One of the most interesting tales in the Old Testament is the story of the prophet Jonah. God instructed him to go to the evil city of Nineveh and preach. Instead of obeying God, Jonah fled on a ship in the opposite direction. During the voyage, a great storm almost destroyed the ship. Realizing his sin might lead to the destruction of the ship, Jonah instructed the sailors to throw him overboard. The storm ceased and the ship was saved. Jonah thought he would drown in the sea. But God wasn't through with him. He commanded a giant fish to swallow him. Inside the belly of the fish, Jonah asked God to forgive him. After three days, the fish spit Jonah onto dry land and he traveled to Ninevah as God had commanded.