people. Everybody came to him to solve their problems and he gave them wise advice. God loved him because he was a good man and he helped his fellow beings. Jonah loved God. He followed his teachings and prayed to God all the time. Nineveh was a neighboring country of Israel. The people in this country were known to be very evil. They did not follow God. They did bad things. They were cruel, greedy, and were always fighting with other people. Because of this, God was angry with the people of Nineveh. One day, God spoke to Jonah and called for his Jonah, I have something to tell you. My Lord, I am lucky to be of your service. Tell me, I am listening to you, God. There is a place called Nineveh not very far from here. The people living in this place are evil. They steal from each other, kill their own brothers, and do a lot of other evil things. Their king is lazy and selfish. He eats, drinks, and enjoys himself while his people are starving. He does not care about his people. Their actions anger me and I have decided to destroy them. I understand, my God. I am well aware of their actions. They are a wretched group of people. They are also our sworn enemies. In 40 days, I will destroy the land of Nineveh and everyone living there. This is my decision. So be it, my Lord. You have told me all of this, but I still do not understand how I can be of service to you. Tell me, my Lord, what should I do to make your wish come true? You are a good and righteous man, Jonah. You have always obeyed me and followed my teachings. I trust you and your abilities. This is why you must go to Nineveh immediately and talk to the people about me. They do not know me. You must speak about my love. You must tell them to change their ways and become good people. Only you can do this. But God, how will I do this? They are evil. They will not listen to me. Also, they are our sworn enemies. The people of Nineveh are constantly attacking us and waging war against us. They try to steal from us and harm our women. That is all true. But still, you must go and talk to them. They will have a second chance through you. If they fail, they will be destroyed. You are their only hope for survival now. Only you can convince them to change their ways and turn to me, the one and only living God. I have complete faith in you. God, you have decided to destroy them anyway after 40 days. Then why should I go there and risk my life? My countrymen will be more than happy to hear that Nineveh is going to be destroyed. They will abandon me if they hear that I tried to stop that from happening. This is my will. You must do this, Jonah. You must leave for Nineveh immediately. Very well, my Lord, as you wish. Jonah was very troubled by what God had asked of him. He was happy that God had decided to destroy the people of Nineveh. They were the enemies of Israel. He did not believe that he could change their ways. But then, how could he disobey God? Jonah finally decided he would not go to Nineveh. He got scared and decided to escape from Nineveh and hide from God. Jonah traveled far from Nineveh over the deserts and barren lands. Finally, he reached the seashore, where he saw a ship heading to another city across the sea. He asked the captain whether he could get on the ship. The captain was not happy at first, but finally agreed. The sailors did not know about the one true God that Jonah served and believed in. They worshiped stone and wooden idols. They had a God for the sun, another God for the moon, another for the ocean, and so on. Jonah saw this, but he did not speak anything. He went and slept in the lower part of the ship. Jonah was fast asleep in the lower part of the ship. Once the ship had traveled a short distance, the ship got caught in a great storm. They were tossed around in the water like a paper boat. Everybody on the ship was very scared and began to cry out loud to their gods. The men on the ship were surprised to see Jonah sleeping peacefully while a great storm was raging outside. Hey Jonah, wake up! Wake up! How can you sleep like this? There is a storm outside and the ship is going to be torn apart. Wake up and pray to your God. We have been praying to our gods for some time now, but the storm is continuing to rock the boat. No, this is the work of my God, the one and only true God who made the whole world. Did you do anything to make him angry? How can we stop this storm? I tried to hide away from him. He gave me a task, but I refused to do it. That's why he's angry at me. Now what should we do? There is nothing else to do. You have no other option but to throw me off the ship and then the storm will go away. My God will leave you alone. No, we cannot do that. You're a good man. We don't want to harm you. Let us try to throw some of the cargo out and see if we can keep the ship afloat. The sailors started throwing out the packages loaded on the ship one by one, but the storm did not go away. There is no use in doing this. Throw me into the water. Save yourself! I hope your God keeps you safe. When the sailors realized that they had no other option, they threw Jonah off the ship into the sea, and like a miracle, the storm subsided. The sea was calm all of a sudden. Just at that moment, a big whale came up and swallowed Jonah. Jonah was scared like never before. He was in the dark and cold. There was a horrible smell around him. Also, it was slimy and all kinds of things were floating around him. It was then that he realized that he was inside a whale. Jonah could not believe this was happening to him, but realized that God was doing all of this. Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale. He prayed the whole time to God. He was asking for forgiveness and promised that he would never try to hide away from God. Jonah would lose hope from time to time and thought he would never see daylight again. He thought about the foolish things he had done. How could he believe that he could disobey God and hide from him? This was so stupid of him. Alone in the cold dark insides of the whale, Jonah became very sad. But he called out to God and it gave him strength. He believed that God would keep him safe. On the fourth day, the whale opened its mouth and spit Jonah onto the beach. Jonah was relieved to see the light of day. He had been inside the dark belly of a whale for Then God spoke to him. Jonah, you cannot hide from me. Whatever you do, I am with you all the time. I am so sorry, my Lord. I realize now how foolish I have been. Tell me what I can do to make up for this. Do as I told you. You must go to Nineveh and complete the task I gave you. They are evil because they do not know me. They have not heard of my teachings. They deserve a chance to change their ways and become good. I will do whatever you ask of me, my Lord. I shall go and speak to the people of Nineveh about your undying love. This time, Jonah went to Nineveh as promised. He talked to the people about God and his kingdom. He talked about what had happened to him and how God had rescued him from the raging storm by sending a whale. He showed them why it was important to do good things and be kind to people. He taught them God's teachings and how God was protecting them and taking care of them at all times. He also warned them about God's punishment. To his surprise, the people of Nineveh listened to him. The king heard of Jonah and called him to the palace. Jonah talked to the king about how God was merciful but that if he didn't change himself, then the city of Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days. The king asked for forgiveness for all the bad and horrible things he had done and promised that he would pray to the one and only true God from now on. He also announced throughout the land that everybody should pray to the Almighty God that Jonah served. Jonah spent many days with the people of Nineveh. God saw that indeed the people of Nineveh had changed, so God decided not to punish the city of Nineveh. Later, Jonah realized his work was finished and he started on his journey back to Israel. However, he was still hoping that Nineveh would be destroyed as he did not completely believe that their people could actually become good. So when God decided not to destroy the city, Jonah was not happy. God realized what he was thinking and spoke to Jonah. Jonah, why are you unhappy? You had said that you would destroy the land of Nineveh. These people are enemies of Israel. Why didn't you destroy them? Jonah, you don't understand the good you have done. These people are no longer your enemies. They believe in the one true God, just like you do. I believe that everybody needs a second chance to correct their mistakes. I do not want to punish my people. I love them. I created them. So if they make use of the opportunity to become good, then why should I destroy them? All of this has been possible through your work, Jonah. Go home now. Return in peace. You have completed God's work. Very well, my God. I understand now. Thank you for this chance to serve you, my Lord. Thank you for saving me so many times. Jonah then made the journey back to Israel and continued to speak about God and the love for his people. He told everybody the story of how he was trapped inside a whale for three days and how God saved him. The people loved and respected him and the old prophet lived for a very long time. Abraham and Sarah were getting old, but they did not have any children. They prayed hard to God to grant them a child, and finally God heard their prayers. You are a good man, Abraham, and I know you love me. Don't worry. You will have a child and many descendants as well. As God had promised, Abraham and Sarah were soon blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Both of them were overjoyed and named the baby Isaac. Oh, Lord, I have no words to express my gratitude to you for this precious gift you have given us. Abraham and his wife Sarah watched with pride and joy as their son grew up into an obedient and loving son. Abraham taught his son to love and worship the Lord just as he did. He made it known to him that he was a very, very special child who God had promised to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac learned his lessons well and made his parents proud of him. One day, God decided to test Abraham's faith in him and visited him one night. Abraham! Abraham! Who is it? It is me, Abraham, your Lord. I have come to ask you something. Tell me, do you really love me? How can you even ask me such a question, my Lord? There is nothing and no one that I love more than you. Well, then, will you do as I tell you to, without questioning me? Of course, God. I don't even know why you even doubt that I will disobey any command you give me. I have spent my entire life loving, worshiping, and obeying you. I know. I know. But this will be a very difficult test for you. I am willing to undergo any test