Story of the prophet who ran away – नबी की कहानी जो भाग गया
Once, there was a prophet named Jonah, chosen by God to deliver His message. Jonah was a man of deep faith, but he was also human, with fears and doubts like anyone else. One day, God spoke to Jonah and gave him a difficult task: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Nineveh was a city notorious for its cruelty and evil, and Jonah was terrified. He knew that delivering God’s message to such a place could be dangerous. Rather than obeying God’s command, Jonah decided to run away. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, a far-off place in the opposite direction of Nineveh, hoping to escape his divine mission.
As the ship sailed, a violent storm arose, threatening to destroy it. The sailors, frightened for their lives, began to pray to their gods and threw cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But nothing helped. Realizing that the storm was no ordinary event, the sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for this calamity, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Jonah confessed that he was running away from God and told the sailors that the only way to calm the storm was to throw him overboard. Reluctantly, the sailors did as Jonah said, and as soon as they cast him into the sea, the storm ceased. The men on the ship were awestruck by the power of Jonah’s God and offered sacrifices in His name.
Meanwhile, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, sent by God to save him from drowning. Inside the belly of the fish, Jonah spent three days and three nights, reflecting on his disobedience. In his distress, he prayed to God, repenting for running away and promising to fulfill his mission.
God, in His mercy, commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. This time, Jonah obeyed God’s call and went to Nineveh. He warned the people that their city would be destroyed in forty days if they did not repent. To Jonah’s surprise, the people of Nineveh, from the king to the poorest citizen, believed his message. They fasted, wore sackcloth, and turned from their evil ways. God saw their repentance and spared the city from destruction.
Jonah, however, struggled to accept God’s mercy towards Nineveh. He felt angry and frustrated, believing that the wicked city deserved punishment. But God gently reminded Jonah that His compassion extends to all people, even those who have gone astray.
Through this experience, Jonah learned that running away from God’s plan only leads to hardship, and that God’s mercy is greater than any human understanding. The story of Jonah, the prophet who ran away, is a powerful reminder of obedience, repentance, and the boundless grace of God.
Story of the prophet who ran away – नबी की कहानी जो भाग गया
