Dig In to the Bible
- Read: Jonah 1–4
- In This Passage: God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people there that they’ll be destroyed because they are wicked. Jonah runs away instead and gets caught in a storm at sea. He tells the sailors to throw him overboard, and God sends a fish to swallow him. Jonah finally goes to Nineveh and tells the message. When the people change their ways, God shows mercy, but Jonah is mad about it. God shows mercy even when we don’t.
- Bible Point: God shows mercy even when we don’t.
- Summary Verse: “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Psalm 139:1).
Dig Deeper
- God shows mercy even when we don’t. Kids will probably be able to relate to Jonah’s attitude in this story. They’ve all had times they held a grudge even after God (and other people) had extended forgiveness. They may have been angry when a brother or sister wasn’t punished enough for doing something wrong. Help your child see that God loves to show mercy, and we can be merciful, too.
- Think About: When has someone shown you mercy? When has your attitude resembled Jonah’s attitude toward the Ninevites?
Dig In to Prayer
- Pray that God will give your kids merciful hearts that reflect his own.
* DIG IN lesson content copyright © Group Publishing, Inc.