you have for me. Your wish is my command, O Lord. Good. That is what I expected to hear from you. Now listen carefully. Tomorrow morning, as the sun starts rising, I want you to take your son, Isaac, to a mountain I will direct you to. And there I want you to offer him as a burnt sacrifice to me. In those days, burnt sacrifices were made of animals which were tied to an altar made of wood and stones and then burnt. Abraham couldn't believe what he was hearing. Offer his son to God, the child that God himself had given him. But then he thought about what God had told him earlier about having many descendants. God has promised me descendants. But how will I have descendants unless I have a son? I cannot question God, for he knows best. It is a very tough test that God wants me to take. I don't know how I will be able to kill my own son. What is the matter, Abraham? Is it too difficult a task for you to obey? Your love for your son means more than doing what I am asking you to do? No, no, God. My son is, after all, your gift to me. So if you want him back, how can I refuse? Good. So now listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. Tomorrow morning, I will guide you to the place where you must sacrifice your son. It is in the land of Moriah. I will do as you say, God. The next morning, Abraham called for his two servants and told them to saddle up and load the donkey with wood and prepare to go on a journey. He then called his son. Isaac, my son, God wants me to make a burnt sacrifice, and you have to come along with me for this. Yes, father. But where do we have to go? We have to go to Moriah, son. Though I too do not know the exact place, God will show us the way to get there. So Abraham, along with his son and two servants, set off to where God wanted him to make a sacrifice of his son. The thought of killing his beloved son made his heart very heavy, but he did not show his feelings to his son. They walked for two whole days, eating the food they were carrying and sleeping on the road. Finally, on the third day, Abraham saw in the distance the mountain where God wanted him to make the sacrifice. On reaching there, Abraham told his servants to wait with the donkey, while he and Isaac went up. Isaac, you carry the wood, and I will carry the knife and coal. The coal is too hot for you to carry. As they were climbing up, Isaac looked questioningly at Abraham. Father? Yes, my dear child? You said that God had asked you to make a burnt sacrifice. Yes. We are only carrying the wood for the altar, but where is the animal that has to be sacrificed? Abraham didn't know what reply to give his son, so he just looked away. Tell me, father, where is the animal? Son, I have full faith in my Lord. He will provide the animal to be sacrificed. Abraham and Isaac proceeded to the top, and when they reached there, Abraham set about to make the altar with stones and wood. As he was doing so, tears were streaming down his face. Why are you crying, father? What is the matter? Abraham quickly wiped away his tears, and looked at his beloved son with a sad smile. Nothing, my child. Nothing. Though Abraham had full faith in his Lord and couldn't think of disobeying him, he still dreaded the thought of plunging a knife into his only and most loved son. However, the thought of not doing what God wanted him to do never crossed his mind. He slowly started gathering big rocks and placed them one on top of the other, and then placed the wood over them. When the altar was ready, he gently tied his son's arms and led him to it. Isaac was horrified, but did not utter a word. My son, I cannot tell you how much it pains me to do this, but I must do it. It is my word to God. Please, son, never ever doubt my love for you. With a deep breath, Abraham raised the knife high above his head, but before he could bring it down and kill his son, an urgent voice called out to him. Stop, Abraham. In the name of the Lord, stop. You will not hurt your son. What? Abraham looked up and saw an angel standing there. The angel looked at Abraham with a gentle smile. God is very happy with you. To obey his order, you were willing to sacrifice your beloved son, who means so much to you. You have proved that your love for God is above everything and every body, but now you do not have to sacrifice your son. Abraham could not believe his eyes. He breathed the deep sigh of relief and knelt down with his arms outstretched. Praise be to my Lord, the Master. The Lord will grant you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as there are grains of sand on the beaches. You are the Lord's blessed one. Glory be to you, O God. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Abraham got up and went to his son and untied him. Come to me, my precious child. I hope you know that I love you dearly, but I had to do what I did as I could not disobey my Lord. I know, Father, and I never doubted your love for me even for a minute. Both father and son hugged each other joyously. Just then, Abraham heard a sound. He looked around and saw a ram that had got caught by its horns in a bush. He quickly went and killed the ram, offering it as the sacrifice instead of his son. He then held his son's hand, and they both turned around to make their way down. This place shall be called Jehovah-Jireh, which means, The Lord Provides. Those who love him will always have his blessings. So saying, both father and son went down and headed back home.