Elementary Follow-up: Jonah Week 2

Jonah 3 & 4

Focus: Jonah learned that God is eager to forgive all who repent.
This week, we finished the story of Jonah in the Old Testament. Jonah didn't want to show kindness to the people of Nineveh like God had commanded him. But in chapters 3 and 4, we see Jonah eventually obey God by going into Nineveh to preach to the people. The people repented, not because Jonah had a cool preaching style but because of the truth in the words he spoke- "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" [Jonah 3:4]. God used an ordinary, stubborn guy for His glory!

Go Deeper!
"But I tell you who hear me:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Luke 6:27

In this passage, Jesus tells us to be kind to not only our friends, but also our enemies. Jonah was commanded to do the very same thing when God told Jonah to tell Nineveh about God's love. [Jonah 1:12]

* Did Jesus listen to His own advice? Yes! There are many instances in the New Testament where Jesus ate with people that weren't well liked by others. He lived a life of loving others, whether or not they loved him back. By obeying what God had commanded Him to do, He did the most loving act of all- He died on the cross for the sins of the world. Because of this sacrifice, those who believe and trust in Jesus receive the gift of salvation. We don't deserve this gift, much like how Jonah didn't feel the people of Ninevite deserved God's compassion.

Grow Together!

Sit down with your child and talk about some very specific friends, neighbors or family members who it might be hard to show kindness to due to conflict, losing touch, or simply not clicking to begin with. With your child, come up with a plan to show kindness to that person – maybe by baking them a treat and delivering it with a kind note, offering to help them complete a chore or simply arranging a time to play together.