Jonah and the Whale – Jonah 1-4 Moral Lesson for Children

The Story of Jonah and the Whale

Use this overview of Jonah 1 to 4 to plan a Sunday school or children’s church lesson on obeying God and on His mercy. The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most well-known and intriguing tales in the Bible. It tells the story of Jonah, a prophet who was instructed by God to go to the city of Nineveh and warn its people of their impending destruction due to their wickedness. However, instead of obeying God’s command, Jonah tries to flee in the opposite direction by boarding a ship headed for Tarshish.

As Jonah is sailing away, the LORD hurls a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arises that the ship is in danger of breaking apart (Jonah 1:4). The sailors cry out in fear and throw the cargo overboard. When the lot falls on Jonah, he tells them to throw him into the sea so that it will quiet down for them (Jonah 1:12). They do, and the raging sea grows calm. Then the LORD appoints a great fish, often called a whale, to swallow Jonah, and he spends three days and three nights in its belly (Jonah 1:17). At the LORD’s command, the fish vomits Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10).

Jonah’s Disobedience and Its Consequences

Jonah’s story serves as a reminder of the consequences that can arise from disobedience. When God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and proclaim its impending destruction, Jonah chose to turn away from the Lord’s command. He embarked on a ship heading in the opposite direction, seeking to escape his responsibility. However, Jonah quickly learned that disobedience does not come without consequences.

As Jonah sailed away, the LORD sent a great wind, and the ship was in danger of breaking apart. The sailors were afraid. They cast lots to find out who was to blame for the trouble, and the lot fell on Jonah (Jonah 1:7). They asked him who he was and where he came from, and Jonah told them he worshiped the LORD, the God who made the sea and the dry land. The men were even more afraid, because he had told them he was running away from the LORD (Jonah 1:9-10). Then they asked him, “What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?” (BSB, Jonah 1:11)

Jonah’s Journey on the Ship

When Jonah boarded the ship, he was running from the LORD. “Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” (BSB, Jonah 1:3)

Then the storm came, and God was the one who sent it: “Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.” (BSB, Jonah 1:4) The sailors cried out, each to his own god, and they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the ship, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain found him there and told him to get up and call on his God, in case this God would take notice of them and spare them (Jonah 1:5-6).

The Storm and Jonah Thrown Overboard

The sea kept growing worse and worse. Jonah gave them his answer. “Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.” (BSB, Jonah 1:12) Jonah did not hide that the storm was tied to his running away.

The sailors did not want to do it. They rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not (Jonah 1:13). So they cried out to the LORD and asked Him not to let them die on account of this man’s life (Jonah 1:14). Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, “and the raging sea grew calm.” (BSB, Jonah 1:15) The men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him (Jonah 1:16). The only sacrifice in this part of the story is the one the sailors offered to the LORD.

Jonah Inside the Great Fish

“Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.” (BSB, Jonah 1:17)

The Bible says a great fish, though many people say whale, and that is why this page uses both words. The fish was not an accident. The LORD appointed it. The Bible tells us nothing about how the inside of the fish looked or smelled, so none of that is added here. What the Bible does tell us is what Jonah did there: he prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish (Jonah 2:1).

Jonah’s Prayer from the Fish

Jonah’s prayer is written down in Jonah 2. It is a prayer of thanks to God for hearing him. Jonah says, “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.” (BSB, Jonah 2:2)

He also says, “But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!” (BSB, Jonah 2:6) The prayer ends with these words: “But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” (BSB, Jonah 2:9) Jonah is looking to God as the One who saves. Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10).

God’s Mercy and Forgiveness

Jonah’s story is a picture of God’s mercy. Jonah ran from what God told him to do, but God did not give up on him. The LORD sent the wind, appointed the fish, and then spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” (BSB, Jonah 3:2) The second chance came from God.

God’s mercy reached beyond Jonah. When the people of Nineveh turned from their evil ways, God “relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.” (BSB, Jonah 3:10) Even Jonah knew what God is like. He prayed, “You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion” (BSB, Jonah 4:2), and he knew God relents from sending disaster.

What Happens in Nineveh and in Jonah 4

God spoke to Jonah a second time, and this time Jonah went to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-3). He warned the city. The people turned from their evil ways, and God showed them mercy (Jonah 3:4-10).

In Jonah 4, Jonah is angry that God forgave Nineveh. God uses a plant to teach him that He cares about the people of that city, and its animals too (Jonah 4:1-11).

In this, God brings glory to himself and shows mercy on the great city of Nineveh. So, when you teach Jonah, remember that God is the hero – not the fish.

Tony Kummer, founder of Ministry-to-Children, writing in 2007

The Sign of Jonah and Jesus

Jesus pointed back to Jonah. He said, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (BSB, Matthew 12:39-40)

Jonah could not save the sailors or the people of Nineveh. God did the saving. Jesus is the greater One: He died for our sins and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus also said, “The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.” (BSB, Matthew 12:41) We listen to God because He has already shown us mercy in Jesus, not to earn His love.

