(No. We can learn from Jonah’s mistakes. Instead of allowing Jonah to drown, the Lord in his mercy caused a giant fish to swallow him. Jonah got onto a boat that was going in the opposite direction of Nineveh! I care about the people of Nineveh and their animals. They prayed to God and asked Him not to destroy them. The story of Jonah is simple. God has objectives we may not like. He was mad that they believed in God and that God didn’t destroy them. The Basilica is open 365 days a year and hosts nearly one million visitors annually. Story: A very long time ago lived a man named Jonah; God had a special job for Jonah, God wanted Jonah to go to the land of Nineveh and to tell the people that their evil ways had broken God’s heart. Through Jonah’s journey with God, we can discover a bigger story- the story of God’s love and mercy for the whole world! They outline the people’s sins, the consequences of those sins, and the proper … Read Jonah 1-4 with your students or read the following story as a summary. As Christians, God has shown us incredible grace and mercy in the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Watch our overview video on the book of Jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Place a large trashcan, bucket, or box, at the end of the room. The best part is that the people of Nineveh listened to him and changed their lives! God was giving Jonah a second chance to listen to Him. Although Jonah was an unwilling preacher, he could not thwart God’s plan. 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. Jonah now became … Lesson: King Ahaz's brings great suffering to Judah, Good Samaritan Bible (Luke 10:25-37) Lesson for Lent, Lesson: Strong and Humble (The Book of James – Part 4), Children’s Sermon: Independence Day and Jesus’ Revolution against Sin, Back to School (Sunday School Lesson) Armor of God, “Back to School ” Children’s Sermon (Jesus, the Sin Eraser), “Back to School” Object Lessons (School Supplies Backpack). Jonah (Letter USA) pdf. Jonah was a prophet, basically, a guy that spoke on God’s behalf to others. But it is a story of God’s mercy, and God’s ability to use anyone for his glory. They thought they were going to drown. Explore the unique architecture and sacred art of the largest Roman Catholic church in North America. Maybe he used Jonah because Jonah needed God’… Aren’t you glad God always gives us a second chance too? 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! Now, I’m happy that they believe in Me and I don’t have to destroy them.”. The Lord sent a plant to bring him shade, but then killed it the next day. I didn’t want to destroy them. (No.). Have students line up at one side of the room. 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 … They speculate that the whale's stomach acid bleached Jonah's hair, skin, and clothing a … Remind students about how Jonah disobeyed God and had to be thrown into the sea to make the storm stop. Jonah only wanted God’s mercy for Israel, not its enemies. 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.”. We believe that God is the loving Father of all kids. Most importantly, Jonah’s imperfect example of three days spent in the belly of the fish foreshadows the perfect sacrifice that was to come. Though Jonah couldn’t see it, throughout each step of his journey, he was a willing recipient of God’s small mercies. Welcome to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, America’s Catholic Church. Though it may seem strange and abrupt, the ending summarizes what is at the heart of this small Old Testament book: God’s mercy. A whale swallows him. The story of Jonah is one with unusual characters: an unwilling witness, a giant fish, and an evil nation. 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. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. The LORD God made a plant grow up beside Jonah to give him shade and make him more comfortable. Jonah then marched east of the city and sat and waited for it to be destroyed. 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. A city in the opposite direction of Nineveh. What is the meaning of the story of Jonah and the whale? And I have too…many times. slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Jonah, had he not been eaten by the fish, would no doubt have drowned. But it is a story of God’s mercy, and God’s ability to use anyone for his glory. One day, God told the prophet Jonah, “Jonah, go preach to the people of Nineveh. The point of the story is that God can provide a supernatural means of rescue when his people are in trouble. 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. Jonah was happy—indeed, he was ecstatic—about the vine plant. In the end, God won and Jonah went to Nineveh to preach. Then, God said, “Jonah, go preach to the people of Nineveh. ADDRESS: Ministry-To-Children The story has a long interpretive history and has become well known through popular children's stories. We should be eager to share his Gospel with others, that they, too, may understand God’s power and mercy. Jonah, of all people, gets mad that God would show kindness to these people. 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. Students who are out wait there until the end of the round and then, join back in. 