Have you ever tried to hide from your parents when you were in trouble? Jonah tried to hide from God! But he learned the hard way that you can't run away from God—and that God loves to give second chances.
The Story of Jonah
God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people to stop being bad. But Jonah didn't want to go! He didn't like the people in Nineveh. So, he got on a boat sailing in the opposite direction to run away from God.
Suddenly, a terrible storm hit the sea. The boat rocked back and forth! The sailors were scared. Jonah knew the storm was because of him. He told the sailors, "Throw me into the water, and the storm will stop." As soon as he splashed into the sea, the water became calm.
But Jonah didn't drown. God sent a HUGE fish (some say a whale!) to swallow Jonah. GULP! Jonah sat inside the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. It was dark, smelly, and scary. Jonah prayed and told God he was sorry. God heard him and told the fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land. Then, Jonah went to Nineveh and obeyed God!
What Kids Learn From This Story
- Obedience: It's always better to obey God the first time.
- God is Everywhere: You can't hide from God, no matter where you go.
- Forgiveness: God gave Jonah a second chance, and He gives us second chances too.
Age Guidance
This story is recommended for children ages 4–12.
How to Explain This Story to Kids
Make a "big fish mouth" with your hands and pretend to "swallow" a toy. Explain that God didn't send the fish to hurt Jonah, but to save him from drowning and give him time to think and pray.
Ask your child: "Why do you think it's important to say 'sorry' when we do something wrong?"
Read the Full Story
You can read the full interactive version of this story, with read-aloud audio and quizzes, in the BibleBuddy Kids app.