Jonah Runs Away from God and Swallowed by a Great Fish
(Jonah 1)
Have you ever been told to do something you really didn't want to do? Maybe it was cleaning your room or helping a little brother or sister. But what if God himself asked you to do something? That's exactly what happened to a man named Jonah.
God gave Jonah a very important job. He said, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Nineveh was a huge city, and the people there were doing terrible things. God wanted Jonah to warn them to turn away from their sin.
But Jonah had a big problem. He didn't want to go to Nineveh. The people of Nineveh were enemies of Israel. They were known for being cruel and violent. Jonah didn't think they deserved God's mercy. So instead of obeying God, Jonah decided to run away. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship heading to Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction from Nineveh. He paid the fare and went aboard, thinking he could escape from the presence of the Lord.
But you can never run away from God. The Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and a violent storm arose. The ship was in danger of breaking apart. The sailors were terrified. Each one cried out to his own god for help. They threw the cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. But the storm only got worse.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the ship and fallen into a deep sleep. The captain found him and shouted, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
The sailors decided to cast lots to find out who was responsible for this terrible storm. The lots fell on Jonah. They demanded to know who he was and what he had done. Jonah told them, "I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." He also confessed that he was running away from God.
The sailors were absolutely terrified. "What have you done?" they cried out. The storm was raging worse than ever. They asked Jonah, "What should we do to make the sea calm down?" Jonah knew the answer. He said, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea, and it will become calm. I know that this great storm has come upon you because of me."
The sailors didn't want to do it. They tried desperately to row back to land, but they couldn't. The sea grew even more violent. So they cried out to the Lord, "Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. For you, Lord, have done as you pleased." Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the raging sea.
Immediately, the sea stopped raging. The waves became still and calm. The sailors were amazed and feared the Lord greatly. They offered a sacrifice to him and made vows to serve him.
As for Jonah, he didn't drown. The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. God had not given up on Jonah. He had a plan, and he would use this unlikely situation to teach Jonah a lesson about mercy and obedience.
A Curious Question
Why do you think Jonah thought he could run away from God, who made the sea and the dry land?
Old Testament Connection
This story shows us how God's prophets were called to deliver difficult messages. Jonah was not the first prophet to run from his calling. Moses also made excuses when God asked him to speak to Pharaoh. The Abrahamic Covenant promised that all nations would be blessed through Israel. Jonah didn't want the wicked Ninevites to receive that blessing. But God's plan was always bigger than Jonah's prejudice.
This story also reminds us of God's sovereignty over all creation. He controls the wind, the waves, and even the great fish. No one can escape his presence or his purposes.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Jonah run away from God instead of obeying him?
- How did God show his power through the storm and the fish?
- What does this story teach us about God's patience with us when we make wrong choices?
So What? What Can I Do?
- Is there something God is asking you to do that you have been avoiding or making excuses about?
- When you feel afraid or don't want to obey, who can you talk to for help?
- What are some ways you can show mercy to someone you think doesn't deserve it?
Memorize God's Word
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" Psalm 139:7
• Where can I go place both hands out to the sides with palms up, as if asking a question.
from your Spirit point both index fingers up to heaven.
Where can I flee make a running motion with your arms like you are running away.
from your presence bring both hands in front of your chest and hold them out, showing God is everywhere.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank you that we can never run away from your love. Help us to obey you even when we are afraid or don't want to. Give us courage to do what is right and mercy for others. In Jesus' name, amen.
Craft or Activity
Jonah and the Big Fish Diorama
Materials Checklist:
How to Make the Jonah and the Big Fish Diorama:
- Fold a piece of blue construction paper in half to make the background of the sea.
- Draw waves and water on the blue paper using markers or crayons.
- Cut out a large fish shape from white cardstock and color it.
- Cut out a small Jonah figure from brown construction paper.
- Glue the fish onto the sea background and place Jonah inside the fish's mouth.
- Add extra sea creatures or storm clouds to complete your diorama.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Focus on the idea that God is everywhere and we can't hide from him. Use simple language and lots of pictures to tell the story.
Prep Shortcut: Pre-cut the fish and Jonah shapes before class so younger children can focus on coloring and gluing.
Classroom Management: Keep the children engaged by having them make storm sounds during the story (rubbing hands together for rain, blowing for wind).
For Older Kids: Discuss the concept of mercy and why it was hard for Jonah to preach to Nineveh. Ask them what enemies they find hard to love.