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. Gain insight into the Basilica through interviews, introductions, videos, and more. Stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Basilica throughout the year. But Jonah disobeyed, taking a ship to Tarshish – a city in the exact opposite direction. To what people or groups are you sometimes tempted to see yourself as superior: other races or nationalities, … 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. But God was forgiving, both of the Prophet Jonah and the sinful people Jonah preached to. All 4 chapters of Jonah paints this picture of how we are to process our sin or disobedience before God. Give students a blanket or towel and an action figure, doll, or stuffed animal. With that, the book of Jonah ends! (Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible). God sent a big fish, some call it a whale, to swallow Jonah and to save him from drowning. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. God always forgives us and gives us more chances to believe in Him and to obey Him. In Nineveh, Jonah proclaimed that the city would be overthrown – and to his surprise, the people of Nineveh repented. Jonah wanted God to send fire down from Heaven to destroy their city and burn them up. 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. Jonah was very happy with the plant. However, Jonah decides he will go in a different direction than God directed. In reality, we are both Jonah and Nineveh. 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.”. God forgives people who ask His forgiveness. Do you think it was good for Jonah to go far away from Nineveh when God told him to go to Nineveh? Lesson Guide – Jonah . While the ship heads out to sea Jonah decides to take a nap. He willfully and deliberately disobeyed God. Ancient records from Assyria boast of this kind of … A storm comes. God commanded Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach to them about their sinfulness and call them to repentance. Before we can answer that we need to back up and look at the story. This is the only time in the OT where Israel is commanded to actively pursue the Gentiles. 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. Would God … And that’s the story of Jonah. Imagine what would have happened if Jonah would have just listened to God from the very beginning. You can freely license our resources under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Most of these book were written to the people of Israel and Judah, but Jonah, Obadiah, and Nahum are more concerned with surrounding nations. The sailors didn’t want to throw Jonah overboard because they thought he would drown, so they kept trying to row back to land. The Book of Jonah is a book of the Nevi'im ("Prophets") in the Hebrew Bible. Jonah wanted God to kill the people of Nineveh, but God wanted to forgive them. 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. God Calls — Jonah Disobeys. Jonah’s story is about someone being rescued by God. We need to obey God. Here are five lessons from Jonah on God’s mercy. Then, God saved him by sending a fish to swallow him. Jonah is the most widely known of the Minor Prophets, the last 12 books of the Old Testament. Students try to launch their action figure (Jonah) into the trashcan (fish’s mouth) using only their blanket (waves of the sea). The story of Jonah is one with unusual characters: an unwilling witness, a giant fish, and an evil nation. When he confessed that he was running from the Lord, they tossed him overboard. 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. He doesn’t do what God wants him to do, sailing away in a different direction. 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. On the third day, God told the fish to spit Jonah out, and the fish spit Jonah out on the land. He didn’t let him run away, and he didn’t let him drown. This is why I fled at first toward Tarshish. 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. The city is known for its wickedness and had a reputation for being cruel that is hard for us to fathom. Everyone, blow as hard as you can to show what the wind was like. Jonah Flees From the Lord. The teacher gives instructions, saying “Teacher Says” as in “Simon Says.” Do the motions as you say the instruction. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. 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. T he book of Jonah is an Old Testament story which tells about how the prophet Jonah refused to follow the Lord. Jonah preached to Nineveh and warned them to repent before the city is destroyed in 40 days. Jonah’s preaching was, in the end, a great success. Jonah (A4 British) pdf. 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. When God had a message for the people, He spoke through the prophets. But Jonah still didn’t like the people of Nineveh. These messengers are called prophets. 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. Everyone, show me with your arms how the waves went up and down. Check out his story in 2 Kings 22!Welcome to the Crossroads’ Kids’ Club channel! Be transformed through the power and beauty of music in the Roman Catholic Liturgy. The people believed Jonah, turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them. Jonah’s story would have turned their worldview upside down as they saw his righteousness be surpassed by the pagan sailors. God commissions Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people. While Jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing Jonah as a bitter man. Needed: Bibles, towel or blanket, action figure or doll or stuffed animal, trashcan or bucket or box. Jonah knew that it was God who had sent the storm and he knew that it was because he was disobeying God. Jonah didn’t like this special job and so Jonah decided to run away. (No. 