Jonah is a story we have visited before in Jonah: A Toddler Devotion on God’s Mercy. We will be using a lot of the activities from our first visit with this story, but this time around, exploring God’s love through the story of Jonah.
Come pray n’ play with us.
Thoughts for parents
As I have been reading through the story of Jonah, I listened to The Bible Project’s Overview of the Book of Jonah (watch below).
One point brought up in the video that has continued to stick with me is this story is supposed to make us wrestle.
It’s supposed to make us wrestle with how great God’s love is.
The story of Jonah starts with God calling Jonah to preach repentance to Nineveh. Jonah doesn’t want to, and instead runs away, by ship, in the opposite direction. If you grew up a church kid, like me, you may have learned Jonah ran because he was afraid, but we learn something else if we keep reading.
But God loves Nineveh, and won’t let Jonah off the hook. He sends a storm that causes the sailors of the ship to fear God. Jonah, stubborn as ever, suggests he get thrown into the sea. And what do you know, it calms the storm. And God, rich in love and mercy, causes a fish to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning at sea.
After 3 days, Jonah prays, and the the fish spits Jonah up in the direction of Nineveh. Jonah reluctantly goes, and preaches the shortest sermon ever, calling the people to repent, and then leaves.
Here’s the thing, the people of Nineveh were supposed to be so wicked, but even with Jonah’s bare-minimun sermon they repent and turn to God. You would think this would be something to rejoice over. But instead, Jonah sulks. He wanted God to smite the people. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh because of fear, but because of hatred. And he was angry God had saved the people of Nineveh!
It reminds me of the phrase: God loves the people you hate.’
Are we ok with that?
That is what the story is supposed to make us wrestle with.
Admittedly, probably not a super age-appropriate lesson for my 3 year-old. But a bite-sized chunk we can offer our littles is: God’s love is bigger than we could ever imagine.
As the apostle Paul says:
‘I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep HIS love is.’
-Ephesians 3:18 (NLV)
Showing our Kids God’s love in the story of Jonah
The Whale (or big fish) I think is one of the most tangible ways we can show our littles God’s love in this story. This is especially helpful for the 5 and under crowd. God sent the whale to swallow Jonah so he wouldn’t drown at sea. Even though Jonah was being disobedient, God loved him, and saved him.
For kids ages 6 and over, let’s keep digging into this theme. Even though Jonah gave the bare minimum, and even was cheering for God to destroy Nineveh, he loved them. He reached their hearts and changed them. No one is ever too far, God’s love can’t reach.
God also had the whale spit Jonah out towards Niniveh, because God loved the people of Nineveh! He wanted them to live good full lives, loving God and each other. He loved them so much, he wasn’t going to take Jonah’s no for an answer.
Read
Read the story of Jonah! You could read this out of your Storybook Bible of choice. However we also really love Jonah and the Very Big Fish by Tim Thornborough (Spanish: Jonás y el Pez Gigante). This book highlights that God even loves us when we are unlovable.
You could also watch Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie. I love how this movie highlights that Jonah was a prophet that ‘never really got it.’ God is full of love, compassion, and mercy.
Pray
Dear God, thank you that your love is bigger than we could ever imagine. Amen.
In addition, you could have a little praise time with Ellie Holcomb’s song, ‘High and Wide and Long and Deep.’ A song focused on how Big God’s love. Bigger than our failures. Bigger than the ocean. Bigger than a whale.
Play
- Jonah and the Whale: Bilingual Valentines– We are reading this story around Valentines day, a day all about ‘love.’ So it only seemed right to make some themed Valentines about God’s love. We’re pairing these with whale bath toys to give to friends.
- Water play: Jonah spends a large chunk of the story inside the belly of a fish. This shouts water play. You could grab a Jonah and the whale bath toy set, or make your own with an old milk carton and small plastic doll.
- Family Movie Night: Make a whole movie night of watching Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie.
- Whale Role Play: Christian Post had the genius idea of draping a blanket over a table, and attaching paper-plate eyeballs to make a giant whale. Children can crawl in an role play being swallowed by a whale.
- More Ideas: Jonah: A Toddler Devotion on God’s Mercy.
Click here to download your FREE Bilingual Valentines
Baby Devotions 