When the prophet Jonah ran away from God, he ended up being tossed into the angry ocean waves and swallowed by a gigantic fish. He was cooped up in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights before it spat him up on dry land. Other prophets like Balaam and Elijah also disobeyed God. Their circumstances were somewhat different.
Balaam was a prophet who was not of the tribe of Israel. He lived at a time when the tribe of Israel was about to cross into Canaan and before the death of Moses. He was hired by Balak, the king of Moab, who was alarmed by the presence of the people of Israel on his border. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites. God became so angry with Balaam that he commanded an angel to block the path of Balaam’s donkey. Balaam would have died by the angel’s word if not for the donkey’s reticence. Balaam was later put to the sword by the Israelites when God took vengeance on the Midianites.
Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, also had his moment of weakness. After he had bested the prophets of Baal in a contest, he had them killed. Elijah was threatened, afterward, by Jezebel, the patron of the false prophets and wife to King Ahab. Fearing for his life, he fled to the wilderness instead of putting his trust in God. Instead of rebuking him, it was amazing how God nurtured Elijah and quieted his fears.
Author Chad Groen 