In Jonah 1 and 2 God tells Jonah to go to Ninevah and warn them that they will be punished if they continue to sin. Jonah doesn’t like the people of Ninevah and refuses to go. He tries to hide from God by sailing away. God sends a storm and Jonah knows that the only way to save the ship is to throw him overboard.

God sends a large fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah remains in the fish for three days and three nights (Jesus made reference to this time period regarding his burial) Jonah prays acknowledging that God saved him from certain death. He agrees to obey God’s command. The fish spits Jonah onto dry land.

There are times when we know what God wants us to do and still we refuse to do it. God will ultimately win these arguments. Perhaps when we are trying to be like Jonah and run away we will remember how futile it is and obey without question.

In Revelation 10 before the seventh angel blows the trumpet, another angel appears with a little scroll. John is told to swallow the scroll and keep both the contents of the scroll and the words this angel said secret.