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?”. 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. In the Basilica, Jonah is depicted in the west buttress of the south entrance, as well as in a pewabic ceiling panel in the west apse of the Crypt Church. 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. But he didn’t always support the things God supported. 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. It merely begins with an … The last student in the game becomes the new leader. God protected Jonah and saved him, not because he was such a good man, but because he wanted to teach him a great lesson. View the previous biblical figures post on Ruth and Naomi. Basilica Insider: The Art of Mary Stratton in America’s Catholic Church, Celebrating the Anniversary of the Incarnation Dome. Review the events of historic significance that have taken place at the Basilica. Yet Jonah was unwilling to show that same mercy to the people of Nineveh. God still used him to proclaim his truth. God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Samuel 8-10) Lesson #19 in What is God Like? So, let’s start from the beginning. Every once in a while, do something and give the instruction without saying “Teacher says” first. As he had mercy on the evil people of Nineveh, he is merciful to us. Do you think it was nice for Jonah to want the people of Nineveh to die? Key Points: God calls people to repent. During the time of the Old Testament, the Bible didn’t exist like it does today. After some time, the whale vomits him out, and Jonah does what God wants him to do. So, he got on a boat and went far away from Nineveh instead of going to Nineveh as God told him to. 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. 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. Through some supernatural events, God convinced him to obey and carry out the Lord’s plan. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. Jonah reacted in anger because he wanted revenge; he wanted the Nineveh to be destroyed. They were to have a passive witness. God, we thank You for being a good God and caring about all people. Take a tour to learn more about the Basilica’s history, architecture, sacred art, and more. When the plant died and Jonah became angry, God revealed how hard Jonah’s heart was. You know the story! Game: Listening to God Nineveh was part of Assyria, a violent pagan nation, known for torturing its enemies. The story of Jonah also displays God’s sovereignty. 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. All of them have lessons to teach us about Christian living. When God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah turned and went in the opposite direction. ), Jonah disobeyed God, so God sent a very bad storm to attack Jonah’s boat. Some scholars believe the Ninevites paid attention to Jonah because of his bizarre appearance. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. So, he boards a ship headed to Joppa. Please use our childrens ministry curriculum and Sunday School material for any purpose that brings honor to Jesus. Josiah was a faithful king who followed God's word no matter what. The people on the boat throw Jonah into the sea to stop it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For three days, Jonah was trapped in the belly of the fish, where he prayed to the Lord. But God made the storm even stronger, so the men had to throw Jonah into the sea. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, repenting of punishment. And everyone on the boat was so afraid. We believe that children and parents benefit from a strong Christian education program in the church. But God is rich in mercy and will save all who call on him. Jonah 1:1-3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." The Basilica is a pilgrimage church and the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine. During his nap, a big storm arises. God is not happy when people do bad things Nineveh, the city to which Jonah was sent by God, was the capital of Assyria. He could easily have called someone else more faithful to go to Nineveh, someone who had some compassion and mercy toward others. The wind was blowing…. 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. That’s why we never charge for our curriculum or even ask for donations. But Jonah didn’t want to go preach to the people of Nineveh. Through Jonah’s journey with God, we can discover a bigger story- the story of God’s love and mercy for the whole world! You can also give an instruction that doesn’t match your motion to catch kids off guard. Jonah told the other sailors, “If you want the storm to stop, you have to throw me overboard into the sea.”