23 - Jonah and The Great Fish

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. ( 23 )

Jonah and The Great Fish

References

The Book of Jonah.

Notes for Servants

• You cannot seek God'slove and run away from Him at the same time. Jonah soon realized that no
  matter where he went, he could not get away from God.
  
• Jonah had ignored God and rebelled against Him, but God still showed him compassion. When
  we ignore God, He may punish us but He will show compassion and forgive us if we return from our
  sins.
  
• Despite the wickedness of the Ninevite people, they opened their hearts for God's message. We,
  also should open our hearts to His messages every day, and every hour.

Objectives

General: God is everywhere and can see everything.
Specific:
The children will be able to ...
             A. Know that God loves us even when we do bad things.
             B. Find out that God will send somebody to tell us when we do something wrong.
             C. Learn about fasting and confession.

Bible Verse

                                                       "Salvation is of the Lord." Jonah 2:9

Teaching Aids
       Felt figures and flannel board.

Instruction
    (1) Review last week's lesson.
    (2) Who remembers the verse?
    (3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.

Story Time
         Jonah was going about his daily work when God spoke to him. "Jonah," He said. "I want you to
go to Nineveh. The people there are wicked. Tell them that their city and everything in it will be destroyed
within 40 days." "Why choose me, Lord?" Jonah replied. "Why should I, an ordinary Jew in Israel, go
to preach about God to people I don't know, who live far away, and who are not even Jews and don't
believe in You? Besides, You are a kind and merciful God; You would never wipe out a whole city like
that."
         He decided not to go. He was afraid of God's anger and tried to escape by going on board a ship
bound for Tarshish, in the opposite direction of Nineveh. The ship set sail and Jonah fell asleep. Suddenly
a great storm blew up and the captain shook Jonah awake. "Come," he said. "Perhaps's your God who
is angry with us." Jonah prayed, but the storm grew worse. "Look," he said to the sailors, "I know it's my
fault; you had better throw me overboard." The sailors did not want to do that, so they rowed hard, trying
to get back to land, but the hurricane blew more fiercely than ever, so they threw Jonah overboard.
          The winds died down at once. At first, Jonah floated on the waves, but not long. A great fish,
like a whale, came and swallowed him up, and for three days and three nights he lay inside its belly. Then
the fish spat him out, onto the beach.
         Again God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, and this time he obeyed at once. He arrived at
the great city and walked through the streets, calling out, "In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed!"
         The people who heard him were afraid, for they believed in God's power. They took Jonah to the
king, and the king ordered that every man and woman in the city pray for forgiveness for their
wickedness, to fast, and resolve to begin a new life. God was pleased with their fast and prayers that He
spared Nineveh. God taught Jonah that he has to obey Him in everything.

Discussion
     1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
     2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities
      Colouring Page.