Lessons on Compassion and Second Chances

The story of Jonah and the whale is not just a tale of disobedience and punishment; it also teaches us important lessons about compassion and second chances. Despite Jonah’s initial refusal to follow God’s command, we see how God shows mercy and offers him another opportunity to fulfill his purpose. This highlights the importance of compassion towards others, even those who may have made mistakes or poor choices. It reminds us that everyone needs a second chance, just as Jonah received mercy from God. Through this, we are reminded to approach others with empathy and to offer them the same compassion and second chances that we would hope to receive ourselves.

Jonah’s time in the fish also shows that God rescues. Jonah prayed from inside the fish and said that God had heard him and raised his life from the pit (Jonah 2:2, 2:6). Then God gave him a second chance to go to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-3). But the story also shows that Jonah did not share God’s compassion. When God spared Nineveh, Jonah was “greatly displeased” and became angry (BSB, Jonah 4:1). God answered him with a question about the city: “should I not care about the great city of Nineveh” (BSB, Jonah 4:11). The story asks us to receive God’s mercy and to care about the people He cares about.

Applying the Moral Lessons from Jonah’s Story

Jonah’s story teaches us valuable moral lessons that can be applied to our own lives. One lesson is to listen to God. Jonah ran from what God told him to do, and the sailors were in danger while he ran. But the story does not end with Jonah’s failure. God sent the wind, appointed the fish, and gave Jonah a second chance. We listen to God because He is merciful, not to earn His love.

Another significant lesson we can draw from Jonah’s story is about compassion and second chances. Despite Jonah’s initial reluctance and disobedience, God showed mercy to him. This reminds us that no matter how far we may have strayed or how grave our mistakes may be, there is always hope for redemption and a chance to start anew. It teaches us to extend the same compassion and forgiveness to others, recognizing that everyone deserves a second chance to make amends and grow spiritually.

The main message of the book of Jonah is that God is gracious and compassionate, even to people we think do not deserve it (Jonah 4:2, 4:11). That is the moral to take away: God is merciful to runaways like Jonah and to people far from Him like Nineveh, and Jesus is the greater One who saves.

What is the story of Jonah and the Whale?

The story of Jonah and the Whale is found in the book of Jonah. God told the prophet Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against it because of its wickedness. Jonah got on a ship to flee to Tarshish instead. The LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and Jonah was thrown overboard. The LORD appointed a great fish, often called a whale, to swallow him (Jonah 1:1-17). After three days and three nights, the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land, and God sent him to Nineveh a second time (Jonah 2:10-3:3).

What happened because Jonah ran from God?

Jonah ran from God’s command, and the sailors were put in danger. The LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and the ship was in danger of breaking apart (Jonah 1:4). The sailors cast lots, the lot fell on Jonah, and they threw him into the sea (Jonah 1:7, 1:15). The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he spent three days and three nights in its belly (Jonah 1:17). God did not stop with the storm and the fish. He spoke to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1).

Can you tell me about Jonah’s journey on the ship?

Jonah went down to Joppa, found a ship bound for Tarshish, paid the fare and went aboard, running away from the LORD (Jonah 1:3). When the storm came, the sailors cried out to their own gods and threw the cargo into the sea. Jonah was asleep in the lowest part of the ship, and the captain told him to get up and call on his God (Jonah 1:5-6).

What happened during the storm when Jonah was thrown overboard?

The sailors cast lots to find out who was to blame, and the lot fell on Jonah (Jonah 1:7). Jonah told them to throw him into the sea so it would quiet down, and he said he knew he was to blame for the storm (Jonah 1:12). The sailors first rowed hard to get back to land, then cried out to the LORD, and then threw Jonah into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm (Jonah 1:13-15).

How long was Jonah inside the whale?

Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish before the LORD commanded it to vomit him onto dry land (Jonah 1:17, 2:10).

What did Jonah pray inside the fish?

Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish (Jonah 2:1). His prayer thanks God for hearing him and raising his life from the pit, and it ends, “Salvation is from the LORD!” (BSB, Jonah 2:9)

What can we learn about God’s mercy from Jonah’s story?

Jonah’s story shows that God is merciful. God did not give up on Jonah. He spoke to him a second time (Jonah 3:1). He also showed mercy to the people of Nineveh when they turned from their evil ways (Jonah 3:10). Jesus pointed to the sign of Jonah when He spoke of His own death and rising (Matthew 12:39-41).

What is the importance of listening to God in Jonah’s story?

Jonah ran from what God told him to do, and others were in danger while he ran. Listening to God matters. The story also shows that God does not leave His people when they fail, and that we listen to Him because He has been merciful to us.

What lessons can we learn about compassion and second chances from Jonah’s story?

God gave Jonah a second chance and showed mercy to Nineveh. Jonah was angry about that mercy (Jonah 4:1), and God asked him whether He should not care about the great city of Nineveh (Jonah 4:11). We are asked to receive God’s mercy and to care about people the way He does.

How can we apply the moral lessons from Jonah’s story in our own lives?

We can listen to God, remembering that He is gracious and compassionate (Jonah 4:2). We can care about people who seem far from God, and we can thank Him for the mercy He has shown us in Jesus.