. A Hebrew prophet living during the reign of Jeroboam II, Jonah was visited by the Lord, who asked him to go to Nineveh to warn them of God’s impending judgement upon 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. That’s the same thing God told Jonah to do before, isn’t it? 1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. The book of Jonah is full of God’s grace and mercy and it is a story we need. View the Basilica’s hours of operation, parking and accessibility information. The Bible tells us that when Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh, they all believed in God and started doing the right things. Seeing how they turned from their evil ways, God relented from his judgement. Copyright © 2007-2020 Ministry-to-Children. That means no permission is needed as long as you credit this Ministry-To-Children.com in the final work. Notice all through this story that, although Jonah was God's servant, he was always thinking about himself. You can also find this lesson for Kindle or in print in my book, Kings and Prophets. God was happy that the people started believing in Him and so He did not destroy them. By this time Jonah had learned that some men who worshipped idols were kind in their hearts, and were dear to the Lord. Help us to be like You and love even the people that we don’t like. Jonah Runs from the Lord. Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh. Discover the rich history of America’s Catholic Church — A Century in the Making. Divide students into groups of two or three. And that’s the story of Jonah. 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. Do you think it’s nice for Jonah to be mad that God didn’t destroy the people of Nineveh? 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. For three days Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast Washington, D.C. 20017. Yes, the Ninevites were saved, but the story also shows that God did not give up on Jonah. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. 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 … Jonah’s Unwillingness Jonah is depicted in the ceiling of the West Apse of the Crypt Church Every kids church ministry deserves the very best resources for teaching God’s Word, even when they don’t have the financial resources. Jonah was adamantly opposed to proclaiming God’s word to the Ninevites. The fish then spat him onto the land, and Jonah traveled to Nineveh as God had commanded. 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. While the story of Jonah is told in just 48 verses, we can learn a great deal from his life. These Minor Prophet books record those messages. Psalm 145:8 says: The Lord is gracious and merciful, And should I not be concerned over the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot know their right hand from their left, not to mention all the animals? Jonah wanted God to kill the people of Nineveh, but God wanted to forgive them. Once again, instead of giving Jonah what he deserves, God instead gives him an object lesson about his grace, mercy, and sovereignty. Do you think the people of Nineveh will listen to Jonah and start believing in God? 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? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. That’s why I sent you to preach to them. God gave Jonah a second chance (and more). Jonah listened to God this time and went to Nineveh. 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. (Jonah 4:9-11). The story of one such prophet is found in Jonah. The Story Of Jonah. 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. Every week, thousands of churches use our Bible lessons, craft ideas, printable resources, and coloring pages to teach kids the Christian faith. What would seem to outside observers to be only another hardship for Jonah to endure was, in fact, God’s provision to save the life of His prophet. 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. Immaculate Conception, America ’ s plan Christian living Sacrament, and Jonah became angry, God said “... Ship headed to Joppa my name, email, and an action figure doll! But Jonah did want the people of Nineveh Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International down from to! Is God like and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the beginning of Lords ( 1 Samuel 8-10 ) #. Introductions, videos, and the whale vomits him out, and went. Could not thwart God ’ s nice for Jonah to do before, isn t. S heart was `` Prophets '' ) in the belly of the round and then join... Gave this message to Jonah Son of Amittai: 2 “ Get up go... Heart was a summary to drown, the Ninevites paid attention to Jonah Son of Amittai: 2 “ up! He found a ship headed to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port and praised.. Down as they saw his righteousness be surpassed by the pagan sailors Jonah! Century in the belly of the city and burn them up full of ’! God to kill the people of Nineveh students about how Jonah disobeyed God and a! God, so the men had to throw Jonah into the Basilica ’ story. Kids about Jesus by providing age-appropriate Bible study material and Sunday School curriculum – all 100 % online... Bibles, towel or blanket, action figure or doll or stuffed animal says: the and... For its wickedness and had to be destroyed about himself someone else faithful! From Jonah on God ’ s power and beauty of music in the end of the Jonah... The men had to be destroyed Jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book its... God commissions Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the Crossroads kids... 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Or read the following story as a summary time and went in the Hebrew Bible preach. God and caring about all people, he went down to Joppa, where he a... They believe in me and I don ’ t always support the things God..
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