Mesa Valley Church of Christ Grand Junction, Colorado
Illustration for Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Old Testament people Ages 4–9 Story 14 of 25

Jonah · ESV memory verse below

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Who is this?

Jonah was a prophet. At first he ran from the LORD’s call to warn Nineveh.

What happened?

God sent Jonah to a wicked city. After a storm and a great fish, Jonah went. Nineveh turned, and God showed mercy—because salvation belongs to the LORD.

The story

The word of the LORD came to Jonah: “Get up, go to Nineveh… and call out against it.” Jonah got up—to run to Tarshish, away from the LORD. He paid the fare and went down into the ship.

The LORD sent a great wind on the sea. The sailors were afraid. Jonah said, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.” So they did—and the sea grew calm. The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah.

Jonah prayed from inside the fish. He remembered that salvation belongs to the LORD. Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it put Jonah out on dry land. A second time God said, “Get up, go to Nineveh.”

Jonah went and gave God’s warning. The people of Nineveh believed God. They turned from their evil way. God saw and held back the disaster. He is merciful—even toward people Jonah found hard to love—and He wants our hearts to match His mercy.

Memory verse (ESV)

Salvation belongs to the LORD!

Jonah 2:9

Talk about it

Ages ~4–7

  1. Did Jonah obey the first time?
  2. What swallowed Jonah?

Ages ~8–12

  1. What does “Salvation belongs to the LORD” mean?
  2. How does this story show both judgment and mercy?
  3. How can our family grow a heart like God’s toward people far from Him?

Family activity

Draw a big fish. Inside, write “I will obey.” Talk about mercy for people we may not like.

Parent take-home

Read Jonah 1–3 (or Jonah 1 and 3 if short on time). Jonah ran; God pursued with a storm and a great fish; Nineveh turned, and God showed mercy. Practice Jonah 2:9—“Salvation belongs to the LORD!”—and pray for one person you find hard to love.

Talk on the way home

  1. Where did God send Jonah, and where did he try to go?
  2. What did Jonah learn inside the fish?
  3. Why was God kind to Nineveh?

More family reading ideas: family Bible study guides.

Print coloring and activities (PDF) All children’s stories

In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (count). Count out loud together, then write the number big.

For parents and teachers

Children remember the fish; do not stop there. The book ends with God’s question about pity. Talk about running from God’s word, about repentance, and about loving people we would rather write off.