Jonah And The Big Fish Bible Story For Kids

Jonah And The Big Fish Bible Story For Kids, also known as Jonah and the whale, is a well-known account from the Old Testament of the Bible. It tells the tale of the prophet Jonah, who is swallowed by a great fish after attempting to flee from God's command (Jonah 1-4).

Jonah And The Big Fish Bible Story

Once upon a time in the ancient city of Nineveh, there lived a man named Jonah, who was a prophet of the Lord. Nineveh was a city filled with wickedness and sin, and the Lord saw that its inhabitants needed to repent and turn from their evil ways.

One day, the Lord spoke to Jonah and commanded him to go to Nineveh and warn the people of their impending destruction if they did not repent. Jonah, however, was afraid and unwilling to heed the Lord's command. Instead of journeying to Nineveh, he boarded a ship headed for Tarshish, hoping to escape from the Lord's presence.

Jonah's Reluctance and Escape

As the ship sailed away, the Lord sent a great storm upon the sea, and the waves grew more and more fierce. The sailors, terrified and desperate, began to pray to their gods for salvation. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone below deck and had fallen into a deep sleep, oblivious to the chaos above.

The Storm at Sea

The ship's captain found Jonah and woke him up, imploring him to pray to his God for mercy. The sailors cast lots to determine who was responsible for the storm, and the lot fell upon Jonah. They questioned him about his identity and the reason for the tempest, and Jonah confessed that he was fleeing from the Lord and that the storm was a result of his disobedience.

Jonah's Confession and Sacrifice

Fearing for their lives, the sailors asked Jonah what they should do to calm the sea. Jonah, knowing that he was the cause of their suffering, told them to throw him overboard. The sailors, hesitant to harm an innocent man, tried to row back to shore but the storm only grew more violent.

Finally, seeing no other option, they cried out to the Lord for forgiveness and threw Jonah overboard. Miraculously, the storm subsided and the sea became calm. The sailors, awestruck by the power of the Lord, offered sacrifices and vowed to serve Him.

Jonah Swallowed by the Great Fish

Meanwhile, Jonah found himself sinking into the depths of the sea, his life slipping away. In his time of need, the Lord provided a great fish, which swallowed Jonah whole. For three days and three nights, Jonah remained in the belly of the fish, praying to the Lord for deliverance and promising to obey His commands.

Jonah's Prayer and Deliverance

Hearing Jonah's sincere repentance, the Lord commanded the great fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land. Shaken and humbled, Jonah received the word of the Lord once more, commanding him to go to Nineveh and deliver His message.

Nineveh's Repentance and God's Mercy

This time, Jonah obeyed and traveled to Nineveh, proclaiming the Lord's warning of destruction if the people did not repent. To Jonah's surprise, the people of Nineveh, from the king to the commoners, believed his message and repented in sackcloth and ashes. Seeing their sincere change of heart, the Lord relented from the disaster He had planned and spared the city.

Jonah, however, was not pleased. He had expected the Lord to destroy Nineveh, and he was angry that they had been spared. He went to a hill overlooking the city and built a shelter to wait and see what would happen.

Jonah's Displeasure and the Lesson of the Plant

The Lord, in His wisdom, caused a plant to grow and provide shade for Jonah, easing his discomfort. But the next day, the Lord sent a worm to destroy the plant, leaving Jonah exposed to the scorching sun and wind. Jonah, in his misery, wished for death.

The Lord then spoke to Jonah, asking if it was right for him to be angry about the plant. Jonah insisted that he was justified in his anger, but the Lord used the situation to teach Jonah a valuable lesson. The Lord pointed out that Jonah had shown more concern for the plant, which he had not created or tended to, than for the people of Nineveh, whom the Lord had created and loved.

He reminded Jonah that there were more than 120,000 people in Nineveh who did not know right from wrong, as well as many animals. The Lord's compassion for the people of Nineveh was far greater than Jonah's concern for the plant.

As Jonah pondered the Lord's words, he began to understand the depth of God's mercy and love for His creation. He realized that the Lord's compassion extended not only to the people of Israel but to all nations, including the people of Nineveh. Jonah's heart softened, and he began to see the importance of sharing God's message of redemption and forgiveness with everyone, no matter their past sins or transgressions.

Wrapping Up Lesson

In the end, Jonah's story serves as a powerful reminder of the Lord's love and compassion for all people, even those who have gone astray. It teaches us that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace and that He desires for all to turn from their wicked ways and seek His forgiveness.

Furthermore, this Children's Bible story demonstrates the importance of obeying the Lord's commands, even when it may be difficult or seem unreasonable.

Below we have some coloring pages for the kids to spend time on and also some activities that will help them learn more about this story

Jonah and the Whale Coloring Pages

Explore the tale of Jonah and the Whale with our collection of printable coloring pages. Perfect for children and adults, these pages feature dramatic scenes from the classic biblical story, including Jonah at sea, the awe-inspiring whale, and more.

Jonah and the Whale Activities

The story of Jonah and the Whale is full of dramatic scenes and themes that can be explored through various activities. Here are some ideas suitable for different age groups and settings:

1. Story Reenactment

• Activity: Create costumes and props and act out the story. This can be done in a classroom, at home, or at a community event.
• Learning Outcome: Understanding narrative sequence and character motivation.

2. Whale Origami

• Activity: Use origami techniques to fold paper into a whale shape. You could also create a small figure of Jonah to put inside.
• Learning Outcome: Fine motor skills, following instructions, and spatial understanding.

3. Ocean in a Bottle

• Activity: Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, blue food coloring, glitter, and small fish figurines to create an ocean scene. Add a small Jonah figure to complete the scene.
• Learning Outcome: Sensory experience and understanding of sea life and habitats.

4. Interactive Storybook Creation

• Activity: Children can create their own storybooks with drawings or cut-out pictures to tell the story of Jonah and the Whale.
• Learning Outcome: Creativity, sequencing, and storytelling.

5. Whale Water Play

• Activity: In a water table or large container, simulate the ocean and use a large toy whale and a small human figure to reenact Jonah's journey.
• Learning Outcome: Sensory play, understanding of the story, and cause and effect.

6. Jonah's Prayer Jar

• Activity: Decorate a jar and write prayers or thoughtful messages on pieces of paper to put inside, reflecting on what Jonah might have prayed about in the whale.
• Learning Outcome: Reflection, empathy, and personal expression.

7. "Swallowed by the Whale" Game

• Activity: Create a large whale out of cardboard where kids can crawl inside like being swallowed by the whale.
• Learning Outcome: Physical activity and understanding spatial concepts.

8. Fish and Whale Crafts

• Activity: Use different materials such as paper plates, construction paper, and tissue paper to create fish and whale art.
• Learning Outcome: Artistic expression and fine motor skill development.

9. Jonah and the Whale Puppet Show

• Activity: Create puppets representing Jonah, the Whale, and other story elements and perform a puppet show.
• Learning Outcome: Storytelling, performance skills, and creativity.

10. Discussion and Journaling

• Activity: Have a guided discussion about the themes of the story, such as obedience and repentance, and encourage journaling personal reflections.
• Learning Outcome: Critical thinking, personal introspection, and literacy skills.

These activities can help children and learners of all ages engage with the story of Jonah and the Whale in an interactive and meaningful way, enhancing their understanding of the story and its lessons.