Jonah & the Whale

adapted from the picture book Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm) by Jean Marzollo

A long, long time ago, God needed a prophet. A prophet is someone who helps God teach people how to behave. So God chose Jonah! "Jonah, you will be my prophet!" One day there was a big problem in Nineveh, the royal city. The Ninevites had captured the lands of many people. The Ninevites were doing bad things.

So God called Jonah:
1-2-3-4 Jonah listen a little more
5-6-7-8 Jonah help me, don't be late

God needed Jonah's help. "Go to Ninevah. Warn the Ninevites that if they didn't stop doing bad things, their city will be destroyed." Jonah said, "Ninevah? I don't want to go to Ninevah. It's too far. It's to much work. It's too dangerous. I don't care what you say. I WON'T go! Can't you just do it?"

And God said again:
 1-2-3-4 Jonah listen a little more
5-6-7-8 Jonah help me, don't be late

But Jonah was scared. So Jonah tried to run away from God. "I'm going to get on a boat and sail away in the opposite direction!" Jonah got on the boat and fell fast asleep. He was trying not to think about the fact that he had disobeyed God.

The boat set sail. God sent a mighty wind over the sea. The terrified sailors threw cargo overboard to lighten their load, but it didn't help. The storm went on. So the sailors prayed, but that didn't help either. The storm went on. Finally the captain woke up Jonah. "Jonah, there is a terrible storm. How can we stop it?" he asked. Jonah replied, "I'm a prophet who ran away from God. God sent a storm to punish me! If you want to be saved throw me overboard." The captain didn't want to throw Jonah overboard, so he told the crew to row harder. The storm only got worse. Finally, praying for forgiveness, the sailors threw Jonah into the sea. "Goodbye Jonah! Good luck!"

As soon as Jonah hit the water, the wind stopped and the sea flattened. The sailors were relived, but Jonah was terrified! Seaweed wrapped around him as he sank down, down, down. "O God, please help me!" he prayed. God sent an enormous whale to swallow Jonah up so he would be safe.

Splat! Jonah bumped into a soft, wet wall. He was alive! Jonah opened his eyes. "Where am I? Inside a cave?" he asked. He looked around. He was inside a whale! Jonah was so thankful that he was alive that he began to pray. For three days and nights Jonah prayed. "Thank you God for saving me from drowning. Please help me. I promise I will do what you want. I will go to Ninevah." God heard Jonah's prayers and God wanted to give Jonah another chance.

God said to Jonah:
 1-2-3-4 Jonah listen a little more
5-6-7-8 Jonah help me, don't be late

 "I will help you God!" said Jonah. So God spoke to the whale and asked that whale to spit Jonah out. With a tremendous flick of its tail, the whale then leaped up and coughed Jonah into shallow waters. Woosh! Splash! Jonah dried himself off.

And he heard God again:
1-2-3-4 Jonah listen a little more
5-6-7-8 Jonah help me, don't be late

So Jonah started walking across the desert to Ninevah. He walked for days. Even though he didn't want to go, he wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to help God. "I am going to teach the Ninevites how to do good things," he said. And even though he didn't like the Ninevites, he continued on. Finally, he reached the royal city of Ninevah. All of the people came to hear him. "I am Jonah the prophet," he said. "I have a message for you from God. You have forty days to stop doing bad things and start doing good things. If you don't behave, God will destroy your city!" And the people listened. They stopped doing bad things. They started doing good things. Jonah helped God teach the people how to be kind, and to love each other, and to help others. And finally, the whole city was good. God saved the city.

And that's the end for now, although if you are interested in more, I recommend the following children's books:

 Jonah and the Whale (And the Worm)
Oh No, Jonah! 
Jonah and the Two Great Fish
Jonah's Whale