📖 From the Bible
God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be so angry?” Jonah went out of the city. He built himself a little shelter and sat in its shade. He wanted to see what would happen to the city.
4The LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5Then Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.
This is how we tell this passage to kids. The exact words of the Bible are under “As it is in the Bible”.
Jonah 4:4-5 · Scripture: World English Bible Updated (public domain)
There’s a kid on your team who skipped practice and made everybody grumpy. Now he’s back, and the coach says, “You’re starting.” You think: really? He didn’t earn that! Ever felt like that? Today’s story is about a man who got mad at God Himself.
Jonah had a job. God told him to go to a huge city called Nineveh and tell the people they were doing lots of wrong things. Jonah didn’t want to. He got on a ship and sailed the opposite way. Then a storm came, and he was fast asleep down below. A big fish rescued him. But today’s story isn’t about the fish.
God gave Jonah a second chance and told him to go again. This time Jonah went. He called out one short sentence all over the city: “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” And something amazing happened. The people listened, got scared, and stopped doing wrong things. God forgave them.
And Jonah was furious. He sat down outside the city and sulked, big time. He told God he had known all along that God is kind and forgives everybody, and that’s why he hadn’t wanted to come. God asked him calmly, “Is it right for you to be angry?” At the very end of the book, God says He cares about that big city, with all its people. Jonah doesn’t answer. The book ends with God’s question hanging there.
Did you know?
Jonah’s message was super short, and not very encouraging. Still, the whole city changed. That shows it’s God who changes people, not a big speech. Jesus talked about Jonah, too. He said the people of Nineveh changed their ways when they heard Jonah. Lots of people say this book is like a mirror: it’s easy to see yourself in it.
Look at Jesus
Jonah didn’t want God to forgive the people he didn’t like. Jesus said something very different: “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.” Jesus came to find the people everybody else gave up on. He forgives, and He asks us to give second chances, too.
What about you?
When someone gets forgiven and you think it’s not fair, stop. Ask yourself God’s question: “Is it right for you to be angry?” Sometimes the answer is yes, because they did something really wrong. But sometimes it’s different: you just want everybody else to have it worse than you. God wants everybody to get a second chance. Even the person you don’t like.
Let’s talk about it
- When did someone last get a second chance and you thought it wasn’t fair?
- Why didn’t Jonah want God to forgive Nineveh?
- Who could you give a second chance today?
Today’s challenge
Think of someone who let you down once. Do something nice for that person today, or at least say hi.
Prayer
God, sometimes I sulk when someone gets off easy. Help me remember that You want to give everybody a chance. Me too. Amen.
Tap when you have prayed.