Jonah and Nineveh
Given a second chance, Jonah preaches to Nineveh. The entire city repents—but Jonah is angry that God shows mercy to his enemies.
Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11
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The Story
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.'
This time Jonah obeyed. He went to Nineveh, a city so large it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, 'Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.'
The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust.
The king issued a proclamation: 'Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.'
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed, 'Isn't this what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.'
'Is it right for you to be angry?' the Lord asked.
Jonah went out and sat down east of the city, waiting to see what would happen. The Lord provided a plant to grow up and give Jonah shade. Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm that chewed the plant so it withered. When the sun blazed, God provided a scorching wind, and Jonah grew faint and wanted to die.
'Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?'
'It is,' Jonah said. 'And I'm angry enough to die.'
The Lord said, 'You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?'
Nineveh Says Sorry
Kids Version
After the big fish spit Jonah out, God said again, 'Go to Nineveh!'
This time, Jonah went. Nineveh was HUGE—it took three days to walk through! Jonah walked around shouting, 'In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed!'
Something amazing happened. The people listened! They believed God! Everyone—from the poorest person to the king himself—said sorry for the bad things they'd done. They stopped eating to show how serious they were. Even the king took off his fancy robes and put on scratchy clothes.
The king announced, 'Everyone pray to God! Stop doing bad things! Maybe God will forgive us!'
God saw that they really meant it. He forgave them! He didn't destroy the city!
Hooray! Right? Well... not for Jonah.
Jonah was ANGRY. 'I KNEW You'd forgive them!' he complained to God. 'That's why I ran away! You're too nice! Just let me die!'
God asked, 'Is it right for you to be so angry?'
Jonah sat outside the city, pouting. God made a plant grow to give Jonah shade. Jonah liked the plant.
But the next day, the plant died. Jonah got even angrier!
God said, 'You're upset about a plant that you didn't even grow. But there are thousands and thousands of people in Nineveh—plus animals! Shouldn't I care about them?'
God loves EVERYONE—even people we might think are our enemies. He wants everyone to say sorry and be saved. We should want that too!
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Scripture — Jonah 3:1-10 (KJV)
1And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. exceeding: Heb. of God
4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: published: Heb. said nobles: Heb. great men
8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Memory Verse
“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,”
— Jonah 3:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Jonah and Nineveh” in the Bible?
Given a second chance, Jonah preaches to Nineveh. The entire city repents—but Jonah is angry that God shows mercy to his enemies. This story is found in Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11.
Where is “Jonah and Nineveh” found in the Bible?
“Jonah and Nineveh” is found in Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11, in the book of Jonah.
What can children learn from “Jonah and Nineveh”?
This story teaches children about Second chances, Repentance, God's mercy, Compassion for enemies. Jonah finally went to Nineveh and told them God was upset. Guess what? The WHOLE city said sorry to God! But Jonah was grumpy about it. God taught Jonah an important lesson about loving others.