Lifebridge Kids – Unit 15: Into Captivity
Although God had continued to warn His people, they continued to rebel. By contrast, when God warned Israel’s enemies, they responded in repentance. In this we see God’s heart for all people and also His justice in what He would do next: discipline His people by sending them into captivity in a foreign land.
Lifebridge Kids meets every Sunday during the 8:15a | 10a | 11:45a.
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Jonah Warned of God’s Judgement
God called Jonah to go to his enemies and call them to turn away from their sin, but Jonah refused. Instead, he ran away. Later, God sent Jesus to His enemies to call us to repentance. Jesus willingly obeyed. Jesus died on the cross to rescue us from sin.
If you were a Jewish man in the 900 B.C., the last place on earth you wanted to visit was the city of Nineveh! Nineveh was full of Assyrians—a group of wicked and violent people who did not follow God. Going to Nineveh to tell them about God was a dangerous—and possibly a deadly mission. No wonder Jonah didn’t want to go!
The real reason Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh was because he felt like these wicked people didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness. They were wicked and cruel, so how could God show them mercy? What Jonah didn’t understand is that God cared for the people of Nineveh as much as He cared for the rest of the world.
God wanted to see the Ninevites turn away from sin and trust in Him. So much so, that God used a big fish to get Jonah back to Nineveh when he tried to run away. Finally, Jonah reluctantly preached the message God had given and warned the people about God’s judgment. The people repented and God spared their lives.
The Bible tells us that God shows mercy on whomever He wants to show mercy. Jonah didn’t think the Ninevites deserved God’s mercy, but the truth is that none of us deserve His mercy. But God loved the world so much that He shows us His mercy through Jesus. Unlike Jonah, Jesus was willing to accept the mission God gave Him. Jesus came to save the sinners who God cared so much about.
God called Jonah to go to his enemies and call them to turn away from their sin, but Jonah refused. Instead, he ran away. Later, God sent Jesus to His enemies to call us to repentance. Jesus willingly obeyed. Jesus died on the cross to rescue us from sin.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14
1. Did Jonah or the people of Nineveh deserve God’s mercy? Explain how all people deserve death for their sin, but God longs to be merciful if they repent and turn to Jesus. God cares for all people made in His image. Jonah or Nineveh did not deserve God’s mercy, but God cared about them and gave them opportunities to turn to Him to be saved.
2. What did the sailors do when God stopped the storm? Remind the kids that the sailors believed in the one true God and worshiped Him. The sailors saw God’s power and authority over creation. God showed that He cared for the sailors by saving them from the scary storm.
3. Why didn’t Jonah want to deliver God’s message to the people of Nineveh?
Discuss how the Ninevites were Israel’s enemies. Jonah knew God was merciful and would choose to not destroy Nineveh if they repented. Jonah didn’t want them to repent and turn from their sin. He wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. Discuss how Jonah’s response was wrong and that he should have been happy God did not destroy the Ninevites. Encourage kids to think about the grace God has shown to them and to rejoice when others turn to God in repentance.
4. Did Jonah deserve God’s grace and mercy? Why not? Lead kids to understand that Jonah was not deserving of God’s salvation. Like all people, Jonah was a sinner. Remind kids that just as God showed mercy and grace to the wicked people of Nineveh, He also showed mercy and grace to Jonah. God shows grace and mercy to us through Jesus. (Read Rom. 9:15-16)
5. Should we get angry when God is kind and forgiving to people we don’t like? Why not?
Expand on the answer above by reminding kids that no one deserves His grace or mercy. Remind kids that Jonah was wrong to become angry over God’s mercy to Nineveh. Help kids understand that God’s forgiveness toward our own sin should lead us to rejoice when others repent. (Read Luke 15:7)
6. How is Jesus better than Jonah?
Discuss the similarities between Jonah and Jesus such as God sending them to their enemies and three days inside the fish vs. the tomb. Explain how Jesus is better because He perfectly obeyed God and willingly laid down His life to save His enemies. Only Jesus can save. (Read Luke 11:32)
+ Take your family fishing or simulate fishing using sticks, string, magnets, and paper clips.
+ See who can catch the biggest fish. If you catch any fish, release them back to the water to lead into a discussion on mercy.
+ Ask your kids to retell what they remember from the story of Jonah.
+ Discuss how Jonah did not want God to show mercy to the people of Nineveh, but God’s mercy is greater than anything we can imagine.
+ Then talk as a family about ways God has shown mercy to you.
