The story of Jonah in the Bible tells us that he was trying to run away from God's command to preach to the people of Nineveh. To do this, he boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction.
While he was asleep, a great storm arose, and the sailors were terrified. They tossed Jonah overboard, and he was swallowed by a great fish. It was only after three days in the fish's belly that Jonah repented and agreed to go to Nineveh.