Jonah Runs from God
God commands Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but the prophet flees in the opposite direction. A violent storm reveals that no one can escape God's presence.
Jonah 1:1-17
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The Story
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.'
But Jonah ran away from the Lord. Nineveh was Israel's enemy—a brutal, pagan empire that had oppressed God's people. How could God ask him to warn them of judgment? Might they repent and receive mercy? Jonah would have none of it. Instead of heading northeast to Nineveh, he went to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish—the opposite direction, as far west as he could go.
He paid the fare and went aboard, hoping to flee from the presence of the Lord. But can anyone hide from God? The Lord sent a violent wind upon the sea, and such a great storm arose that the ship threatened to break apart.
The sailors were terrified. Each cried out to his own god and threw cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, lay down, and fallen into a deep sleep.
The captain found him. 'How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Perhaps he will take notice of us so that we will not perish!'
The sailors cast lots to discover who had brought this calamity upon them, and the lot fell on Jonah. 'Tell us,' they demanded, 'what have you done?'
Jonah confessed: 'I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. I am running away from Him.'
The men were even more terrified. 'What should we do to you to make the sea calm?'
'Pick me up and throw me into the sea,' Jonah said, 'and it will become calm. I know it is my fault this great storm has come upon you.'
The sailors didn't want to do it. They rowed hard to reach land, but they couldn't. The storm grew worse. Finally, they cried out to the Lord, 'Please do not let us die for taking this man's life!' They threw Jonah overboard, and immediately the sea grew calm.
The sailors were filled with awe. They offered sacrifices to the Lord and made vows to Him.
But the Lord had not finished with His prophet. He provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights—entombed in darkness, yet preserved by God's mercy, given time to reflect on his rebellion.
Jonah and the Big Fish
Kids Version
God had a special job for a man named Jonah. 'Jonah,' God said, 'go to the big city of Nineveh and tell them to stop doing bad things.'
But Jonah didn't want to go. The people in Nineveh were mean! They were enemies! 'I'm not going!' Jonah said. So he ran away. He got on a boat going the OPPOSITE way—as far from Nineveh as he could get!
Jonah thought he could hide from God. But you can't hide from God! God is everywhere!
God sent a BIG storm! The wind blew WHOOOOSH! The waves crashed SPLASH! The boat rocked back and forth. The sailors were scared!
'Someone on this boat made God angry!' they said. They figured out it was Jonah.
'It's my fault,' Jonah admitted. 'I'm running away from God. Throw me into the water and the storm will stop.'
The sailors didn't want to, but the storm was getting worse. Finally, they threw Jonah—SPLASH—into the water!
Right away, the storm stopped. Everything was calm.
But Jonah didn't drown! God sent a HUGE fish—bigger than a school bus! The fish swallowed Jonah GULP! Jonah was inside the fish's belly for three days and three nights.
It was dark and smelly in there! Jonah had a lot of time to think about running away from God.
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Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — Jonah 1:1-17 (KJV)
1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Jonah: Gr. Jonas
2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
4But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. sent out: Heb. cast forth was like: Heb. thought to be broken
5Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. the LORD: or, JEHOVAH
10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. exceedingly: Heb. with great fear
11Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. may: Heb. may be silent from us wrought: or, grew more and more tempestuous: Heb. went
12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. rowed: Heb. digged wrought: or, grew more and more tempestuous: Heb. went
14Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. ceased: Heb. stood
16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly , and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. offered: Heb. sacrifice unto the LORD, and vowed vows
17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. belly: Heb. bowels
Memory Verse
“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Jonah: Gr. Jonas”
— Jonah 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Jonah Runs from God” in the Bible?
God commands Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but the prophet flees in the opposite direction. A violent storm reveals that no one can escape God's presence. This story is found in Jonah 1:1-17.
Where is “Jonah Runs from God” found in the Bible?
“Jonah Runs from God” is found in Jonah 1:1-17, in the book of Jonah.
What can children learn from “Jonah Runs from God”?
This story teaches children about God's call, Disobedience, God's sovereignty, Consequences of running from God. God told Jonah to go to a big city called Nineveh, but Jonah ran away on a boat. God sent a storm, and Jonah ended up inside a huge fish!