The Basilica is a pilgrimage church and the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. Jonah was almost going to drown, but God sent a huge fish to come and swallow him, and God kept Jonah safe inside the fish’s belly for three days and three nights. Check out his story in 2 Kings 22!Welcome to the Crossroads’ Kids’ Club channel! So now, Lord, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord asked, “Are you right to be angry?”. (No. I care about the people of Nineveh and their animals. That means no permission is needed as long as you credit this Ministry-To-Children.com in the final work. He was mad that they believed in God and that God didn’t destroy them. But Jonah still didn’t like the people of Nineveh. He didn’t them want to believe in God and start doing the right things God wanted them to do because the people of Nineveh were Israel’s enemies. The Book of Jonah is a book of the Nevi'im ("Prophets") in the Hebrew Bible. Instead of allowing God to be the judge, I’ve put myself in that position, handing out mercy and dishing out guilty sentences in my mind and heart without regard to what God might think. A whale swallows him. Anyone who does something without the teacher having said, “Teacher says” has to pretend that they’ve been swallowed by a fish and taken to Nineveh at the other side of the room. Everyone, show me with your arms how the waves went up and down. Most importantly, Jonah’s imperfect example of three days spent in the belly of the fish foreshadows the perfect sacrifice that was to come. Copyright © 2007-2020 Ministry-to-Children. They outline the people’s sins, the consequences of those sins, and the proper … Jonah tried to run away from God, learned a terrifying lesson, did his duty, then still had the nerve to complain to the Creator of the Universe. They prayed to God and asked Him not to destroy them. Ministry-To-Children.com helps you tell kids about Jesus by providing age-appropriate Bible study material and Sunday School curriculum – all 100% free online. Explore the unique architecture and sacred art of the largest Roman Catholic church in North America. When he confessed that he was running from the Lord, they tossed him overboard. He could easily have called someone else more faithful to go to Nineveh, someone who had some compassion and mercy toward others. Give students a blanket or towel and an action figure, doll, or stuffed animal. During his nap, a big storm arises. In Nineveh, Jonah proclaimed that the city would be overthrown – and to his surprise, the people of Nineveh repented. Review the events of historic significance that have taken place at the Basilica. You know the story! Jonah wanted God to kill the people of Nineveh, but God wanted to forgive them. The best part is that the people of Nineveh listened to him and changed their lives! Now, I’m happy that they believe in Me and I don’t have to destroy them.”. The Prophet Jonah seems almost comical in his relationship with God, except for one thing: The souls of over 100,000 people were at stake. Jonah’s story is about someone being rescued by God. That’s the same thing God told Jonah to do before, isn’t it? Notice all through this story that, although Jonah was God's servant, he was always thinking about himself. Jonah then marched east of the city and sat and waited for it to be destroyed. As he had mercy on the evil people of Nineveh, he is merciful to us. Ancient records from Assyria boast of this kind of … Here are five lessons from Jonah on God’s mercy. Then, God said, “Jonah, go preach to the people of Nineveh. It tells of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah son of Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. The people believed Jonah, turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them. (No. Stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Basilica throughout the year. Be transformed through the power and beauty of music in the Roman Catholic Liturgy. Discover the rich history of America’s Catholic Church — A Century in the Making. Everyone, blow as hard as you can to show what the wind was like. 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast Washington, D.C. 20017. This is the only time in the OT where Israel is commanded to actively pursue the Gentiles. You can also give an instruction that doesn’t match your motion to catch kids off guard. The people on the boat throw Jonah into the sea to stop it. Use this children’s Sunday School lesson about Jonah to teach kids about the need to obey God and the richness of God’s forgiveness. Before we can answer that we need to back up and look at the story. Jonah is the most widely known of the Minor Prophets, the last 12 books of the Old Testament. God protected Jonah and saved him, not because he was such a good man, but because he wanted to teach him a great lesson. And that’s the story of Jonah. However, Jonah decides he will go in a different direction than God directed. The Story Of Jonah. They speculate that the whale's stomach acid bleached Jonah's hair, skin, and clothing a … It is HIS divine will that young people come to faith in Jesus Christ and find salvation through the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to faith. Jonah was very happy with the plant. God, we thank You for being a good God and caring about all people. The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular children's stories. In reality, we are both Jonah and Nineveh. T he book of Jonah is an Old Testament story which tells about how the prophet Jonah refused to follow the Lord. Jonah’s story would have turned their worldview upside down as they saw his righteousness be surpassed by the pagan sailors. Aren’t you glad God always gives us a second chance too? I didn’t want to destroy them. Jonah (A4 British) pdf. Jonah 1-2 Acknowledge our sin ; Jonah 2 Accept God’s Discipline ; Jonah 2 Repent ; Jonah 3 Act on God’s direction; Whenever we are in a situation where we have turned our back on God it’s important to follow these four steps. Jonah got onto a boat that was going in the opposite direction of Nineveh! The point of the story is that God can provide a supernatural means of rescue when his people are in trouble. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Key Points: God calls people to repent. Maybe he used Jonah because Jonah needed God’… Jonah Flees From the Lord. A storm comes. ADDRESS: Ministry-To-Children In the end, God won and Jonah went to Nineveh to preach. Jonah only wanted God’s mercy for Israel, not its enemies. Would God … But God was forgiving, both of the Prophet Jonah and the sinful people Jonah preached to. Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh. Jonah wanted God to send fire down from Heaven to destroy their city and burn them up. God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Samuel 8-10) Lesson #19 in What is God Like? International Standard Version The LORD God prepared a vine plant, and it grew over Jonah to shade his head and provide relief from his misery. We believe that God is the loving Father of all kids. As Jesus says in Matthew 12:40: Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of God during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (2 Kings 14:24-25)—between 792 and 753 B.C. Encounter Christ and His Mother through Sacred Liturgy, Sacrament, and Devotion at Mary’s Shrine. But Jonah did want the people of Nineveh to die, and he didn’t want to preach to them. Tell them that they better start believing in Me and doing the right things I want them to do or else I’m going to send fire down from Heaven to destroy their city and burn them up.”. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Jonah knew that it was God who had sent the storm and he knew that it was because he was disobeying God. To what people or groups are you sometimes tempted to see yourself as superior: other races or nationalities, … The book of Jonah is full of God’s grace and mercy and it is a story we need. View the previous biblical figures post on Ruth and Naomi. Jonah, of all people, gets mad that God would show kindness to these people. Jonah’s name means “dove”; and his commission, as recorded in the book of Jonah, was to convey a message from God to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.The book of Jonah gives no indication of his prophetic activity in the land of Israel. Gain insight into the Basilica through interviews, introductions, videos, and more. Have each group decide on and act out a scene in which someone can be nice to a person who’s been mean to them. God always forgives us and gives us more chances to believe in Him and to obey Him. So, he got on a boat and went far away from Nineveh instead of going to Nineveh as God told him to. Jonah’s Unwillingness Jonah is depicted in the ceiling of the West Apse of the Crypt Church APPLY—The Israelites of Jonah’s day had taken the distinction of being God’s people and construed from that a mindset of superiority to the surrounding nations. 1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Even though he still didn’t like the people of Nineveh, Jonah went and preached to them and warned them to start believing in God and doing the right things or else God would destroy them. Once again, instead of giving Jonah what he deserves, God instead gives him an object lesson about his grace, mercy, and sovereignty. But God made the storm even stronger, so the men had to throw Jonah into the sea. And everyone on the boat was so afraid. Jonah (Letter USA) pdf. As Christians, God has shown us incredible grace and mercy in the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. You can also find this lesson for Kindle or in print in my book, Kings and Prophets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The LORD God made a plant grow up beside Jonah to give him shade and make him more comfortable. The wind was blowing…. Jonah told the other sailors, “If you want the storm to stop, you have to throw me overboard into the sea.”. While the ship heads out to sea Jonah decides to take a nap. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. They were to have a passive witness. The story of Jonah is one with unusual characters: an unwilling witness, a giant fish, and an evil nation. But Jonah disobeyed, taking a ship to Tarshish ­– a city in the exact opposite direction. But Jonah didn’t want to go preach to the people of Nineveh. Though Jonah couldn’t see it, throughout each step of his journey, he was a willing recipient of God’s small mercies. Jonah didn’t like this special job and so Jonah decided to run away. We believe that children and parents benefit from a  strong Christian education program in the church. We can take comfort in the fact that, no matter what mistakes we make, we are in no way powerful enough to spoil God’s plan! When Jonah responded again in anger, the Lord reprimanded him: But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry over the gourd plant?” Jonah answered, “I have a right to be angry—angry enough to die.” Then the Lord said, “You are concerned over the gourd plant which cost you no effort and which you did not grow; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. After