Jonah Story Paraphrase
Runaway Jonah Learns a Lesson
The numbers in brackets correspond to pictures which can be found at http://www.christart.com/christianbooks/read/4764/4
[4] God spoke to Jonah: “Go to Nineveh. Warn them that I am angry at the way they’ve been acting.” But Jonah did not listen. Well, actually, Jonah listened, but he did not want to obey. “Nineveh!? No way.” Jonah had a problem with going to Nineveh. First, the people of Nineveh were not Israelites. They were not the chosen people of God. Why should he, a prophet of God, carry God’s word to them? Besides, the people of Nineveh were enemies of the people of Israel! Jonah decided to go as far away from Nineveh as possible - to Tarshish in Spain. “That should be far enough away,” Jonah thought.
[5] Jonah paid for passage on a boat and set off for Spain.
[7] But God sent a strong wind and a storm. The storm was so bad; the ship was in danger of sinking. The terrified sailors called out to their gods for help. They threw the cargo overboard to lessen the danger. Still the storm blew.
[8] The sailors drew lots to see who was to blame for their misfortune. Drawing lots was like drawing straws or rolling dice. Jonah lost!
[9] Meanwhile, Jonah was sound asleep below deck.
[10] The captain woke Jonah. “Why are you asleep? Can’t you see we are about to sink!? Pray to your god for help!” “Why is this happening?” the sailors asked Jonah. Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew. I worship the God who made the land and sea. I am a prophet of the Lord. And I am running away from God. Throw me into the sea. It is my fault you are caught in this storm. Once you have thrown me into the sea, I know the sea will calm down.”
[6] The sailors did not want to hurt Jonah. So they tried to get back to shore. But it didn’t help. The storm raged on. The sailors cried out, “O Lord, don’t punish us for taking this man’s life!”
[12] And they picked up Jonah and tossed him into the raging sea. At once, the sea was calm. The sailors rejoiced. They got down on their knees and promised to serve the one true God.
[14] Meanwhile, the Lord commanded a large fish to swallow Jonah.
[15] For three days and three nights Jonah was inside that fish. While in the fish, Jonah prayed to God.
[16] Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah upon the beach. Pt-tu-ii. It did. Once again the Lord spoke to Jonah. “Go to Nineveh. Proclaim the message I have given you.”
[17] So Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah warned the people, “Nineveh will be destroyed!”
[19] The king issued a statement: “Stop being bad!” And the people stopped! God saw what they did. So he changed his mind and did not punish them.
[20] Jonah was still hanging around town. And Jonah was UNHAPPY. “Lord, didn’t I say this is just what you would do!? I know you are loving and forgiving; Always ready to change your mind and not punish. Now, let me die. Since what I predicted isn’t going to happen, I’d rather be dead than alive.” God answered, “What right do you have to be angry?”
[21] Jonah did not reply. He marched off to a hill outside the city. He made a shelter and sat down. “I’ll just sit here and wait to see what happens to Nineveh.”
[23] God made a vine to grow. It gave Jonah more shelter from the hot, hot sun. Jonah was pleased with the vine.
[24] The next day, God sent a worm to eat the vine so that it wilted and died. Jonah was stuck in the hot sun! He complained, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
[25] The Lord replied, “What right do you have to be angry?” Jonah answered, “I have every right to be angry! Angry enough to die!” God’s response to Jonah was in the form of a question: “That vine grew up in one night and died the next. You did not plant it or take care of it, but yet you’re concerned about it. Now in the city of Nineveh there are more than 120 thousand people who cannot tell right from wrong — not to mention all the animals! Don't you think I should care about them?”
The End.
Resources:
Crane, Amy. “Jonah Puppet Lesson Plan: Runaway Jonah.” 2001.
Faith Quest Lesson Sets at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church. “Jonah – Antioch Arcade.”
2005. Web.
Written by Carol Hulbert for First United Methodist Church
Ann Arbor, MI
If you use this material, even in a modified form, please include the following reference:
Hulbert, Carol. "Runaway Jonah Learns a Lesson." Jan. 09. Place URL where lesson found inside angle brackets<>.
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