Jonah

The Amazing Story of Jonah: A Fishy Tale with a Big Message

Imagine being swallowed whole by a giant fish! That’s exactly what happened to Jonah, a prophet in the Bible. But Jonah’s story isn’t just about a wild adventure; it’s about running away from God, getting a second chance, and learning to care for others, even your enemies.

What Happened?

• God’s Mission: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, and tell the people to change their ways or face consequences.
• Jonah Runs Away: Jonah didn’t want to go. He thought the people of Nineveh were too bad to deserve a second chance. So, he hopped on a ship going in the opposite direction!
• The Storm: God wasn’t happy with Jonah’s disobedience. He sent a huge storm to toss the ship around. The sailors were terrified!
• The Big Fish: Jonah confessed his mistake and asked the sailors to throw him overboard. As soon as he hit the water, a giant fish swallowed him!
• Three Days in the Fish: Jonah prayed to God from inside the fish’s belly. He realised he was wrong to run away and promised to obey.
• A Second Chance: After three days, the fish spit Jonah out on dry land. God gave him another chance to go to Nineveh.
• Nineveh Repents: Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh, and surprisingly, they listened! The king and everyone in the city turned away from their evil ways.
• Jonah’s Grumpiness: Jonah was angry that God spared Nineveh. He wanted to see them punished, not forgiven.
• God’s Lesson: God taught Jonah a valuable lesson about compassion and mercy. He explained that everyone deserves a chance to change, no matter how bad they’ve been.

Questions for Discussion

1. Why do you think Jonah ran away from God?
2. How did Jonah feel inside the fish? What did he learn?
3. Why was Jonah angry when the people of Nineveh repented?
4. What do you think is the most important lesson in Jonah’s story?
5. Have you ever tried to run away from something you knew you should do? What happened?

Remember

• God loves everyone, even those who seem unlovable.
• Everyone deserves a second chance.
• It’s important to be compassionate and forgiving towards others.

Jonah’s story is a reminder that no matter how far we run, God is always there, ready to forgive and give us another chance. It also teaches us to look beyond our differences and show love and compassion to everyone, even our enemies.

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Jonah is unusual as a prophetic book in that it is a narrative account of Jonah’s mission to the city of Nineveh, his resistance, his imprisonment in a great fish, his visit to the city, and the subsequent outcome.

Jonah was a native of Galilee, 2 Kings 14:25. His miraculous deliverance from out of the fish, rendered him a type of our blessed Lord, who mentions it, so as to show the certain truth of the narrative. All that was done was easy to the almighty power of the Author and Sustainer of life. This book shows us, by the example of the Ninevites, how great are the Divine forbearance and long-suffering towards sinners. It shows a most striking contrast between the goodness and mercy of God, and the rebellion, impatience, and peevishness of his servant; and it will be best understood by those who are most acquainted with their own hearts.

Matthew Henry