some time, the whale vomits him out, and Jonah does what God wants him to do. But he didn’t always support the things God supported. Most of these book were written to the people of Israel and Judah, but Jonah, Obadiah, and Nahum are more concerned with surrounding nations. One might expect Jonah to be happy that Nineveh turned from its wickedness, but he was angry when he learned that God was not going to destroy Nineveh. Like a puzzle where every piece is unique and important to create a wonderful picture, we each have a part to play in God’s story which He wants us … I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, repenting of punishment. Like a puzzle where every piece is unique and important to create a wonderful picture, we each have a part to play in God’s story which He wants us … God’s Covenant with Abraham mentioned that through Abraham’s descendants God would bless the nations, but no Israelite is ever commanded to go to the nations and tell them about God. God always wants to forgive people instead of punishing them, and if people will believe in God and start doing the right things that He wants them to do, then God will forgive them. Have students line up at one side of the room. Students try to launch their action figure (Jonah) into the trashcan (fish’s mouth) using only their blanket (waves of the sea). God was happy that the people started believing in Him and so He did not destroy them. Jonah preached to Nineveh and warned them to repent before the city is destroyed in 40 days. Every kids church ministry deserves the very best resources for teaching God’s Word, even when they don’t have the financial resources. The story of Jonah is one with unusual characters: an unwilling witness, a giant fish, and an evil nation. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. The city is known for its wickedness and had a reputation for being cruel that is hard for us to fathom. So, he boards a ship headed to Joppa. Nineveh was part of Assyria, a violent pagan nation, known for torturing its enemies. We need to obey God. Jonah reacted in anger because he wanted revenge; he wanted the Nineveh to be destroyed. This post is the second installment in the Basilica’s Biblical Figures series, which highlights the stories of the individuals throughout the Scriptures who are portrayed in “America’s Catholic Church.” While some of them inspire us with their unwavering faithfulness, others serve as sober reminders of the consequences of sin. Please use our childrens ministry curriculum and Sunday School material for any purpose that brings honor to Jesus. Some scholars believe the Ninevites paid attention to Jonah because of his bizarre appearance. Every week, thousands of churches use our Bible lessons, craft ideas, printable resources, and coloring pages to teach kids the Christian faith. But God is rich in mercy and will save all who call on him. 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish ().He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. He doesn’t do what God wants him to do, sailing away in a different direction. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. The Lord saved him from drowning, he protected him as he preached to those in Nineveh, and he grew a plant for him so he wouldn’t die of heatstroke. Students who are out wait there until the end of the round and then, join back in. It merely begins with an … Jonah, had he not been eaten by the fish, would no doubt have drowned. Jonah listened to God this time and went to Nineveh. These messengers are called prophets. We can learn from Jonah’s mistakes. Jonah now became … God gave Jonah a second chance (and more). Needed: Bibles, towel or blanket, action figure or doll or stuffed animal, trashcan or bucket or box. That’s why I sent you to preach to them. A massive storm came upon the ship, causing the crew to cast lots to discover who was to blame, and the lot fell on Jonah. 430 Oak St. Sellersburg, IN 47172, © 2021 Ministry-To-Children.com | Read our, Lesson: Elisha is Merciful to His Enemies, Sunday School Lesson (Luke 14:25-35) Counting the Cost. ), God said, “Jonah, you should not be mad. Jonah 4:2-4 describes: He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? Jonah was happy—indeed, he was ecstatic—about the vine plant. Through Jonah’s journey with God, we can discover a bigger story- the story of God’s love and mercy for the whole world! Josiah was a faithful king who followed God's word no matter what. During the time of the Old Testament, the Bible didn’t exist like it does today. Though it may seem strange and abrupt, the ending summarizes what is at the heart of this small Old Testament book: God’s mercy. Jonah was adamantly opposed to proclaiming God’s word to the Ninevites. He didn’t let him run away, and he didn’t let him drown. We are not to view ourselves as better than those who are different from us – instead, we are to see others as God sees them: sinners in need of a Savior, just like us. We should be eager to share his Gospel with others, that they, too, may understand God’s power and mercy. God still used him to proclaim his truth. Lesson Guide – Jonah . Yet Jonah was unwilling to show that same mercy to the people of Nineveh. When God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah turned and went in the opposite direction. The Basilica is open 365 days a year and hosts nearly one million visitors annually. But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. Do you think it was nice for Jonah to want the people of Nineveh to die? 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