Stories

Jonah and the Big Fish

Jonah 1:1–2:10

For children

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah ran the other way on a ship. A huge storm came, and Jonah was thrown into the sea. God sent a big fish to swallow him! After three days the fish spat Jonah onto land, and this time he went to Nineveh.

For grown-ups

The real surprise of Jonah is not the fish but the mercy: a wicked empire repents, and God spares it — while His prophet sulks. Jesus points to Jonah's three days as a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matt 12:40).

Talk about it

Who does God want to show mercy to?